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A mother of three has voiced her concerns about the escalating costs associated with sending her children to school.
Lauren Barford-Dowling, 27, from Luton, described the financial burden of uniforms, footwear, meals, and school trips as “daunting”.
Level Trust, a charity based in Luton that provides essential school supplies to families in need, has reported a surge in demand for its services, with an increase of up to 20% compared to the previous year.
“You want them to look their best, but it’s hard to keep up,” Ms. Barford-Dowling stated.
Ms. Barford-Dowling is a mother to three children, aged 10, six, and five, and is expecting a fourth.
She noted the rising prices of branded school jumpers and tops, adding, “I worry about having enough money for all the essentials like shoes, trainers, trousers, dresses, tops.”
“Three pairs of trainers cost over £100 – and they’ll be ruined in a couple of months. It’s scary.”
School meals also contribute significantly to the financial strain, she explained, with her eldest child’s lunches costing £44 per month.
“When all three move up to Key Stage 2, I’ll be paying nearly £100 a month just so they can eat,” she added.
Ms. Barford-Dowling acknowledged the support she received from Level Trust, which provided her children with free school shoes and trainers for physical education.
Kerri Porthouse, Deputy Chief Executive of Level Trust, confirmed the increased demand for the charity’s services.
“We’ve already seen an increase of between 15% and 20% compared with last year.”
“That’s 200 more families in July and August alone. It’s a huge increase for a charity to cope with.”
“Parents with children moving into reception or secondary often don’t realise how much uniform is needed until school begins. Then they come to us in a panic,” she said.
Research conducted by the Child Poverty Action Group estimates the annual cost of sending a child to primary school at £1,000, and £2,300 for secondary school.
Kate Anstey, Head of Education Policy at the Child Poverty Action Group, noted that children from low-income families are forgoing subjects due to the cost of school trips and necessary equipment.
“Too many children are growing up in poverty, and it’s having a stark impact on their school day,” she asserted.
A spokesperson for the Department for Education responded by stating, “No child should face barriers to their education because of their family’s finances.”
“We are capping the number of branded uniform items schools can require, and from 2026 all children in households on Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals.”
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