Back to school: How to save on uniform costs

Image source, Getty ImagesByJemma CrewBusiness reporter Published4 hours agoBack to school can stir up many emotions for parents, including anxiety about the extra costs it brings.

Almost half of parents said they're worried about the cost of school uniforms, according to research by the charity Save the Children and the Baby Bank Alliance network.

And a third of the 2,000 parents polled said they've sacrificed things for themselves to meet back-to-school costs like uniforms, bags or books.

New rules limiting the number of items branded with a school logo to three per child come into force in September, aimed at helping ease the financial burden.

From baby banks to council grants, here are ways parents can ease the cost of kitting out their kids for school.

Save the Children said the new uniform rules are a "good start" but back-to-school costs remain a concern for families across almost all income brackets.

The government said schools should make second-hand uniforms accessible to parents.

"Speak to a teacher you trust, and explain that the costs are difficult," said Megan Meek-O'Connor, head of England and Westminster at Save the Children.

Many schools have uniform hubs, swap shops and sales just before term starts, and hardship funds.

In London, the School Uniform Reuse Network launched earlier this year, giving schools practical advice to start or improve their own swap shops.

During its first term of operation, it saw more than 1,500 items reused across 24 schools.

Parents of older children may not realise a so-called baby bank can help them, but many of the 400 support hubs across the UK provide uniforms for children up to and through secondary school.