To think ‘uniform grant’ should be available to all?

[Fortunecooky]

I was talking to a friend who lives in the UK tonight and was shocked to hear if low income/income support that you don’t get uniform grants.

Where we live in Channel Islands you’re entitled to a full uniform grant of Jumper, 2 shirts, 2 shorts/skirts, PE Kit, school shoes (Clarks) and trainers.

I think this is brilliant as you get help if needed and means that the children can’t feel the odd one out not having branded or Logo items.

Good idea but where do you think the money for this grant will come from?

I think you can get help from the local council if you are low earners but you have to ask for it

There is a grant available for this. Often the second hand shop is free for some children too.

Ah maybe my friend has not been made aware of help available, but I’m glad to know there is some. Times are hard for all!

There is no uniform grant anymore. I believe some local authorities offer help, but many don't. Mine doesn't - when my kids started secondary there was no help, and a rather expensive branded uniform only available from a single supplier. I got second hand as much as possible, and was furious when the school this year decided to change the uniform (so ruling out the second hand option).

I am not on benefits any more, but am still outraged at state schools that insist on expensive branded uniforms.

I presume only if you are on income support? We are low earners (but at the top end of this) and struggle but not enough to get income support. Really annoys me that the ones in states housing that don’t work are far better off than we are when we both work full time

No, you can send in copies of mortgage/rent vs income and childcare etc as it’s means tested rather than just for those in receipt of states housing or benefits.

We are not even what I’d class as low earners, but with the cost of living here we definitely qualify even though we don’t qualify for IS.

There is a charity organisation in our area that helps families struggling with uniform costs.

Unfortunately the councils have such demands on their funding I don't think they could be expected to do this

Most state primary uniform can be bought in supermarkets now so is very cheap. The logo jumpers can be got second hand. Our area also has help for buying uniform for low income families.

maybe if people were paid a living wage we wouldn’t need food banks, top up benefits and uniform grants .

I’m in Scotland and people who are entitled to free schools meals on various benefits or a low income who are entitled to benefits can apply for a school clothing grant of £125. This isn’t open to everyone whose children are entitled to FSM as in Scotland all children receive FSM up to P5, you have to be on a benefit to receive it.

Edited to add its £160 for a primary school clothing grant and £172 for secondary, my mistake.

Exactly. And rents - my basic house costs me £2200 a month in rent.

There’s a uniform charity in my area, you let them know what school, what size, and they put together a uniform bundle for you, and deliver it too so nobody has to feel othered.

My youngest’s senior school has a uniform shop in the pastoral base - all items from lost property (after attempting return, and after a suitable time) and from donations from parents. All items £1, and funds ploughed back into a charity the school supports.

Having said that, I agree that expensive uniform is ridiculous, and that nobody should be in a situation where their income isn’t enough for the basics for their child attending school.

My town has a uniform bank, people donate outgrown uniforms and people in need can go and collect clothing for free. Works really well. I donated all my kids uniforms once surplus to requirements

£160 for primary uniform is loads, I've just bought my DCs uniform who's starting reception in September and it didn't come to anywhere near that.

We have a uniform swap shop in our area. You can take 4 items for free.

Exactly. And rents - my basic house costs me £2200 a month in rent.

Wow - it’s ridiculous isn’t it?

Same for charity - it’s shouldn’t be a thing - it just shouldn’t - we aren’t a 3rd work country. We are a wealthy nation.

Same for ‘free nursery funding’ we shouldn’t need it, if we were paid a decent wage - the minimum wage holds people back, experience counts for nothing and earning more reduces benefits so people can’t afford to do better, or work more hours.

That’s great if your primary has the standard white shirts/grey skirts, trousers etc. Ours has come to £230 already and that’s not including school shoes, coat, bag, pencil case etc. Our primary uniform is a sky blue shirt, only available from the uniform shop or John Lewis, a navy blue skirt with a single pleat at the front etc etc. Drives me mad seeing articles about ‘unreasonable’ parents complaining about uniform costs when you can apparently pick them up for pennies from the Aldi, you’re not getting any of our school uniforms out of supermarkets

To receive free school meals and assistance with school clothing, your household must be in receipt of any one of the following:

• Income support
• Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Universal Credit (where their monthly earned income is not more than £796)
• Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit, where their income is less than £19,995
• Both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit where their income is not more than £9,552
• Pension Credit Guaranteed Credit

You can also apply if:

• you are 16 to 18 years old and receive any of these benefits in your own right
• you have no access to public funds, normally due to immigration status
• you are a family awaiting your first monthly Universal Credit award notice

The School Clothing Grant is £160 for Primary School children and £172 for High School children.

You do need to be be on some benefits to get it which really doesn’t help anyone on a low wage but not entitled to any of the above.

This tells you about uniform grant. In Scotland, Wales and NI you can get a decent grant. In England it varies widely depending where you live.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2024/07/school-uniform-grants/

Including shoes it probably costs me £200 per DC per year. It would cost me more to clothe them in normal clothes.

I really don't want my taxes paying for kids uniform. Most parents get CHB.

Otherwise where will this stop?!

There’s a huge difference between councils in England.

Could someone shed any light on why there’s such a huge difference please? Are the councils only paying £25 affluent areas or something? Sorry, I don’t know the areas but it’s quite a difference in grants isn’t it.

I remember my mum getting uniform grants for me in high school back in the late 80s early 90s. Never heard of grants for primary school age. where I live it seems to depend on which high school you attend my dcs school offer a £50 voucher for new starters to year 7 that are on free school dinners. the £50 comes out of the school funds. the £50 buys a blazer and a tie. The uniform is expensive as everything has to be logo
and the skirts cost £35 each. PE kit almost £100. it's just a normal state school in quite a deprived area the uniform prices are ridiculous.

My older kids went to a secondary school where uniform was super strict and involved lots of different sports kits. The cost was eye watering. We've since moved and my younger children can get all the uniform other than the tie in a supermarket. So very much better.

ETA the focus should be on making school uniform affordable for all.