Parents in Hull West and Haltemprice are set to benefit from new measures to reduce school uniform costs, with families saving up to £50 per child each year, as part of landmark legislation making its way through Parliament.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is currently being considered in the House of Lords, will ensure that schools limit the number of branded uniform items to just three (excluding ties), making uniforms more affordable for families.
New government analysis suggests that these uniform reforms will collectively save families over £70 million nationally, providing financial relief to parents who currently face rising costs to kit their children out for school. The move follows concerns raised by parents, with a third still worried about uniform costs, and reports showing that some schools have increased the number of branded items required.
Emma Hardy, MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, has long campaigned for affordable school uniforms for families and has championed policies to reduce costs nationwide. She also set up Re:Uniform, a scheme dedicated to helping local families access low-cost school clothing.
Commenting on the new measures, Emma Hardy MP said:
“I am so pleased to see this issue finally being addressed. For years, I have campaigned in Parliament to reduce the burden of uniform costs on families, because no parent should have to struggle financially just to send their child to school in the right uniform.
Having founded Re:Uniform to support families in our local area, I’ve seen firsthand how reducing these costs can make a huge difference. This new law is a significant step forward, and I hope it will bring much-needed relief to parents across Hull West and Haltemprice and beyond.”
The uniform cap is part of wider provisions in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which aims to strengthen protections for vulnerable children, introduce free breakfast clubs in schools, and raise school standards across the country.
With these latest changes, parents will have greater flexibility to shop for affordable uniforms, ensuring that school costs are no longer a barrier to education and opportunity.