Parents of children starting school, who are eligible, are being urged to apply for a payment to help with costs.

The Best Start Grant school age payment is worth £250 for many parents of children aged four and five, old enough to start school this year. To qualify the child has to be born between 1 March 2015 and 29 February 2016.

The parent or carers must be receiving one of the following to qualify for Best Start grants.

This list includes: Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Parents under 18 don’t need to be on benefits to apply.

And you must apply before the closing date on 28 February 2021.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, Social Security Secretary said: “Covering the costs of a child starting school can put pressure on family finances and during these unprecedented times, many more families may be struggling with household costs.

“The money can be used for anything your kids need at this time.”