How to save money on school uniforms – from multipacks to deal finders

Parents, on a scale of dread to resignation, how much are you looking forward to buying your children’s school uniform for the upcoming year?

Now might be the time you need to face up to replacing trousers with holes caused by knee slides at lunchtime football, the jumper with fraying sleeve ends and the missing socks.

Not cheap either, is it? The average compulsory school uniform costs almost £100 per pupil: dear at the best of times, but even more so during a cost of living crisis.

So, how can you ensure your children are appropriately kitted out while also keeping down the costs?

Look at the policy

First, before you spend any money, look at your school’s uniform policy.

It’s pointless buying anything until you’ve double-checked what you will need.

Some schools may require students’ skirts to be fully pleated, or grey trousers instead of black.

Shop around

Second, shop around. Last year, the government introduced legally binding guidance which required schools to make uniforms affordable for all. This means you shouldn’t have to stump up extra cash or be limited to certain stores for items and schools must remove unnecessary branded items.

Most large supermarkets stock 
polo shirts, trousers, skirts and sweatshirts, often sold in multipacks – and snapshot Which? analysis this month found them to be modestly priced. For a primary school pupil aged eight to nine we found a pack of two polo shirts from George by Asda for £3.50, while a pack of two black trousers from the Morrisons Nutmeg range costs £9.

Beware of multipacks

But beware: multipacks are not always the most economical option. While a pack of four or five polo shirts might be good value, you may not need multiple sets of skirts or trousers (knee slide dependent).

Working out the price per item, and how much wear it will get, could help to cut out any unnecessary costs. That said, finding fellow parents in the market for new schoolwear and splitting the cost of a multipack could also be a canny way of saving money.

Opt for second-hand

Next, the clothes needn’t be new.

Children grow quickly, meaning the trousers or polo shirts you bought for them one year can become redundant the next.

The government’s new guidance says schools should ensure secondhand uniforms are available for parents to purchase. So check the school website to see if a scheme has been set up. Online marketplaces, like Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle and eBay are also good places to both buy and sell items for your children.

Look into grants

Depending on your income and where you live, there could be grants available to help with the costs.

These are typically available for those on Universal Credit or child tax credit, or if your child is eligible for free school meals. The amount of money you could get varies on where in the UK you live.

In Wales, parents can receive up to £200 per child; in England and Scotland it’s £150 per child; and in Northern Ireland it’s £67.50 per child.

Deals, deals, deals

Keeping an eye on deals is also a useful tactic. Many stores will have back to school sales on at the moment.

At Aldi, you can currently buy a pack of two polo shirts, a sweatshirt and a skirt or trousers for £5. To help you keep track of the best discounts, free shopping tools like Coupert and Pouch automatically find every voucher available, and then apply them to your online shopping basket.

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