Cutting Costs of a School Uniform

Since children seem to grow faster than you can believe, the cost of school uniform can quickly add up.

I remember my parents buying me a school kit several sizes too large in order to ensure it lasted for some time - and I had to roll up the skirt for half my school career until it finally fitted! But there are lots of ways to make savings from your school uniform bill - here’s a look at some of the key cost-cutting options.

What You Will Need to Buy

On top of school uniform you will also usually need to buy clothing kit needed for kids to participate in PE lessons - this may just be a generic tracksuit or may have the school logo or branding emblazoned on it.

Pick Your Timings With Care

Ask your fellow parents at the school gate if the local school uniform suppliers ever have sales - these can offer substantial savings so it’s a good idea to buy in bulk at sale time.

In any case, you should start thinking about paying a visit to the school uniform shop early rather than later - that will avoid the last-minute crowds who swarm the shops the week before school starts -but not too early, as long school holidays could see a growth spurt that will make all your purchases too small!

Watch out for supermarket sales too - in the months leading up to September the big chains like Tesco and Asda often go into price wars to offer increasingly competitive deals on things like generic pleated skirts, boxes of shirts, and woolly tights - all the things your kids will need for underneath their (usually) school logoed sweatshirts or blazers.

If there is a specific, logoed or branded uniform, don’t buy alternative gear unless you have no choice, since your child will be unhappy if he or she is made to stand out.

Where to Look

Another way to cut costs is by looking beyond the main uniform retailers. We’ve already mentioned supermarkets, have a look, too, for school-run jumble sales of second-hand (or third, or fourth..) uniform sales, and see if you can find any recent school alumni whose families are willing to sell off their old uniform supplies.

You might also be lucky if you look in charity shops near to your child’s school - these may have received drop offs of grown-out-of clothes donated by other families.

Paying for Uniform

Government guidelines state that the cost of a uniform should not stop parents from sending their child to the school of their choice. Some local education authorities are able to offer grants to parents to help offset the cost of uniform. These are mainly directed at families on certain benefits, such as Income Support or those who are eligible for free school lunches.

Otherwise, it is simply a case of shopping around, being alert to sales and looking out for other kids who are growing even faster than yours - then talking to their parents about buying their nearly-new uniform!