Back to School: Saving on Uniform Costs
BBC News
BBC Homepage
Skip to content
Accessibility Help
Your account
Home
News
Sport
Earth
Reel
Worklife
Travel
Culture
Future
Music
TV
Weather
Sounds
Search BBC
Back to School: How to Save on Uniform Costs
Image source: Getty Images
By Jemma Crew, Business Reporter
Published 1 hour ago
Back to school can be a rollercoaster of emotions for parents, with financial worries topping the list. Almost half of parents expressed anxiety about the cost of school uniforms, according to research by Save the Children and the Baby Bank Alliance. A third confessed to sacrificing personal expenses to afford essential back-to-school items like uniforms, bags, and books.
New Rules
limiting the number of branded school items to three per child come into effect in September, aiming to ease the financial burden. From baby banks to council grants, here's how parents can navigate the costs of kitting out their kids for school:
Your First Port of Call
Save the Children acknowledges that while the new uniform rules are a step in the right direction, back-to-school expenses remain a concern across various income levels. The government encourages schools to promote the use of second-hand uniforms.
Megan Meek-O'Connor, Head of England and Westminster at Save the Children, suggests:
- Speaking with a trusted teacher about financial constraints.
- Exploring uniform hubs, swap shops, and sales organized by schools before the term begins.
- Accessing hardship funds offered by some schools.
London's School Uniform Reuse Network launched earlier this year, providing schools with practical advice on establishing or enhancing their swap shops. In its first term, the network facilitated the reuse of over 1,500 items across 24 schools.
Don't Discard Baby Banks
While parents of older children might think baby banks are only for infants, many support hubs across the UK offer school uniforms for children up to secondary level.
Little Stars Shrewsbury, for instance, assists families in various situations, from new school starters to older pupils needing repairs or replacements. Hannah Stoddart, their Operations Manager, emphasizes their year-round support, ensuring families can access assistance whenever needed.
Supermarkets and Pre-Loved Items
The new rules on uniform branding allow for more purchases from supermarkets and charity shops. Save the Children's Meek-O'Connor recommends pre-loved items, often of better quality than inexpensive new ones, and frequently worn by kids before they outgrow them.
Stocking Up
According to Nationwide research, a third of parents prefer to buy uniforms from supermarkets, while 23% opt for larger sizes to save money in the long run. Kate Steere, Parent and Consumer Editor at Finder, suggests teaming up with friends to bulk buy items, maximizing savings.