Buying school uniform can be expensive, especially when a family has more than one child. If you are struggling to pay, support may be available to cover some or all of the costs, including for school-branded uniform.
\n","padding":{"top":"pt-0","bottom":"pb-11"},"alignment":"\"\""},{"__typename":"WpPost_Flexlayouts_PageLayouts_PlainText","heading":"Your child’s school must keep uniform affordable","text":"Schools in England must follow legally binding Department for Education guidance: uniform costs must be reasonable and parents must get best value for money.
\nFrom September 2026, under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, no school can require more than 3 branded items of uniform and PE kit (4 for secondary and middle schools if one is a tie). “Branded” includes anything only available from a particular supplier, including bags and kit for school activities.
\nSchools must avoid single-supplier deals, allow high-street and supermarket alternatives, publish their uniform policy on their website, and make second-hand uniform freely available to all parents.
\nDfE research found parents can save almost £50 on average when they can buy uniform from any store rather than a designated shop.
\n","padding":{"top":"pt-0","bottom":"pb-11"},"alignment":"\"\""},{"__typename":"WpPost_Flexlayouts_PageLayouts_PlainText","heading":"No shame in second-hand","text":"Schools in England must follow legally binding Department for Education guidance: uniform costs must be reasonable and parents must get best value for money.
\nFrom September 2026, under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, no school can require more than 3 branded items of uniform and PE kit (4 for secondary and middle schools if one is a tie). “Branded” includes anything only available from a particular supplier, including bags and kit for school activities.
\nSchools must avoid single-supplier deals, allow high-street and supermarket alternatives, publish their uniform policy on their website, and make second-hand uniform freely available to all parents.
\nDfE research found parents can save almost £50 on average when they can buy uniform from any store rather than a designated shop.
\nThere is no shame in not being able to afford brand-new uniform. Uniform exists so that all children are treated equally and not judged on their clothes; and second-hand uniform does exactly the same job as new. A growing number of families choose second-hand because it is cost-effective and good for the environment: an estimated 350,000 tonnes of clothing go to landfill in the UK every year.
\n","padding":{"top":"pt-0","bottom":"pb-11"},"alignment":"\"\""},{"__typename":"WpPost_Flexlayouts_PageLayouts_PlainText","heading":"Where to get help - step-by-step","text":"If you’re looking to get help with your child’s uniform costs, here are a few handy step-by-step things to consider doing:
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