Norfolk school uniform shop urges businesses to support good causes
Over a third of parents in the East said that uniform prices had not become more affordable over the past year
A woman running a local school uniform shop is urging businesses to support efforts aimed at helping struggling families.
With close to half of parents in the East finding it difficult to afford new kit needed for next month- according to a poll.
"'It's all going to all add up to quite a hefty bill"
Gemma Hyde runs the centre at Castle Quarter in Norwich:
"The situation is scary for many families now. Your typical top is costing mor than ÂŁ10, and if you have a few children and you're also buying the likes of trousers, jumpers, bags and blazers it's all going to all add up to quite a hefty bill".
"Having a good school uniform, that fits well is also so important when you consider that if a child is comfortable they're then able to focus and learn better".
The research in more detail:
Over a third of parents in the East (37%) said that uniform prices had not become more affordable over the past year, despite efforts to make more second-hand items available.
Nationally, the same survey of 3,000 parents found that thousands of children across the UK have faced punishments linked to unaffordable uniforms – including detentions (12%), isolation (9%), and even exclusions (8%).
Secondary school pupils were most likely to be affected, with one in eight (12%) placed in isolation for uniform breaches beyond their control.
"Too many families are feeling the squeeze from high uniform costs"
Mark Russell, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, said:
“In the East of England, too many families are feeling the squeeze from high uniform costs. Every child in our region should be able to attend school without fear of being singled out because their parents can’t afford expensive branded items.
“With school uniform costs still crippling family budgets, we welcome the proposed limit of three branded items in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and urge the government to implement it – parents overwhelmingly support this much-needed change.”
The poll also found strong backing for reform, with 78% of parents UK-wide supporting a statutory limit on branded items.
Parents suggested an average of three branded items would be reasonable, but they said they are currently required to buy five items in primary schools and six in secondary on average.
Jumpers, cardigans, PE tops, and ties remain the most common branded items, inflating costs.
Over the summer holidays, when uniform bills peak, The Children’s Society is working with charity shops, community projects, and uniform banks to make affordable second-hand uniforms more accessible across the East of England and the rest of the UK.