IT can’t be right for some mams and dads to go without meals so they can afford school uniforms for their children.
Labour is doing something about it.
The government is now urging schools to help hard-working parents by reducing the number of branded items of uniform that children wear for school.
Almost half of the 2,000 parents who took part in a recent poll said they were worried about the cost of uniforms, which can run into hundreds of pounds for expensive branded items while 29 per cent said they had forgone food or heating to pay for uniforms.
Other parents are turning to buy-now-pay-later services to afford school uniforms as the clock ticks on the autumn term start date of Wednesday, September 3.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson is doing the right thing by urging schools to help struggling families by reducing the number of branded items of uniform that children must wear as a matter of urgency.
In accordance with the government’s new children’s wellbeing and schools bill, a limit of three branded items, plus a branded tie for secondary schools will be enforced from September 2026.
Labour is additionally encouraging schools to act sooner on a voluntary basis.
It matters that our children look smart at school, but it shouldn’t break the family budget.
No parent should have to weigh up whether their limited funds should go on a new school jumper or food for the family.
We know there are neighbourhoods in our communities where the levels of child poverty are unacceptable – so Labour’s initiative should make an immediate difference for these households.
The government has also announced that millions of families will have obtained their benefit payments before the August bank holiday.
This is all in addition to the roll-out of breakfast clubs and free school meals for families in receipt of universal credit.
Universal free breakfast clubs – to be rolled out to all primary school next year – will save families up to £450 a year and increase parents’ work choices.
Families at Lindal and Marton Primary School and Waberthwaite School were among the first in the country to get free breakfast club places as part of the early adopter wave of the government’s programme.
I feel sure that teachers and senior educators across Barrow and Furness will welcome Labour’s initiative to give practical help to our families and I understand that some schools are already moving in this direction.
Labour said it was committed to helping working families and these are examples of us being as good as our word.