Overview

• The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill proposes limiting compulsory branded school uniform items to three, excluding ties, to save families £50 per child annually.
• Department for Education analysis indicates 4.2 million pupils across 8,000 schools in England would benefit from the proposed reforms.
• Parents currently spend an average of £442 for secondary school uniforms and £343 for primary school uniforms, contributing to financial strain during the cost-of-living crisis.
• The bill also includes free breakfast clubs, which launched in 750 schools last week, with plans for a universal rollout to support children’s welfare.
• Critics express concerns over potential trade-offs in durability of generic items, while charities emphasize the need for broader strategies to address child poverty.