The government should introduce a scheme to help families afford school uniform

[Darcey123]

School uniform is an important part of children's everyday school life. Hardworking parents deserve help to be able to afford the best school uniform for their child.

The Government should make school uniform more affordable by introducing a salary sacrifice scheme where parents exchange a small part of their monthly salary for school uniform vouchers. This will not only help parents to budget for back to school time, it will make uniform more affordable because salary given up will be tax exempt.

The scheme would be available to all employers and employees who wish to opt in, with vouchers redeemable at participating retailers. Any retailer can join the scheme. It will be similar to the existing successful childcare voucher scheme.

Please help us sign this petition: epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/65790

I saw an article where TV psychologist Jo Hemmings said she believes that a better fitting good quality school uniform can have massive impacts on children psychologically making them take pride in their appearance, making them better behaved and reducing the risk of bullying.

I'd want to see good, peer-reviewed objective research before I believed that, frankly.

And how does 'pride in their appearance' affect their behaviour and their likelihood of bullying? There's no logical connection. Unless you feel that the minute they put on a blazer they feel like Fine Outstanding Chaps or something.

If there must be uniform, let it be as flexible and downmarket as possible, I feel. DD1 manages to achieve, behave and believe in herself just fine in her rather shabby hand-me-down shirts and (repulsive) polyester cardie.