Affording school uniform.

[Livinginanox]

Hi I have read on line a few times that. Something may be done to stop uniforms being so expensive. It was to do with the school logos only being able to get it from certain shops. And about help that lower income families can get .

So I would come under the category of being able to get some help with school uniform. So I went into my council website. In the past you would fill in a form on the council website that that was it.

Now it Says to contact the school your child will be attending. Straight away I thought there is no way I'm calling the school. And telling them I can't afford my child's uniform. It's embarrassing and downgrading. In my case I will be fine and will manage to sort it. But there will be familys that can't and I think its awful that they would have to call the school and explain they can't afford their child's uniform.

I don't even know why I'm posting. I just think it's horrible

Most primary schools sell their own second hand stash and they want it sold. Our school sells bits for £1.50 a pop and it's there for everyone not just those worst off.

@OneRingToRuleThemAll

Most primary schools sell their own second hand stash and they want it sold. Our school sells bits for £1.50 a pop and it's there for everyone not just those worst off.

I was thinking more secondary. Most primary you can buy in supermarkets. But yes it could include primary.

But secondary seems much more expensive. They have to have certain blazers/ties/shoes. Even full pe kits all fully logo instead of paying say 3.00 for a pe top is 17.00

I paid thirty quid for a top for my ds he is hypermobile and cannot coordinate to get the fucking thing on because its a stupid 1/4 zipped thing in static mad curiously inflexible synthetic material the kind that melts iyswim

I'm not buying it next year

Yes it sounds really discriminatory, I agree.
DD is primary and hasn't needed logo stuff so I get it cheap from supermarkets or buy/am given second hand logo stuff.
Harder at secondary if they insist on logos. Is it just blazer?

Please contact your school - if you claim pupil premium (free school meals) then you should automatically get a discount on it anyway but most schools will have additional means to help out those who need it.

Honestly no one will judge you at all - in my experience the priority is on getting kids into school in uniform and it's understandable that some parents will need more support than others.

look on your council website for the Local Crisis Prevention Fund. This incorporates grants for school uniform costs now.

It can be stupidly expensive.

Two of my DC go to a middle school which only sells the logo'd uniform sweatshirts and PE tops via a supplier. All of then have to have the child's name embroidered underneath the school badge which the uniform supplier charge extra for even though the school requires it to be done.

For six jumpers (three apiece) it was £102 plus £12 for names (£2 per jumper).

PE tshirts were £8 each (bought one each) and PE sweatshirts were £17 each (also bought one each) plus another £2 per item for names.

One child has to have the school rugby top (£23) as part of their PE kit and the other needs the PE hoodie (£18), again £2 an items for names. Both need school logo'd football/sports socks which are £6 a pair.

Ties were £5 apiece.

Total spend £239 (and £6.99 p&p) before I've ever bought shirts, trousers/skirts, shorts, shoes, trainers, etc. and this is a normal local authority controlled school.

My other two DC go to a first school where uniform is optional although most children choose to wear it. All items can be obtained from supermarkets and the optional logo'd jumper (which most don't bother with) can be bought direct from the school office. They also have secondhand items for sale and a uniform swap-shop where you can trade outgrown/unworn/no longer needed items for the bits you do need.

@Bingowingslikeashieldofsteel

Please contact your school - if you claim pupil premium (free school meals) then you should automatically get a discount on it anyway but most schools will have additional means to help out those who need it.

Honestly no one will judge you at all - in my experience the priority is on getting kids into school in uniform and it's understandable that some parents will need more support than others.

No there's no way I'm doing that . And others will feel the same. As I said in my case I will be ok.

But in response to the pupil premium it won't automatically be discounted as we have to go to a school shop. Its just a shop. That sells all the local logo school uniforms so there's no sort of discount.

@40sNonBlondes

look on your council website for the Local Crisis Prevention Fund. This incorporates grants for school uniform costs now.

It tells you to contact the school.

I'm fortunate that we can afford it. I emailed school to ask if they would consider relaxing some of the uniform requirements or simplifying the uniform, especially given the financial difficulties a lot of families are in now due to Brexit and covid with two major local employers closing recently and others downsizing. Their response was a flat no and that they consider their unform to be highly affordable

Lots of schools aren't run by the LA any more so the system you mention wouldn't work sadly.

I work in a secondary and we get requests from parents to help with uniform costs. Our head of pastoral went and bought a full uniform for a kid joining the school last week and we have a stash of second hand blazers that we get dry cleaned to give to people.

