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Back to school: How to save on uniform costs
Confirmed
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. "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.
The relaxed rules on uniform branding mean parents can purchase more items from supermarkets and charity shops, said Save the Children's Meek-O'Connor. "Uniform is supposed to be about making school kind of more accessible, more equal... it should be something positive," she said.
In its latest survey of members, the Baby Bank Alliance found school uniform was reported as a priority item for the first time. Struggling with uniform costs is common and people shouldn't feel ashamed if they need to ask for help, said Meek-O'Connor.
"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. Boys' black and grey school trousers sorted into boxes at Little Stars Shropshire Hannah Stoddart, operations manager at Little Stars Shrewsbury, said families come to them in varying circumstances.
According to research from the bank Nationwide, a third of parents said they buy uniform from supermarkets, a third shop around for the best value and 23% purchase larger sizes so items last longer. 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.
Kate Steere, parent and consumer editor at the comparison site Finder, said sports kit costs can be "brutal". Pre-loved items are usually what "kids have grown out of quickly rather than things that are poor quality", she said.
The government said schools should make second-hand uniforms accessible to parents. Families with older kids are usually eager to pass down gear," she said.
What's confirmed
- 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.
- The relaxed rules on uniform branding mean parents can purchase more items from supermarkets and charity shops, said Save the Children's Meek-O'Connor.
- In its latest survey of members, the Baby Bank Alliance found school uniform was reported as a priority item for the first time.
- "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.
- According to research from the bank Nationwide, a third of parents said they buy uniform from supermarkets, a third shop around for the best value and 23% purchase larger sizes so items last longer.
- Kate Steere, parent and consumer editor at the comparison site Finder, said sports kit costs can be "brutal".
What's still developing
- 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.
- 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.
- In its latest survey of members, the Baby Bank Alliance found school uniform was reported as a priority item for the first time.
- Boys' black and grey school trousers sorted into boxes at Little Stars Shropshire Hannah Stoddart, operations manager at Little Stars Shrewsbury, said families come to them in varying circumstances.
- "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.
- The relaxed rules on uniform branding mean parents can purchase more items from supermarkets and charity shops, said Save the Children's Meek-O'Connor.