A new law to protect parents from the high costs of school uniform comes into effect this September.
It means state schools will have to remove any unnecessary branded items from their uniform list, so parents can shop around or make use of second hand clothes.
Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury proposed the new rules in Parliament through a private member’s bill and they are now enshrined in law.
The Labour MP said the new law is more important than ever, given the recent and anticipated steep increases in the cost of living.
He said: “School ought to be about a child’s right to an education not their financial circumstances.
“Parents and carers are advised to check their school has updated its guidance in line with the new law on affordable school uniforms.
“Make sure branded items are kept to a minimum and that tendering is being introduced where there is a single supplier relationship, to open up competition and bring down the price.”
The Children’s Society surveyed 1,000 parents about school uniform costs in 2020 and found they spent on average more than £300 per year on school uniform.
Parents with children in a state secondary school told the charity they spent £337 per child per year on school uniform, and £315 per year for each primary school child.
More than 1 in 8 parents reported having to cut back on other items, such as food and clothing, to cover the cost of uniforms.
Mr Amesbury offered some advice to parents as the new law comes into effect.
He said: “Schools should be directing people to local supermarkets for low-cost school uniform items as well as setting up sustainable swap shops.
“If a school is not playing ball, you can complain to the headteacher, principal or chair of governors.
“Now you have the strength of the law, you can go all the way up to the secretary of state for education if you feel your concerns are being ignored.”
He said every child should be given the opportunity to reach their full potential, and is pleased to see the law he proposed coming into effect to promote more affordable school uniforms.
Mr Amesbury commented: “We should never have been in a situation where a child was sometimes temporarily excluded because their family couldn’t afford to replace an expensive item they had outgrown.
“If this law can change that landscape then I, together everyone who has brought it about, can be mightily proud.”
