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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Antony Thrower

Cash-strapped parents struggling to pay for uniforms as schools ban unbranded clothing

Parents panicking at how to feed their children fear they will not be able to afford uniforms when terms resume as some schools have banned unbranded items.

As the cost of living crisis continues to hit families, many mums and dads have been told their sons and daughters have to be dressed in branded clothes.

As a result they are having to pay out for “outrageously” expensive clothes with more and more parents turning to school uniform charities, the I reported.

Jenny Rosenbaum, a mother of a child at a secondary school, set up a petition calling on schools to allow supermarket versions of the clothes.

Do your children go to a school which has banned unbranded uniforms? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk

Parents will have to find yet more money in their budgets (stock image) (Getty Images)

She told the newspaper: “Does it matter more that a child turns up to school and gets their education or that they are wearing the right blazer?

“It’s like acting like a pseudo-private school.”

Last November the Department for Education (DfE) said schools should limit the number of branded items to help manage costs.

One person said on the petition: “The cost of uniform is ridiculous.

Parents say they should be allowed to use cheaper unbranded versions (Getty Images)

“Families are struggling as it is, never mind having to buy school branded trousers.”

Another wrote: “There is too much financial pressure on parents already.

“Whether a skirt or jumper has the school logo on or not does not impact a child’s education.”

Another fretting parent wrote: “I believe all schools should have an option to buy unbranded uniform items with the opportunity for parents to buy sew on labels for items such as a blazer or jumper.

The Department for Education says it has new guidance to help mums and dads (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

“There is no need for any other item to be branded. If a child is a member of a school team playing other schools then the strip should be provided by the school of it is branded.”

A survey by the Children’s Society previously said parents spent £337 on average for a child at secondary school and £315 for primary school youngsters.

A spokesman for the DfE said: “We have put in place new, legally binding guidance for schools to help make school uniforms affordable and ensure best value for money for families.

“This requires schools to keep the use of branded items to a minimum and limit their use to low cost or long-lasting items.

“Schools should engage with parents and pupils when they are developing their school uniform policy.”

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