Call for help with school uniform cost in England

One of the UK’s largest loan advisors said that low -income families in England should struggle with the cost of school uniforms.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, all families on some benefits can claim between £ 93 to £ 200 per child for back-to-school clothing.

But Money Wellness found that only the fifth councils in England provide any support and they have called upon the UK government to grant a statutory school clothes.

Education Department (DFE) said that it was already Change the law Schools can emphasize schools to limit the number of branded items, saving some families of more than £ 50 at the back-to-school shop.

However, according to DFE data, the average cost of school uniform is £ 340 for primary school children and more than £ 454 for those in secondary education.

“For many low -income houses, with such savings, the uniform will be ineffective without proper support,” policy and public affairs officer in money wellness said.

Money Wellness states 153 local education authorities in England, only 22 provide a dedicated uniform grant, while providing another seven help, but only in extraordinary circumstances such as fire, floods or homeless.

It said that the data reveals the “postkode lottery of support”.

Councils in places like London, Yorkshire and North West provide help between £ 30 to £ 170 per child.

But, it said: “The vast majority offers nothing.”

Mr. Rolf said: “We require a consistent, national approach to support school uniform to ensure that any child is only deprived of where they live.”

The membership group for English councils, the local government association said: “While some councils choose to help parents with the cost of school uniform, funding pressure on the council budget makes them rapidly difficult to continue these concessional grants.

While students in England are still out for summer, the brake ends in about four weeks and the Children’s Society Charity said that it is now the time when school uniforms are starting to get busy with banks.

For Carrie, who was receiving a uniform for her son Dillian for her new secondary school, the Cheshire has places like green uniforms and baby banks.

“This is a real challenge to be able to bear a new school uniform,” he told the BBC.

Carrie said that she had ordered new goods worth £ 200, and she could “send some things back” and even buy some parts.

“This is a real safety trap,” he said.

But Carrie said that there were other costs such as shoes and football shoes. “And dilon will grow among them, so it is actually a continuous issue and not far away with Christmas, it is a back-to-back for the cost families.”

With a house Bills like bills, water and council taxes in AprilMr. Rolf said that the cost of the beginning of the school year was an additional financial burden.

Jason, who was in a green uniform and baby bank in the Cheshire with his wife Julie and his children Amelia and Bobby, said it was not just a low -income families who were struggling with the cost.

He said, “You can earn a lot of money, but the bills are increasing, the cost of living is increasing. We are in a kind of crisis, where everyone is trying to save or save penny-pinning,” he said.

Josh, whose daughter Isabella was leaving in seven years, said that the cost of the school uniform was “very high”, but she received an email from the school, telling them about the bank.

“It only helps support such places to all, keeps it a fair price,” he said.

“This is great for everyone, there is no decision to use secondhand clothes. It used to have a lot of stigma, it was to be branded, but now there is no stigma on it, everyone is struggling in the same boat.”

And this is a permanent way of shopping according to Jason: “You are not going uniform and clothes on landfill sites”.

Michelle Hothorn, who helps run a school uniform bank in Winsford, Cheshire, stated that the uniform cost of the school was an “anorum” pressure for families.

“If you have many children in many schools, as a lot of our families do, you can see how it can cost … unbearable.”

A department of a spokesperson of education said: “Our plan for change is removing obstacles for opportunity, with limits on school uniform branded items, we are taking a step to return money in the parents’ pockets and break the link between background and success.”

• If a council does not have a school uniform grant, families can apply for help through the Domestic Assistance Fund. Each council adminors it differently, so check the council websites for details

• Check to see if the school organizes the second-hand uniform sales, or runs its own pre-booked uniform bank.

• Check with retail vendors including major supermarkets for back-to-school deals on uniforms

Source: Money wellness