Scotland’s Free Welcome to School Bag for Primary 1 Children Starts in August 2027

Scotland is preparing to give children starting Primary 1 a free Welcome to School Bag from August 2027. Here is what parents need to know about the scheme, what will be included and the other help available when a child starts school.

What is Scotland’s Welcome to School Bag?

The Welcome to School Bag is a Scottish Government programme intended to give children practical resources as they start Primary 1 and help families with some of the costs associated with starting school.

The scheme is planned for the 2027-28 school year. The Scottish Government says the bags will be provided for children starting Primary 1 at their local school, including pupils in primary and special schools.

When will children receive their Welcome to School Bag?

The programme is due to begin in August 2027. The Scottish Government intends for the bags to reach schools in time for children to receive them during transition visits before the summer holidays. These are the visits when children who are about to start school can meet staff, see their classroom and become familiar with the school.

The exact date on which each child will receive their bag has not been announced. The Government has also said that full details of the distribution and returns process will be confirmed in due course.

Who is eligible for a free school bag?

The Scottish Government describes the scheme as being for children starting Primary 1 at their local school in Scotland from August 2027. Its announcement specifically includes children starting at primary and special schools.

It expects around 47,000 children to be included in the first year. This is an estimate based on current pupil rolls scaled using National Records of Scotland’s 2024-based population projections. The final number may change depending on how many children have their school entry deferred.

What will be inside the Welcome to School Bag?

The 26th October announcement confirms that each bag will contain a set of practical items and learning resources. The confirmed list includes:

The October announcement gives the confirmed contents at this level. It does not publish a complete item-by-item specification for every stationery resource or learning activity, so further detail may follow.

What colours will the bags be available in?

Following the procurement process, the Scottish Government confirmed on 26th October 2026 that families will have five colour options:

Children will also be able to personalise their backpack by adding a drawing. The announcement does not yet explain how children will choose their colour or submit their drawing.

Will parents need to apply?

No separate parent application or registration process has been announced for the Welcome to School Bag. The programme is described as a national offer for children starting Primary 1 at their local school.

Parents do not currently have a form to complete for the bag. The Scottish Government says full distribution and returns arrangements will be confirmed later, so families should look out for information from their child’s school or local authority as the 2027 start approaches.

Will the Welcome to School Bag cost parents anything?

The scheme is being provided as a national programme for the children described in the Scottish Government announcement. The 26th October announcement does not state a separate charge to parents.

The Government has signed a two-year contract with Edinburgh-based APS Group, worth £1.35 million annually, to assemble and distribute the bags. This is the contract value, not a stated price per bag. The Government says the contract also covers storage, packing, distribution and staffing, as well as the bags and their contents. It would therefore be misleading to divide the contract value by the estimated number of pupils and present that as the cost of one bag.

Who is supplying and distributing the bags?

APS Group, an Edinburgh-based company, secured the two-year contract for the first years of the programme. Its role includes supplying the bags and contents, assembling them and distributing them to schools across Scotland in time for the 2027-28 academic year.

The contract is worth £1.35 million annually. The Scottish Government says the bags will be assembled in Scotland.

Where will the Welcome to School Bags be made?

The backpacks will be manufactured in China. The stationery and other items packed inside them will be made by manufacturers in Europe and Britain, before the bags are assembled in Scotland. This distinction was confirmed by the Scottish Government in a written answer to the Scottish Parliament.

A further parliamentary question about the procurement process and the identity of the Chinese manufacturer was lodged on 28th October 2026. An answer is expected on 11th November 2026, so those details have not yet been confirmed.

Does the scheme include children at independent schools?

The official announcement describes the offer as being for children starting Primary 1 at their local school and specifically refers to the projected intake at primary and special schools. It does not separately confirm whether children attending independent schools are eligible.

Parents with a child starting at an independent school should not assume that the scheme applies. Wait for the Scottish Government’s detailed eligibility guidance or ask the school for clarification when further information is published.

Financial help and support for families

The Welcome to School Bag is only one part of the support that may be available to families. It does not replace existing financial help, and eligible families may be able to receive more than one form of support.

Best Start Grant School Age Payment

The Best Start Grant School Age Payment is a separate payment from Social Security Scotland to help eligible families with the costs of a child starting school. The current payment is £331.95 per eligible child.

Most applicants need to receive a qualifying benefit, such as Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance. There are exceptions: applicants under 20 do not need to receive one of these benefits. Special rules can also apply to some kinship carers and adoptive parents, so check the official eligibility guidance before applying.

