HARD-UP households will be able to save hundreds on their children’s school uniforms thanks to a new government law.
New statutory guidance, effective from September, means schools will have to make uniforms affordable for all families.
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Rules to allow more high street options, such as own-brand supermarket uniforms, will come in to force in just over a months time.
Branded items should be kept at a minimum to help parents save money, the guidance adds.
It will also allow families and households to buy second-hand uniform.
The guidance will apply to all schools, apart from those which are bound to keep a certain type of logo on their uniforms.
Many schools currently say parents should buy expensive branded items when standard kit would be cheaper.
The Department for Education said parents could save £50 by buying uniform from any store, rather than a specialist shop.
A uniform costs £101.19 per child in secondary school on average, according to the latest data by the Schoolwear Association.
This means for families with more than one child, the amount spent on uniforms can add up to several hundred pounds.
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Secretary of state for education Nadhim Zahawi said: “School uniform provides a sense of identity and community for children and young people, and should be a real source of pride.
“But it must never be a burden for parents or a barrier to pupils accessing education.
“This new binding guidance will help to make uniforms far more affordable for families by driving costs down as we work hard to level up the country.”
The school uniform bill was first introduced by Labour MP Mike Amesbury, with the backing of the Children’s Society.
It was delayed due to the pandemic, but was given Royal Assent last April, meaning the Queen gave her permission for the bill to pass.
As the bill received royal assent last year, then schools minister Nick Gibb told The Sun: “Too often rising costs have become unreasonable, and I know some parents can feel put off by having to spend such significant amounts – or worse caught unaware when the costs are not upfront and clear to them from the start.
“This new law will help to make school uniform affordable for all, saving families money and ensuring the cost of a blazer or shirt is never a barrier.
“Whether that means encouraging parents to use their local supermarket or clothes shop, or supporting the use of second-hand uniform, I want to put an end to the financial pressure the cost of school uniform can put on families.”
The bill comes as food and fuel costs, and energy bills soar during the cost of living crisis.
Parents in some areas of the UK can apply for a £150 uniform grant to help cover some of the costs.
However, the grants are unavailable in many council areas in England.
One mum was outraged after spending more than £240 on uniforms last year.
We previously rounded up the best tips to save money on school uniforms, including shopping around and buying long-lasting clothes.
