North East uniform bank helping families ahead of new rules
The number of compulsory branded school uniform items in England will be limited from next month
A uniform bank in Gateshead is helping families this summer ahead of new rules coming into effect from next month.
It comes as The Children’s Society is issuing a warning saying families in the North East are still feeling the financial impact of the school holidays as they prepare children for the new term.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of North East parents said school holiday costs were higher than a year earlier — the highest proportion among the English regions in a survey carried out earlier this year. The survey also found 66% described the holidays as financially stressful, and 58% said the cost of activities during the holidays was difficult to manage - a greater share than those who struggled with food and drink (45% in the North East).
The warning comes as a major reform The Children’s Society campaigned for takes effect. From September, schools in England will be limited to three compulsory branded uniform items, or four in secondary and middle schools where one item is a tie.
Gateshead West Uniform Scheme is playing its part with its uniform bank.
Eleanor Baggaley is a trustee there and said: "The statutory guidance, the government statutory guidance is much needed. In a way it's a shame that schools hadn't kind of given it this thought without having the shove that's been needed.
"These schools that have made those changes, they are thinking about the cost implications for parents and the way that the children are going to be learning."
However, Eleanor believes the rule change is still excessive.
She said: "Yes, we've got maximum of three branded items for primary schools and a maximum of four for secondary schools if one of those is a tie. I just think ties are so outdated. Most people don't wear ties. Even men in offices kind of don't tend to wear ties these days. It does feel that like education is maybe a little bit behind the times in terms of work wear."
The Children’s Society, which campaigned for years for action on the cost of school uniforms, welcomes the change as a genuine step towards fairer costs for families.
Mark Russell, Chief Executive of The Children's Society, said: “The new limit on compulsory branded items is a genuine and welcome step towards fairer school-uniform costs - a change we campaigned for over many years, and it’s good to see it finally arriving.
"But the pressures on families in the North East don’t stop there. Our research shows how expensive the school holidays are, with many parents borrowing money, skipping meals or relying on food banks to cope. We welcome the expansion of Free School Meals, but the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is only open to families who meet stricter income limits. This means around 1.3 million children could miss out.
“Families need real, practical help to manage these costs - from affordable activities to support that reaches them when the pressure is greatest.”
Walking into Nothing: The hidden cost of the school holidays for families
The charity’s report, Walking into Nothing: The hidden cost of the school holidays for families, found:
- Parents nationally spent an estimated £50 on food and drink and £91 on other costs for their eldest school-age child during the one-week February half-term — around £141 in total.
- 64% said the cost of school holidays was higher than a year earlier.
- Among parents who struggled with holiday costs, 30% used a credit card, 24% borrowed from friends or family and 17% used buy now, pay later.
- Among parents who took action to manage those costs, 27% skipped a meal themselves and 10% used a food bank.