Families receiving Scottish Child Payment who are eligible for School Age Payment should usually receive it automatically and do not need to apply. Other eligible families can apply through Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods on mygov.scot, or find more information from Social Security Scotland.

For children expected to start Primary 1 in August 2027, the relevant birth-date range is 1st March 2022 to 28th February 2023. The School Age Payment window for this cohort opens on 1st June 2027 and closes on 29th February 2028. Children with deferred entry or unusual circumstances should check the official date guidance because eligibility is based on when the child is first old enough to start school.

Other support available to families

There are also other forms of help that may be available, depending on your circumstances and where your child attends school.

School Clothing Grant

The School Clothing Grant is administered by local authorities and can help eligible families with the cost of school clothing and shoes. The current national minimum grant is £120 for each eligible primary pupil. Councils set their own eligibility criteria and may pay more than the minimum. The amount and local rules may change before the 2027-28 school year.

You apply through your local council. The grant is separate from both the Welcome to School Bag and Best Start Grant School Age Payment. The Scottish Government confirms that families can apply for School Age Payment and School Clothing Grant where they meet the separate eligibility conditions.

Check the School Clothing Grant guidance on mygov.scot for your council’s rules and application route.

Free school meals

All children in Primary 1 to Primary 5 at local authority-run and grant-aided schools can receive free school lunches during term time, regardless of their family’s income. Free school meals are also available to all pupils in special schools, regardless of age or family circumstances. Older pupils in other schools may qualify through household benefits and the relevant local authority arrangements.

Free school meals are separate from the Welcome to School Bag. Check the official guidance for eligibility and arrangements for older pupils.

Scottish Child Payment and wider family support

Scottish Child Payment is a regular payment for eligible families on certain benefits who are responsible for a child under 16. It is not a school-start grant, but it may provide ongoing help with family costs. It can also be relevant to the automatic Best Start Grant School Age Payment process for eligible recipients.

For current eligibility and how to apply, use the official Scottish Child Payment guidance. The Welcome to School Bag also complements wider Scottish early-years and literacy initiatives, including the Baby Box, Bookbug and Read, Write, Count. These programmes have different purposes and do not replace school-start financial grants.

Is the Welcome to School Bag replacing existing school support?

No. The bag is an additional national programme. It does not replace Best Start Grant School Age Payment, School Clothing Grant or free school meals. It is also intended to complement initiatives such as Baby Box, Bookbug and Read, Write, Count, rather than take their place.

What should parents do now?

Parents do not need to apply for the Welcome to School Bag at this stage. The Scottish Government has not yet published the full distribution and returns process or the method for choosing a colour and personalising the bag.

If your child is due to start Primary 1 in August 2027, keep an eye on information from your school and local authority as transition arrangements are confirmed. In the meantime, check whether your family may qualify for Best Start Grant School Age Payment or a School Clothing Grant. Do not wait for the Welcome to School Bag before applying for financial support with a deadline.

Official information and sources

• The latest Scottish Government announcement confirming the five bag colours, contents, APS Group contract, estimated pupil numbers and intended distribution during school transition visits.

  Read Scottish Government’s Welcome to School Bags announcement, 26th October 2026 →

• The original announcement setting out the national Welcome to School Bag programme for children starting Primary 1 in Scotland.

  Read the original Scottish Government announcement, 24th August 2026 →

• Scottish Government information on financial help for children starting primary school, including the Best Start Grant School Age Payment amount and application dates.

  Read the school-start financial support announcement, 1st June 2026 →

• Official eligibility information and guidance on applying for Best Start Grant payments and Best Start Foods.

  Read mygov.scot’s Best Start Grant guidance →

• Guidance on School Clothing Grant support, including the national minimum amounts and how to apply through your local council.

  Read mygov.scot’s School Clothing Grant guidance →

• Official information about universal free school lunches for Primary 1 to Primary 5 pupils and eligibility for other children.

  Read mygov.scot’s free school meals guidance →

• Current eligibility and application information for Scottish Child Payment, a regular payment for eligible families with children.

  Read mygov.scot’s Scottish Child Payment guidance →

• Scottish Parliament written answers confirming where the backpacks and their contents will be manufactured, and the status of a further question about the procurement process.

  Read the Scottish Parliament questions and answers →

This article provides general information based on official sources checked on 30th October 2026. The Welcome to School Bag is a future programme and practical arrangements may change as implementation progresses. Check the linked Scottish Government and mygov.scot guidance for updates.