Overview
The Department for Education (DfE) provides guidance for schools on keeping school uniform costs affordable for families.
Each school's governing body is responsible for setting and reviewing its school uniform policy. Governing bodies must make sure that uniform requirements are fair, reasonable and do not place an unnecessary financial burden on parents and carers.
When developing or reviewing a school uniform policy, schools should:
- keep the overall cost of uniforms as low as possible
- make sure uniform items are easy to buy from a range of suppliers
- limit the number of branded items where these increase costs
- avoid exclusive supplier arrangements unless they offer good value for money
- provide access to second-hand or pre-owned uniform where possible
- ensure uniform policies are inclusive and do not disadvantage any pupils
The local authority expects all schools to follow this guidance and regularly review their uniform policies. This helps ensure that school uniforms remain affordable, support inclusion and promote equality for all pupils.
Help with school uniform costs
If you are finding it difficult to afford school uniform costs, please contact your child's school directly.
Schools can provide information about any support available, including:
- financial hardship assistance
- second-hand or pre-owned uniform schemes
- other sources of support for families
Further information is available on the GOV.UK Department for Education's guidance on school uniform costs webpage.
