A North Wales council has apologised for the late processing of school uniform grants. Some pupils on Anglesey have been forced to wear lost property items while others have faced “snidey” remarks from their peers, it’s been claimed.
Since July, Anglesey Council has processed more than 1,300 school uniform payments to families on benefits. However delivery of the payments has been complicated by extra bureaucracy caused by an expansion of free school meals provision on the island, and some families are still waiting for their grants.
In addition, the local authority has prioritised free school meal payments over uniform grants at two secondary schools affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) issues. Anglesey Council said a “minority” of pupils were still affected and that all payments would be made by Friday, October 13.
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One pupil said she had faced remarks from teachers for not wearing school-approved clothes and shoes. “Personally, I don’t think we should be made to worry about it until the payments have been made,” she said.
“Getting the right school shoes is stupidly expensive and I think we should be able to come in with what we have without getting any hassle. A couple of teachers have made comments about me getting into trouble, but they were OK once they realised the reason.”
A mum, who asked not to be named, said she had visited the council offices in Llangefni two weeks ago for an update. As her child receives free school meals at Ysgol David Hughes, Menai Bridge, she said the uniform grant should have been paid automatically – but there’s still no sign of it.
![A mum at Ysgol David Hughes said the school had been 'brilliant' but she still felt embarrassed](https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/incoming/article27799418.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_Students-celebrate-their-A-level-results-at-Ysgol-David-Hughes-in-Menai-Bridge.jpg)
“At the office I was told (at the time) they were months behind and no one had been paid yet,” she said. “They said we’d be paid in due course but couldn’t say when.
“In the meantime, the school’s welfare officer has dug out uniform items from lost property and delivered them to affected families. We’ve managed to get some shirts but my child is having to go to school with some non-school clothes.
“Affected children are facing snidey comments from teachers and pupils. I have no issue with our school – it’s been absolutely brilliant. But it is humiliating to be put in this position, for your child to have to go to school in other people’s clothes and shoes. The whole thing is a shambles.”
![Like Ysgol David Hughes, Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi was affected by RAAC issues, causing delays to school uniform grants](https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/incoming/article27799445.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_Ysgol-Uwchradd-Caergybi-Google-Map-Iamge.jpg)
Anglesey Council blamed the delays on an expansion of free school meals provision on the island. Historically, parents whose children received free school meals didn’t need to apply for uniform grants as they automatically qualified.
But, starting this term, all primary school pupils now receive free school meals. “Consequently, additional verification of the school uniform grant payment is required to ensure that eligible parents/guardians correctly receive the grant,” said a spokesperson. “This may have resulted in payments being delayed in a minority of cases.”
On-going RAAC problems at Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi and Ysgol David Hughes have also affected the delivery of uniform grants. It is understood all year groups are now back at Ysgol David Hughes – scaffolding has been erected at the school to enable access to its sixth-form area.
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Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi (Holyhead) has a phased programme of remedial works and was aiming to “increase access to face-to-face teaching for one year group” from Monday, September 25. Online learning will continue for other pupils.
During this process, Anglesey Council has prioritised the processing of free school meal payments for children in school to receive their meals. “All these payments have been processed,” said a spokesperson.
“Our main priority now is to process all remaining school uniform grant payments. All payments should be processed by Friday, October 13. We apologise for any inconvenience or difficulties this may have caused parents, guardians, or pupils.”
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