18.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), where an eligible student is eligible for and entitled to receive a grant under regulation 16(1) in respect of a dependent child, he shall in respect of each academic year also be eligible for a grant under this regulation; for that dependent child if the child is either aged three or four during the relevant school year or attends a grant-aided school during the relevant school year.
(2) The amount of grant for which a student shall be eligible under paragraph (1) is –
(a)£255 for each dependent child aged three or over on 31st December in the relevant school year, but under the age of 11 immediately before the beginning of the relevant school year;
(b)£170 for each dependent child whose third birthday falls after 31st December but on or before 31st March in the relevant school year;
(c)£85 for each dependent child whose third birthday falls after 31st March but before the end of the relevant school year;
(d)£275 for each dependent child of compulsory school age who is aged 11 or over immediately before the beginning of the relevant school year.
(3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where a dependent child receives school meals free of charge under arrangements approved by the Department of Education in accordance with Articles 58 and 59 of the 1986 Order.
(4) The Department shall pay a grant for which a student is eligible under this regulation in a single instalment at such time and in such manner as it considers appropriate.
(5) In this regulation –
“grant-aided school” has the meaning assigned to it in the 1986 Order;
“relevant school year” means –
in the case of a child who attends a grant-aided school, the school year whose beginning is closest to the beginning of the academic year in respect of which the eligibility for grant under this regulation is being assessed; and
in the case of a child aged three or four who does not attend such a grant-aided school, the period of 12 months beginning on 1st September which falls closest to the beginning of the academic year in respect of which the eligibility for grant under this regulation is being assessed;
“school year” means the period from 1st August to 31st July.