Parents are being encouraged to check if they're eligible for school uniform grants that could cut costs by up to £200.
The consumer champion Martin Lewis' website, MoneySavingExpert (MSE), has highlighted the availability of non-repayable uniform grants from various UK councils, as families face 'exorbitant' school kit expenses. In 2023, the cost of secondary school uniforms hit as high as £422, with primary outfits reaching £287, according to The Children’s Society.
"Generally, the minimum UK-wide requirement to get a school uniform grant is to qualify for means-tested free school meals – even if you don't actually get them," writers at MSE explained. "However, local authorities can set their own school uniform grant eligibility criteria on top, and some councils include additional requirements – for example, in some cases your child has to be in a specific year group or moving from primary to secondary school to qualify."
Currently, every council in Northern Ireland and Wales offers fixed school uniform grants of £93.60 and £200 per child respectively. Scotland also provides at least £120 per child, with the possibility of more depending on the council.
In contrast, England presents a varied picture, with different councils providing varying amounts based on several conditions. Hull council offers a grant of £40 which is paid automatically to families.
York, Westminster, Greenwich, Tower Hamlets and Islington are among nine councils that have been revealed by MSE as offering £100 or more in uniform grants per child. Wandsworth outdoes the lot, providing a hefty £170 grant per child and issues vouchers 'automatically to those eligible', skipping the application process.
In contrast, Haringey has set its grant at just £60 per child, but that's only available to parents who register before 31 March 2025, while both Hull and Nottingham offer a modest £40 per child to those eligible.
Other councils such as Essex, Lancashire, South Gloucestershire, and Southend-on-Sea also provide financial aid for uniforms, though these are reserved for 'exceptional circumstances' only, according to MSE. This includes dire situations like homelessness or recovering from a natural disaster like a flood or fire.
If you can't get help from your council in this way, MSE recommends asking the school directly for financial assistance or searching Facebook for second-hand clothes or swap shops. They added: "Facebook Marketplace and eBay can also be a treasure trove – we've previously found some logo sweatshirts, an official tie, generic trousers and more for free, as well as hundreds of other items for about £2 to £5."
For more information, head to MSE's website. Under the Household Support Fund, councils in England can access funding to help those most in need with the cost of daily essentials, including school clothing in some cases.
Each council can choose how to distribute the money, so eligibility criteria and what you can get varies – for example, some have given extra funding to schools to hand out, while others provide direct help to vulnerable households in the form of supermarket vouchers.
The scheme was set to end this month, but the Government has announced that it'll be extended until April 2025. It's worth contacting your council to find out what it offer as soon as you can, as funding could run out at any time. If you can't access financial support under the Household Support Fund, your council may have other schemes in place that could help you.
