Only 1 in 4 councils offer school uniform help

Only a quarter of councils are helping parents cover the cost of school uniform.

According to government data, it costs an average of £343 to kit a child out for primary school and £442 for secondary school.

But Money Wellness research has found that just 22 out of 153 local education authorities in England are offering dedicated school uniform support this year.

This, it says, means thousands of struggling families have no choice but to rely on credit or borrow from friends and family, or fall into debt - just to send their children back to school.

“The start of the school year should be an exciting time for children, not a financial burden for families who are already stressed about making ends meet,” said Adam Rolfe, policy and public affairs officer at Money Wellness.

Consistent support needed urgently

Money Wellness is calling for a consistent, national approach to school uniform support, as there’s a currently a postcode lottery of support.

For example, it pointed out that while some councils in places like London, Yorkshire and north-west England offer help of between £30 to £170 per child, the “vast majority” offer nothing at all.

“Although the government has announced plans to cap the number of branded school uniform items from September 2026 - a move Labour says could save families around £50 per child - this won’t help parents facing costs now,” Mr Rolfe said.

“And for many low-income households, even with such savings, uniforms will remain unaffordable without proper support.”

Mr Rolfe also pointed out that moving to non-uniform policies wouldn’t solve the issue either, as children from low-income households would still face pressure to wear branded or fashionable clothing they can’t afford. 

He added that more and more people are coming to Money Wellness for help having fallen behind on essential bills after paying for uniforms, stationery and school shoes.

“This isn’t a luxury spend," Mr Rolfe said.

“It’s a basic part of education - and the government must step in.”

Where can I get school uniform support in England?

Of England’s 153 local education authorities (LEAs), just 22 offer a dedicated uniform grant.

These are: 

• Barnet
• Barnsley
• Bolton
• City of London
• Cumberland
• East Riding of Yorkshire
• Greenwich
• Hackney
• Hammersmith & Fulham
• Haringey
• Hounslow
• Islington
• Hull
• North Lincolnshire
• Rotherham
• Sandwell
• Southwark
• Tower Hamlets
• Wandsworth
• Westmorland & Furness
• Westminster
• York

The following seven councils only offer help in exceptional circumstances:

• Bexley
• Essex
• Lancashire
• Nottinghamshire
• Redbridge
• South Gloucestershire
• Southend-on-Sea

All other councils in England not listed above, including in major areas like Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, don’t offer any formal school uniform support.

What help is available in other parts of the UK?

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, all families on low incomes receive help with school uniform costs, with grants ranging from £120 to over £200 per child, depending on where they live. 

If you’re struggling with school uniform costs, contact your local council to find out what help they might be able to offer.  

We've also put together some handy tips on how to save money on school uniforms this summer.