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Daily Mirror

Business

Natasha Wynarczyk

Lidl freezes cost of school uniform bundle at £5 to help struggling families

Lidl the Children Society

The budget supermarket chain Lidl has frozen the price of its school uniform bundles as just £5 in a bid to help struggling families.

Parents can choose from a mix of products to make up their bundle, including sweatshirts, polo shirts, skirts, trousers and shorts.

Bundle options include the supermarket's Smart Start Kids' Polo Shirts (2 pack, £1.75), Smart Start Kids’ Sweatshirt (£1.50) and Smart Start Kids’ School Trousers, Skirt or Shorts (£1.75).

The special offer, running for the second year in a row, will be available until stocks last in stores from July 6.

Additionally, with every purchase made on selected uniform items, the retailer will donate 50p to help continue funding NSPCC’s Childline.

The offer will be available whilst stocks last from July 6 (Lidl)

It comes as a report by The Children's Society found struggling families are still having to fork out “exorbitant amounts” for school uniforms.

Parents and carers spend an average of £422 a year on secondary school uniforms and £287 for primary school, the charity revealed.

These large costs were found to be due to school requirements for branded items from specialist shops.

The Children's Society found pupils were still expected to have an average of three branded items of uniform, while almost a third of secondary school pupils are required to own four to five branded items.

This is despite the fact the 2021 Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act states this must be kept to a minimum.

Mark Russell, chief executive of The Children’s Society, said: “It’s alarming that parents are still forced to spend exorbitant amounts.

“With inflation and the cost of living eating into family budgets, we are disappointed that the affordability of uniforms remains a significant financial burden for many families.”

The Government said it was working to ensure uniform costs are reasonable.

Meanwhile, the Schoolwear Association, representing retailers, said not all items of uniform were replaced every year and shops offered families good value.

As well as the uniform deal, Lidl is also offering a 20% discount on Back to School stationery, which can be redeemed using the Lidl Plus app from July 6 to 12.

The supermarket is also selling a two pack of pinafores for £6.99, kids' trainers for £6.99 and leather school shoes for £9.99.

Rival supermarket Aldi has also announced they are bringing its £5 uniform bundle back this year.

Also available in-store only from July 6, it includes two polo shirts, one sweatshirt, and a choice of trousers or a pleated skirt.