I know you say you'd be embarrassed but people work in schools because they like to help people and we don't bat an eye at parents who say they can't afford things and do our best to help. Not to say all schools are like this, but I reckon most are.

However I agree with your general point that uniform can be exclusionary, especially for schools like grammar schools with branded blazers and shirts and so on. It must put some parents off applying.

I hear you op, they are so expensive! Why can't they just do what primary school do? Our school accept donations, please do contact school, ask them if they sell 2nd hand if you don't want to feel downgrading. I doubt you are the only one who contact school about it. I certainly wouldn't judge, it's eye watering getting new uniform and shoes for 3 kids every year

I think it’s a bit of a scandal to be honest.

Why do they need to have logos on their uniforms? They could just have a designated colour

Why don't you want to contact the school?

@BlatantlyNameChanged that’s outrageous. Also means you can’t resell any of it which is such a huge waste let alone the financial impact.

Email the school. Tell them your child qualifies for PP and you are struggling. Ask them if there is any help or access to secondhand items. I'm sure they will help. There is no reason to be embarrassed. You will not be the only one. My primary school will buy two of each logo items for any PP family that asks.

We can afford the school uniform as can probably more than 99% of the parents at the school, but everyone still buys it from the second hand sales or else passes outgrown sizes on for free.

Doesn’t your school have second hand sales or a Facebook group selling outgrown clothes? I’d be surprised if not and suggest contacting the school to promote one starting if they don’t.

@Orf1abc

Why don't you want to contact the school?

It's embarrassing and downgrading. Imagine phoning a school you do not really know and say hi my child will be starting year 7 in September. I can't afford the uniform can you help me?

Secondary is a nightmare, just buying one of everything except shirts and trousers for my son going into year 7 is costing nearly £300. All the logo PE kit needs to be stopped. They should just say white t-shirt black shorts and only have logoed kit if you're on a team playing other schools.

It's worth checking if the school or PTFA have second hand uniform. Also the school really won't judge, so if you're entitled to help then as.

I completely agree. I spent £300 last weekend for my daughters secondary school uniform. This included 2 different types of PE top, PE shorts, PE skirt, PE tracksuit, kilt, blazer, jumper and blouses with the school emblem. I can afford it but it makes me so angry as many others won't be able to and won't want to approach the school. I think all schools should have basic black/Navy/ grey trousers, jumper etc that can be purchased at supermarkets etc. And a very basic PE kit. They can have their own tie or badge if necessary. There is absolutely no need for all this other Unfortunately I think some schools revel in having more expensive uniforms

I understand that you feel that it is degrading but the school staff won’t even bat an eyelid. There will be help available.

If you get PP the school will have budgeted for uniform or can find money in the PP fund. All our PP kids get a free blazer.

I think it's sad you're embarrassed to contact the school. You wouldn't be judged for it.

They do the same kind of thing for school trips that you can't afford so if the pastoral team are aware of a child from a lower income family the school can contribute towards the cost of trips etc.

I feel like swallowing your pride might benefit you in the long run.

@bonbonours

Secondary is a nightmare, just buying one of everything except shirts and trousers for my son going into year 7 is costing nearly £300. All the logo PE kit needs to be stopped. They should just say white t-shirt black shorts and only have logoed kit if you're on a team playing other schools.

It's worth checking if the school or PTFA have second hand uniform. Also the school really won't judge, so if you're entitled to help then as.

That is horrendous - I've just looked at the website for the school I work in (it's been a while since I had to buy the initial kit!) and the package including blazer, tie, trousers/skirt, two shirts, PE shorts, PE top and socks is £99. Pupil Premium recipients can get a third off which is refunded by school - they just need to show/email their receipt.

OP unfortunately unless you work with school they can't help you - as I said before no one will judge you and your child need never even know either...

@BlueSurfer

We can afford the school uniform as can probably more than 99% of the parents at the school, but everyone still buys it from the second hand sales or else passes outgrown sizes on for free.

Doesn’t your school have second hand sales or a Facebook group selling outgrown clothes? I’d be surprised if not and suggest contacting the school to promote one starting if they don’t.

No. Primary does have that sort of thing it's quite good they just have an area that has all the children's second hand uniform and you can just help yourself. So that's good. But not anything for secondary here . Also the clothes are likely to get more worn as well . And not in such good condition by the time they been finished with.