The Scottish Government has confirmed that around 47,000 children starting Primary One in August 2027 will receive a free Welcome to School Bag, handed out before the summer holidays.
The backpacks will be available in five colours — blue, green, pink, red or yellow — and will contain stationery, a water bottle and learning resources. Children will also be able to personalise their bag by adding their own drawing.
Contract and delivery details
Edinburgh-based APS Group has secured a two-year contract worth £1.35 million annually to provide the bags and their contents, assemble them and distribute them to schools across Scotland. The bags will be assembled in Scotland before being delivered to schools.
Education Secretary Màiri McAllan confirmed that children will receive their backpacks during school transition visits, when youngsters starting Primary One visit their new classrooms ahead of the summer holidays.
She said: "Excellence and equity is my principal ambition for education, and providing every new P1 pupil with a high-quality bag is part of our wider work to remove barriers for all at the very start of their school journey."
"Building on the success of our universal Baby Box offer, we want to ensure children start school on an equal footing and with a feeling that they belong."
What is inside the bags
Each Welcome to School Bag will contain a pencil case, pencils, crayons, a notebook, a water bottle, and resources to encourage reading, writing and maths practice at home. The bags will also include information for parents and carers about social security entitlements and advice on keeping children safe online.
Ms McAllan added: "As well as being available in five colours, children will have the option of adding a drawing to personalise their Welcome to School Bag, to help them start school excited and with all the essentials for their first steps into the classroom."
"These will be delivered in time to be given to children during their transition visits, when the new intake go into primary schools ahead of the summer holidays to get to know their new class."
Eligibility and additional support
The scheme will be available to every child starting Primary One in Scotland in August 2027, regardless of their family's income or whether their parents receive benefits. The Scottish Government estimates that around 47,000 pupils will be eligible, although the final number could change depending on how many families choose to defer their child's school entry.
The £1.35 million annual contract covers more than the backpacks and their contents, including storage, packing, distribution and staffing costs. Full details of the distribution arrangements and returns process will be confirmed at a later date.
Parents and carers on a low income may also qualify for additional financial support to help with school costs. The Best Start Grant School Age Payment provides a one-off payment to eligible families when their child reaches school age, and eligible families receiving Scottish Child Payment are paid automatically.
Families may also qualify for a School Clothing Grant through their local council, which can help towards the cost of uniforms and footwear. Children in Primary One to Primary Five at Scottish local authority schools are also entitled to free school meals, regardless of household income. Parents can find information about financial support for families, including eligibility and application arrangements, on MYGOV.SCOT.
