Overview

• Karyssa Bates says kitting out her four children this year topped £900, leaving her “sick with worry” and unable to budget for Christmas.
• She reports relying on £1,700 a month in Universal Credit, setting aside £75 monthly for uniforms, and cutting back on food, outings and personal purchases.
• Parents in Cumbria and elsewhere say schools still insist on costly logoed items from specific retailers despite cheaper supermarket alternatives and second-hand options.
• A Parentkind survey found 45% of parents use credit cards for uniforms, 34% use buy-now-pay-later, and 29% expect to go without heating or eating to cover costs.
• The Education Secretary has urged schools to reduce required logos now, and a bill before the House of Lords would cap compulsory branded items from September 2026.