Getting kitted out

Kitting your child out for their next big adventure

There is no getting around it. Kitting out children for their first year of secondary school can be expensive, but there are ways to keep the costs down.

It’s been estimated that parents spend upwards of £200 ahead of the new academic year on everything from trousers, skirts and shirts to PE kits.

Supermarkets have become a lifesaver for parents seeking to save on school uniforms with Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Marks & Spencer all offering a range of deals on basics.

While primary schools tend to be more flexible, secondary schools have sometimes required more items such as blazers and jumpers to be purchased from specified suppliers.

But, from this autumn, they will be required to take steps to remove unnecessary branded items and allow more high-street options, like supermarket own-brand uniform.

The school uniform bill was first introduced by Labour MP Mike Amesbury, with the backing of the Children’s Society and became law in May 2021.

It followed a campaign for action after concerns were raised that pupils were having to sit out class or were being sent home from school for not having the right kit. The aim was to ensure that in the future uniform would never be a burden for parents or a barrier to pupils accessing education.

As part of the new guidance, schools are encouraged to provide a second-hand option for parents, to both support families and help work towards achieving net zero carbon emissions.

When looking for uniform options, it’s always best to check what the school’s uniform policy requires beforehand. Pay attention to the fine details such as the minimum length and permitted types of skirts and the styles of trousers that are allowed. Shoes are a regular issue for parents as schools are very specific on what is required and students will be sent home for wearing the wrong footwear.

It’s better to be absolutely sure that the shoes you are looking at will be allowed before you spend the money.

Spreading the cost throughout the

TIPS TO SAVE CASH

n Shop during the summer: take advantage of ‘back to school’ offers during the six-week holiday as costs often rise when pupils are back at school

n Don’t leave it to the last minute: Shopping too close to the start of term could mean you miss out as some shops will have run out of stock or have less options in popular sizes n Cut the cost by swapping: Take to social media sites such as Facebook to see if parents are selling secondhand uniform or if you’re lucky they might even be giving away clothing that hasn’t been worn very often for free.

year can help reduce the bill – just buy the essentials and now and then top it up with other items as they are needed later in the year. Make the most of the end of season sales, consider buying your child a winter coat as the weather becomes milder so they have it ready for the autumn.

You can buy it in a bigger size which gives them room to grow. If your child has friends attending the same school consider buying some items in bulk to bring the cost down. Take advantage of three for two offers which you can share the cost of between you to make it cheaper.

If you are still struggling to cover the cost then some councils run grant schemes with cash available as long as certain conditions are met.

Also, check if there are any uniform swap shops running in your local area. They offer pieces of clothing for free and it’s not dependant on you having items to swap.

Bear in mind that your child may get involved in extracurricular activities and there could be additional fees involved such as equipment, musical instruments and art supplies.

Some schools or councils will subsidise activities like music lessons to help bring down the cost for parents as they want to make them accessible to all. It helps to find out early what these may be so you can budget for them.

School trips, while certainly educational and fun for your child, can be another strain on your finances and something worth planning ahead for. Although trips are optional, peer pressure can mean you feel you are left with little choice but to find the money.