Families with limited financial resources in England who are facing challenges covering the expenses of school uniforms should be provided with standard grants, according to one of the UK’s leading debt advisory services.
In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, families meeting specific benefit criteria are eligible to claim between £93 and £200 per child for school clothing at the start of the academic year.
However, a study by Money Wellness revealed that only one-fifth of local councils in England offer any form of support. The organization is urging the UK government to implement a statutory school clothing grant.
The Department for Education (DfE) stated that it is already amending legislation to restrict the number of branded items that schools can mandate, potentially saving families over £50 on back-to-school shopping.
Nonetheless, DfE figures indicate that the average cost of a school uniform is just over £340 for primary school children and approximately £454 for secondary school students.
“For many low-income households, even with such savings, uniforms will remain unaffordable without proper support,” stated Adam Rolfe, policy and public affairs officer at Money Wellness.
Money Wellness reports that out of 153 local education authorities in England, only 22 offer a dedicated uniform grant, while an additional seven provide assistance solely in exceptional circumstances such as fire, flooding, or homelessness.
The data reveals a “postcode lottery of support,” according to the organization.
Councils in areas such as London, Yorkshire, and the North West offer aid ranging from £30 to £170 per child.
However, the report states that “the vast majority offer nothing at all.”
Mr. Rolfe emphasized, “We urgently need a consistent, national approach to school uniform support to ensure no child is disadvantaged simply because of where they live.”
The Local Government Association, the membership group for English councils, stated: “While some councils choose to help parents with the cost of school uniforms, funding pressures on council budgets make it increasingly difficult for them to continue these concessionary grants.”
While pupils in England are currently on summer break, which concludes in approximately four weeks, the Children’s Society charity notes that school uniform banks are beginning to experience increased demand.
For Carrie, who was acquiring a uniform for her son Dillon’s new secondary school, resources such as the Green Uniform and Baby Bank in Cheshire are considered “invaluable.”
“It’s a real challenge to be able to afford a brand new school uniform,” she told the BBC.
Carrie stated that she had ordered £200 worth of new items and that she could “now send some things back” and potentially purchase additional spares.
“It’s a real safety net,” she commented.
Carrie also noted additional expenses such as shoes and football boots. “And Dillon will grow out of them, so it’s a continual issue, really, and with Christmas not far off, it’s back-to-back for families with costs.”
With household bills such as energy, water, and council tax increasing in April, Mr. Rolfe pointed out that the costs associated with the start of the school year add to the existing financial strain.
Jason, who was at the Green Uniform and Baby Bank in Cheshire with his wife Julie and their children Amelia and Bobby, noted that financial challenges are not limited to low-income families.
“You might earn a lot of money; however, bills are going up, the cost of living is going up. We’re in a sort of crisis where everyone’s trying to save or penny-pinching wherever they can,” he explained.
Josh, whose daughter Isabella was entering year seven, described the cost of school uniforms as “very high” but acknowledged that he received an email from the school informing him about the bank.
“It just helps places like this to support everyone, keep it a fair price,” he said.
“It’s great for everyone; there’s no judgment on using secondhand clothes. There used to be a lot of stigma; it had to be branded, but now there’s no stigma on that, everyone’s in the same boat struggling.”
Jason also emphasized the sustainability aspect of shopping in this manner: “You’re not having uniforms and clothes going to landfill sites.”
Michelle Hawthorne, who assists in managing a school uniform bank in Winsford, Cheshire, emphasized that school uniform costs create “enormous” pressure for families.
“If you have multiple children across multiple schools, as a lot of our families do, you can see how the cost of that can become… unbearable.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Our Plan for Change is removing barriers to opportunity, with limits on branded items of school uniform just one of the steps we’re taking to put money back into parents’ pockets and break the link between background and success.”
Source: Money Wellness
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