Overview

• A Parentkind survey of 2,000 England parents reports 29% going without food or heating to pay for uniform, with 47% worried about back-to-school costs.
• Forty-five percent plan to use credit cards and 34% expect to rely on buy-now-pay-later services, while 31% say they may go into debt to afford uniforms.
• The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill would cap compulsory branded items at three, plus a tie for secondary and middle schools, from September 2026.
• Eighty-five percent of surveyed parents think cutting branded items would reduce costs, and 86% say the number of logos makes no difference to pupil behaviour.
• Retailers warn limits could raise long-term costs, and a Schoolwear Association survey says 61% of suppliers would increase prices under the cap.