Wales in school has a 'real conflict' for parents

Bethan LewisFamily and Education Correspondent, BBC Wells News

Vicky Williams says that she starts worrying about the budget for the next school year on Christmas.

A mother says that she begins to fear the new school year from Christmas as uniform costs and other kits will require her children in September.

Vicky Williams from Carfili said that she gets “worried”, her children will not have everything they need and they will have to make a budget in advance.

It has been estimated that the minimum cost of sending a child to secondary school has reached about £ 2,300 per year since 2022, the Child Post Action Group (CPAG) said that the lower and medium-or-medium families have to face “a real struggle”.

The Welsh government said that she can do everything to support families.

Ms. Williams started the budget at the beginning of the year for her nine and 14 -year -old items.

He said: “I scare it after Christmas – I know if I do not plan or budget, I am struggling in August, September.

“I’m getting worried that my children are not going to school with proper equipment, so I have already got a good plan to prepare and is able to bear to buy my uniform and everything else.”

She said that while her daughter’s primary school uniform does not need logo, her 14 -year -old son needs a separate PE kit, rugby kit and football kit.

Vicky Williams’ 14-year-old son has different kits for PE and other games

A woman with a long objective hairy wearing a denim vast standing in front of some terraced houses on an estate. — Vicky Williams’ 14-year-old son has different kits for PE and other games

Travels are another source of stress and even though the schools help parents in payment schemes, Ms. Williams said that there was a sufficient notice of upcoming expenses.

“You want your children to join everything, want to go out for trips with your friends, go into a bus and keep experience and everything.

“But then when the cost of most trips is so high and it is not remarkable for something, you feel guilty, as a parents that your child is missing.”

Part -time supermarket delivery driver also has a two -year -old child and said that he would already “consistently stress and anxiety in my mind and have three children in two years”.

Lisa Watkins says that schools are very strict about uniforms sometimes

A woman with long brown haired is standing in front of a uniform train arranged by color wearing a black T-shirt — Lisa Watkins says that schools are very strict about uniforms sometimes

At Lansbury Park Estate, caerphilly uniform exchange sells pre-land and the uniform donated for minimum cost can be swapped for free.

Director Lisa Watkins said that about 120 families use Carfili shop in a month.

They have other hubs in Boro, have an online shop and give free bundles for children referred to by schools and social services.

“Some schools have changed their uniforms to make things more normal and accessible, but more work can be done”, he said.

“I think we should treat school uniform like a workwear. It doesn’t matter whether it is a hole or a little paint on it, you know how it is for.”

In a graphic and blue school uniform with a boy's sketch with a girl checker trousers and skirts and red relationships/bow relationships. It says one year cost in secondary school: £ 449.67 Transport £ 390 Learning, lunch and snacks £ 846.15 uniforms, PE kits, shoes and bags £ 449.68 enhancement EG trips, charity day £ 139.28 and total £ 2.274.77. The text is red and orange and the background looks like a line paper from a school notebook

Along with uniforms, shops also supply other costumes and organizations.

“Prom is currently a big cost for parents. Things like World Book Day, children’s needs, Christmas Nattivity, Christmas Jumper days,” said Ms. Watkins.

“As the time moves forward, we find all these different ceremonies and things to participate, but I think it actually gives the parents financially burden, there is very little thought on the parents.”

He said that parents had to face “absolutely huge” financial pressures, and “didn’t want to be the only child who was not going to prom, or fancy dress outfits, or new football shoes.”

Welsh government strengthened its similar guidance for schools in 2023 “But overall it is still a big expense”, Child Poverty Action Group’s Ellie Harwood said

A woman with wavy shoulder -length brown hair, wearing round glasses and a black jacket on a light brown couch in front of a dark brown wall — Welsh government strengthened its similar guidance for schools in 2023 “But overall it is still a big expense”, Child Poverty Action Group’s Ellie Harwood said

A Report In May, it was estimated that the minimum cost of education is more than £ 1,000 for primary school children and about £ 2,300 for secondary school children, three years ago an increase of 30% for secondary school children.

It said that the cost of food for school day and technology for learning were the main sources of growth for secondary school children.

“This is a really important amount for families,” said CPAG senior education policy officer Elli Harwood.

“It can be a real conflict for homes at low and moderate income to meet the cost and obviously you have more and more children”.

Ms. Harwood said that research had suggested that the uniform cost was “flat-line”, which she hoped that “reflection in school policy changes”.

At the primary level in Wales, the universal free school food “saves families around £ 500 per child”, Ms. Harwood said, but a strict meaning test is still applied to children of secondary age.

He said that access Welsh government support School costs should be expanded.

He said, “There are many houses living in poverty in Wales that cannot currently use free school food or school required grants,” she said.

“They cannot help with the cost of school trips.

“We know that there are about 25,000 secondary older learners who are living in poverty who are not eligible for support with these grants and with free school food.”