Welfare, Grants and Benefits
Transport Benefits
Free School Meals
Clothing
Over 16s
Education Welfare Service
Contacts you may find useful
Staffordshire Education Service provides a range of support services to help parents help their children to have a quality education and life at school.
Benefits and grants can help with transport and school meals. The Education Welfare Service can also help children through upsets or settling into a new school, as well as those having difficulty with regular attendance.
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Free transport is available for pupils up to age 16, who live more than two (for under 11s) or three miles (for 11 and over) from school and are within its catchment area.
Concessionary or subsidised transport may be available for pupils who do not qualify for the free service.
For further information please contact the Pupil Support Unit on 01785 278950.
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Free meals are provided for children with parents on Income Support or Income-based Job Seekers' Allowance. Facilities are also available for children to eat food brought from home, although they are encouraged to have a school dinner. Application for free meals can be made at the school or at your nearest Education Welfare office. Free meals can only be provided from the date of your application.
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The policy of the Education Committee is that uniforms in County Maintained Schools should not be compulsory, but most schools have a voluntary dress code which has been agreed with parents. You can get information on school uniform and guidelines on clothing from your child's school. In exceptional cases, grants towards cost may be available. Apply to the Secondary or Middle school which your child attends. (There are no grants available for first or primary schools.)
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If your child stays on at school after 16, you may be eligible for a Maintenance Allowance if you are on a low level of income, similar to Income Support.
If payable, the allowance is available for children at school. Interview expenses may also be payable if your child goes on to higher education.
Transport assistance is available to pupils and students who attend the nearest appropriate educational establishment and live more than three miles away from it. Parents are required to pay a contribution (determined annually by the Education Committee).
The arrangements above apply to courses up to the equivalent of 'A' Level.
There are other mandatory or discretionary grants for Higher and Further Education. These grants are dealt with by the Student Support Service which gives annual talks in the Spring term at the majority of schools and colleges in Staffordshire.
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There will be an Education Welfare Officer attached to your child's school who can give you help and advice on a whole range of welfare issues.
- Applying for free meals
- Attendance problems
- Part-time employment of children
- Managing "parental responsibility" in split families
- Linking home and school
- Behavioural problems/Exclusions
To contact the Education Welfare Service, you can ring the following numbers:
- Burton/Tamworth: (01283) 239078
- Lichfield/Cannock: (01543) 512073
- Newcastle/Moorlands: (01782) 297575
- Stafford/South Staffs: (01785) 356878
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The Headteacher or Chairman of Governors at your child's school will always be pleased to help you.
Pupil Support Unit
TEL: (01785) 278950, 278678 or 278679 (Transport issues)
Education Welfare Service
See Contact list above
Corporate Director (Children and Lifelong Learning)
Peter Traves
E-mail: peter.traves@staffordshire.gov.uk
Children and Lifelong Learning
Tipping Street
Stafford
ST16 2DH
TEL: (01785) 278600
FAX: (01785) 278619
Cabinet Member for Children and Young People
Cllr. Robert Simpson
E-mail: robert.simpson@staffordshire.gov.uk
12 Coton Avenue
Stafford
ST16 3RT
Tel: 01785 619411
Staffordshire Federation of Parent Teacher Associations
Mrs. Barbara Coppard
Secretary
24 Durham Drive
Rugeley
WS15 1LD
Tel: (01889) 570362
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Last Modified:
04/07/2008 14:46:09
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