Families on low incomes are set to receive vouchers worth £45 to help with the cost of uniforms as schools prepare to reopen.
Pupils will start returning to their classrooms from Monday but hundreds of struggling families may not be able to meet the cost of uniforms.
It is hoped that a law change could save parents hundreds of pounds a year if a bill is signed off in Parliament to stop schools forcing branded clothing on pupils.
But in the meantime, families will be trying to get uniforms as instructed by their schools.
Now North Tyneside Council is working with schools to distribute vouchers worth £45 to families who receive free school meals and is also looking at ways to support other non-eligible families with uniform costs.
An estimated 6,625 children will benefit from the scheme, which is part of the authority’s Poverty Intervention Fund.
Deputy Mayor Bruce Pickard said: "We know from speaking to our schools and families that people are concerned about having to find the money to purchase a new school uniform for the return to school.
"Many children have outgrown uniforms that they hardly had the chance to wear over the 12 months and I am very pleased that we are able to step in and help families to manage the cost.
"The vouchers will be valid until December 2021, so families have plenty of time and flexibility when using them. We are also working with schools to identify and put together a different package to support people who do not qualify for free school meals.
"It's another project to emerge from our Poverty Intervention Fund that we were proud to be able to launch last year, targeting the many different impacts of poverty on our elderly residents, families, children and young people.”
Rachel Woods, headteacher at Whitehouse Primary School, in North Shields, has welcomed the scheme.
She said: "Life has been particularly hard for many of our families this year and anything we can do to support them for the wellbeing of our children is essential.
"We welcomed the Poverty Intervention Fund as this will be a huge benefit to our families.
"It's great that our families will receive direct help to provide clothing, uniform, PE kit, and warm winter coats so that no child is wearing clothes they’ve outgrown or worn out.
"Tough choices have to be made by parents - particularly those in receipt of benefits or who may have lost their jobs or been furloughed, and this support will make such a difference."
The Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill was introduced by Labour MP Mike Amesbury in February last year.
If the bill is approved, schools will be told they can specify basic items such as trousers and shirts - but not styles.
This means parents can buy cheaper supermarket kit instead of branded gear from single suppliers that cost an average of £340 a year for secondary schools and £255 for primaries.
The uniforms bill is in its second to last stage of debate in the House of Commons, namely the report stage, where MPs can consider the bill and make any amendments.
The bill will then go through a third reading before being sent to the House of Lords for discussion and potential amendment.
Once all amendments from both houses are considered and approved, it will get Royal Assent.
