Lauren Barford-Dowling, a mother of three from Luton, has expressed concerns about the rising costs associated with sending her children to school. She described expenses for uniforms, shoes, meals, and school trips as significant and challenging to manage. Barford-Dowling, who has children aged 10, six, and five, with another child on the way, noted that branded clothing has seen price increases, adding to her financial worries.
Level Trust, a charity based in Luton that provides free school supplies, reported a surge in demand for its services, with requests increasing by 15% to 20% compared to the previous year. Kerri Porthouse, the charity’s deputy chief executive, stated that the organization had assisted around 200 more families in July and August alone. Many parents, especially those with children entering reception or secondary school, often underestimate the uniform requirements until the school year begins.
Barford-Dowling highlighted the costs related to school meals, mentioning that her eldest child’s lunches amount to £44 a month. She anticipates that when all her children progress to Key Stage 2, the monthly meal expenses could approach £100.
Research conducted by the Child Poverty Action Group indicates that sending a child to primary school costs approximately £1,000 annually, while secondary education can reach up to £2,300. Kate Anstey, head of education policy at the group, pointed out that children from low-income backgrounds are often compelled to forgo educational opportunities, such as school trips, due to financial constraints.
In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for the Department for Education stated that no child should face educational barriers due to financial issues. The government plans to limit the number of branded uniform items required by schools and has announced that starting in 2026, all children from households on Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c179ev9ge5qo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss