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Back|Parents face financial strain over back-to-school costs
Parents face financial strain over back-to-school costs
NEWS
BBC Business·1 hour ago·Social·3 min read·🇬🇧United Kingdom

Parents face financial strain over back-to-school costs

New research highlights the burden of school uniform expenses as charities and local authorities offer support options

Quick Look

  • Nearly half of UK parents report anxiety over school uniform costs, with many sacrificing personal needs to afford supplies.
  • Charities and government initiatives, including new rules limiting branded items and local grants, aim to alleviate the financial pressure on families.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

New government rules limiting branded school uniform items to three per child take effect in September. Charities are increasingly reporting school uniforms as a priority item for families.

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Back to school can stir up many emotions for parents, including anxiety about the extra costs it brings.

Almost half of parents said they're worried about the cost of school uniforms, according to research by the charity Save the Children and the Baby Bank Alliance network.

And a third of the 2,000 parents polled said they've sacrificed things for themselves to meet back-to-school costs like uniforms, bags or books.

New rules limiting the number of items branded with a school logo to three per child come into force in September, aimed at helping ease the financial burden.

From baby banks to council grants, here are ways parents can ease the cost of kitting out their kids for school.

Save the Children said the new uniform rules are a "good start" but back-to-school costs remain a concern for families across almost all income brackets.

The government said schools should make second-hand uniforms accessible to parents.

"Speak to a teacher you trust, and explain that the costs are difficult," said Megan Meek-O'Connor, head of England and Westminster at Save the Children.

Many schools have uniform hubs, swap shops and sales just before term starts, and hardship funds.

In London, the School Uniform Reuse Network launched earlier this year, giving schools practical advice to start or improve their own swap shops.

During its first term of operation, it saw more than 1,500 items reused across 24 schools.

Parents of older children may not realise a so-called baby bank can help them, but many of the 400 support hubs across the UK provide uniforms for children up to and through secondary school.

In its latest survey of members, the Baby Bank Alliance found school uniform was reported as a priority item for the first time.

Late summer is one of the busiest times for Little Stars Shrewsbury - just over half the children helped since June have been given uniform support.

Hannah Stoddart, operations manager at Little Stars Shrewsbury, said families come to them in varying circumstances. A child starting school might need fully kitting out, while an older pupil may just need to replace one or two items.

Stoddart stressed that while the summer holidays "take their toll", the charity provides help all year.

"So when they've had that growth spurt, when they've scuffed their shoes or they've ripped their trousers or they need a winter coat, that's something they can come back to us for as well," she said.

You may be able to get a grant from your local authority if your income is below a certain threshold or you're receiving certain benefits.

These can be worth up to £200 per child.

Eligibility and how much you can get can vary according to where in the UK you live, so it is best to check with your council directly.

Struggling with uniform costs is common and people shouldn't feel ashamed if they need to ask for help, said Meek-O'Connor.

"Uniform is supposed to be about making school kind of more accessible, more equal... it should be something positive," she said.

Open Questions

  • ?How effective will the new branded item limits be in reducing costs?
  • ?Will local authority grant availability increase to meet demand?

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This article was originally published by BBC Business.

Quick Look

  • Nearly half of UK parents report anxiety over school uniform costs, with many sacrificing personal needs to afford supplies.
  • Charities and government initiatives, including new rules limiting branded items and local grants, aim to alleviate the financial pressure on families.

AI-generated summary

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Emotional intensity
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National
Follow-up likelihood
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BBC Business
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Published
1 hour ago
Last updated
1 hour ago
school uniforms
cost of living
save the children
school uniforms
Megan Meek-O'Connor
Hannah Stoddart
Save the Children
Baby Bank Alliance
School Uniform Reuse Network
Little Stars Shrewsbury
London
Shrewsbury
UK
cost of living
save the children
baby bank alliance
education
financial support

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