A mother has expressed concerns about the financial strain of back-to-school expenses, stating that the cost of uniforms and supplies triggers anxiety as early as Christmas.
Vicky Williams, a parent from Caerphilly, reports feeling “anxious” about ensuring her children have everything they need for the new academic year and begins budgeting several months in advance to mitigate the financial burden.
Estimates suggest that the minimum cost of sending a child to secondary school has reached approximately £2,300 annually, marking a £600 increase since 2022. The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) warns that lower and middle-income families are facing “a real struggle” in affording these expenses.
The Welsh government has affirmed its commitment to supporting families facing these challenges.
Ms. Williams initiates her budgeting process at the beginning of each year to accommodate the needs of her nine and 14-year-old children.
“I dread it after Christmas,” she stated. “I know if I don’t plan or budget, I am going to be struggling August, September time.”
“I’ll be getting anxious that my children aren’t going to school with the proper equipment, so I’ve got to plan well in advance in order to prepare and be able to afford to buy their uniforms and everything else they need.”
She noted that while her daughter’s primary school uniform does not require logos, her 14-year-old son needs a separate PE kit, rugby kit, and football kit.
School trips also contribute to the financial stress, and despite schools offering payment plans, Ms. Williams expressed concern about the lack of sufficient notice regarding upcoming expenses.
“You want your children to get involved in everything, want to go out for trips with their friends, go on a bus and have the experience and everything.”
“But then when the cost of most trips are so high and it’s not doable for some, then you feel guilty then as a parent that your child is missing out.”
Ms. Williams, who works part-time as a supermarket delivery driver and also has a two-year-old, anticipates “that constant stress and anxiety on my mind that I’ll have three children in school” in the coming years.
The Caerphilly Uniform Exchange, located on the Lansbury Park estate, offers pre-owned and donated uniforms at minimal cost or allows families to swap items for free.
Lisa Watkins, Director, reported that approximately 120 families utilize the Caerphilly shop each month.
The exchange operates additional hubs throughout the borough, maintains an online store, and provides free bundles for children referred by schools and social services.
“Some schools have changed their uniform to make things more generic and accessible, but more work could be done definitely,” she stated.
“I think that we should be treating school uniform more like workwear. It doesn’t matter if it’s got a hole or a bit of paint on it, you know, that’s kind of what it’s for.”
In addition to uniforms, the exchange also provides costumes and outfits for various occasions.
“Prom is a huge cost to parents at the moment. Things like World Book Day, Children in Need, Christmas Nativity, Christmas jumper days,” Ms. Watkins noted.
“As time progresses, we find all of these different celebrations and things to take part in, but I think there’s little thought on how much it actually burdens parents financially.”
She added that parents face “absolutely huge” financial pressures and do not want their child to be “the only child that isn’t going to prom, or hasn’t got the fancy dress outfit, or the new football boots.”
A report published by the CPAG in May estimated the minimum cost of education is more than £1,000 for primary school children and almost £2,300 for secondary school children, a rise of 30% on three years ago.
It said the cost of food for the school day and technology for learning were the main sources of increases for secondary school children.
“This is a really significant amount of money for families,” said Ellie Harwood, senior education policy officer for CPAG.
“It can be a real struggle for households on low and middle incomes to meet the cost and obviously the more children you have the greater the cost”.
Ms Harwood said research had suggested uniform costs had “flat-lined”, which she hoped was a “reflection in changes of school policy”.
At primary level in Wales, universal free school meals “saves families around £500 a year per child”, Ms Harwood said, but a strict means test still applied for secondary age children.
She said access to Welsh government support with the costs of school should be expanded .
“There are a lot of households living in poverty in Wales who cannot currently access free school meals or the school essentials grant,” she said.
“They can’t get help with the cost of school trips.
“We know there’s about 25,000 secondary aged learners who are living in poverty who don’t qualify for support with these grants and with free school meals.”
The Welsh government said: “We are doing everything we can to support families in Wales”.
“We continue to monitor the potential impact of inflation on the number of learners eligible for a free school meal and the School Essentials Grant.”
It said it recognised the “financial burden” of school uniform.
“Our statutory guidance on school uniform policy says that affordability should be a priority, and branded items should not be compulsory.
“We are currently reviewing the impact of the changes to the guidance”.
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