LIDL is launching cheap school uniform items that you can buy next week in-store.
Lots of supermarkets have been fighting it out to sell the cheapest school uniforms ahead of schools going back next term.
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Many parents will be searching for the cheapest school uniforms on sale as they think ahead to the end of the summer holidays.
Following a government rule change, school uniform prices are meant to cost far less than they used to.
The Department for Education said parents could save £50 by buying uniform from any store, rather than a specialist shop.
But the costs of a full uniform can still easily rack up, so it’s no wonder that many parents want to find the cheapest option.
Lidl is the latest store to launch its new school uniform collection – and it goes on sale next week with school sweatshirts costing as little as £1.50.
You’ll need to head for your local store though – Lidl doesn’t deliver yet, so you can’t shop online.
The range is called Smart Start and items will be available to buy from Thursday July 28.
At least you won’t need to worry about delivery charges on your orders – that’s something to keep in mind if you have a scout around other supermarkets.
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The Lidl range includes the following items:
- 2 pack polo shirts – £1.75 (white/blue)
- Trousers/skirts/shorts – £1.75 (grey/black)
- Jumpers – £1.50 (red/black)
- Cardigans – £2.99 (red/black)
- 2 pack dresses – £6.99 (grey/black)
The range is meant for ages four to 12, but black dresses only go up to age nine.
Items are subject to availability and stock will likely sell out fast – but you can always ring ahead to your local Lidl store to check what’s available to avoid a wasted trip.
Where else can I buy cheap uniform?
If you want to shop around, there are some other similar cheap uniforms on sale elsewhere.
For example, Aldi has a Specialbuy bundle available.
Its range includes sweatshirts costing £1.50, polo shirt two-packs costing £1.75 and trousers or skirts for £1.75.
But you’ll have to be quick, as the bundle is a Specialbuy, so once the items are gone, they’re gone.
You’ll also need to factor in delivery costs if you’re ordering online – it might hike the price up, especially if you live further away.
You can find your nearest Aldi store here.
The prices should stay the same regardless of size, and these uniforms fit ages four to 12.
There’s also Tesco‘s F&F range of uniforms, which isn’t available online. That means you’ll need to head to your nearest store.
Prices are as follows:
- Two pack regular trouser – from £7
- Two pack pleated skirt – from £7
- Two pack V-neck jumper – from £6
- Two pack regular short sleeve shirt – from £3
- Two pack unisex polo – from £2.50
Sainsbury’s TU clothing range is available online or in-store.
Prices are as follows:
- Polo shirt 2 pack – £3
- Pleated skirt 2 pack – £7
- Grey trousers – £7
- Unisex V-Neck Jumper – £7
- White shirt 3 pack – £4
You can browse more uniform prices here.
What other help can I get with buying school uniform?
You might be able to claim financial help this summer in the lead up to kids going back to school.
As well as the £650 cost of living payment, your local council is offering up to £150 to help you pay for school uniforms.
The school clothing grant is available to those in Scotland as a cash grant paid directly to your account.
These are the two cash payments available:
- £120 per child of primary school age
- £150 per child of secondary school age
You need to apply via your local council, which you can find using the government locator tool. You’ll just need to put in your post code.
You’ll need to prove some kind of financial hardship which might require a recent bank statement.
Otherwise, it might help if you receive tax credits.
Also, some charities give grants to help with the costs of education.
But bear in mind they often have a limited amount of money to give and usually have specific criteria which must be met in order to get a grant.
For example, members of union Unison can access grants of between £50 and £150 if they meet other income criteria.
And struggling parents who work in supermarkets can apply for a £150 grant to help with the cost of school uniforms.
Alternatively, charity Turn2Us has a free grants search tool so you can find out what help is available to you.
You also can apply for free school meals before the terms starts so you don’t need to worry about the rising cost of food.
By applying for this, it means you’ll get help throughout the holidays too when your little ones aren’t in school.
That includes:
- Summer 2022
- October mid-term 2022
- Christmas 2022
- February mid-term 2023
- Easter 2023
Remember, you might need to be receiving tax credits to get this grant, but you can discuss your options with your local council.
If you’re still struggling for uniforms, remember Facebook Marketplace is a great option to start looking.
Uniforms will be cheap or in some cases free. You may also be able to buy classroom essentials as well.
