As the first children in this country to go to school free of charge, many people are finding themselves confused about what it means to be a British taxpayer.
The ‘Education Services’ Bill, passed last month, was one of a raft of reforms introduced by the Government that were supposed to help make education more affordable for the vast majority of British families.
But in practice, many of the reforms have only provided a small cut in the £30 billion per year school budgets.
Here’s what you need to know about what’s in the bill and what it does not.
What is ‘Education welfare’?
It’s a tax-free scheme for the general public, including those who are unable to afford it, that is meant to help provide a more affordable education.
It was introduced by Ed Miliband, the Labour Party leader, in September 2014 to help tackle the financial pressures facing schools.
The legislation also contains a £5.9bn grant for schools to buy uniforms for pupils who need to go on holiday to get their school uniform.
The Government says the money is earmarked to help pay for the cost of uniforms, uniforms for the pupils and school facilities.
However, some of the money for uniforms and uniforms for school facilities has gone towards the cost or maintenance of infrastructure.
The grant will go to schools for at least a year before they are required to spend it, so schools will have to pay back the money at a later date.
It also includes a grant to parents of pupils who have a disability, and a guarantee of free food.
Schools are also exempt from paying VAT.
Who can apply?
Those who are not in work or have a dependent child who is aged under 16 can apply for a ‘free school pass’ from the Department for Education.
This is valid for one year, and the school will only have to repay the amount once they complete the period.
The school must pay a £10 deposit for each child, and pay £1,000 to the Government each year for a period of six years.
The government will also guarantee the school is fully staffed during this time.
How to apply?
There are two ways to apply: online or by phone.
If you are applying by phone, the phone number for your nearest post office is 0330 868 4111.
The phone number can be found by clicking on the ‘phone’ box in the top right hand corner of the application.
If the application is made by online, the application can be made online by visiting the application form on the Government website.
The application form is located at the bottom of the page.
For those who can’t make the application, there are several ways to get in touch with the school: from the school itself, via their school’s website, or by calling the school from a phone, tablet or computer.
Parents who are eligible can also make a deposit online through the government’s Education Welfare Service.
For information on what is covered in this grant, check out the Education Welfare website.
What does the ‘free schools pass’ grant mean for the school?
In the first year, the school’s £5,000 fee will be refunded to the taxpayer.
In the second year, a further £10,000 will be returned to the school.
This will be used to cover the cost for uniforms, and for the maintenance of the school facilities and the funding of the pupil transport costs.
However there is no guarantee that the additional money will cover the full cost of the ‘education welfare’ grant.
Schools that have a lower total pupil headcount than the threshold will have their fees refunded at a rate of £6.40 per pupil, but will also pay £3.80 per pupil in interest.
What are the ‘non-paying school’ exceptions?
Schools with a total pupilheadcount below 100 will be exempt from payment of the fee.
Schools with more than 100 pupils will have a total fee that is greater than the ‘paying school’.
Schools with children who are under 18 years old will also be exempt, although it’s not clear if this is due to an age limit on the exemption or if it’s a general exemption.
What can I do if I am a parent or guardian of a child who qualifies for free school pass?
If you or your child qualifies for a free school passes, you can apply online by entering their school details on the website.
If your child is over 18, your child will need to be able to prove their entitlement to the free school schools pass.
The Department for Educational Services will issue a ‘certificate of entitlement’ to your child, which can be used for a number of reasons.
This can include proving the school has an annual turnover, or that your child was awarded the free schools pass because the school had a turnover under £20,000 in the last 12 months.
The certificate of entitlement is valid from January 1, 2020, and can be renewed up to six years later.
It can also be used