THE mad rush to buy uniform and all the other back-to-school essentials this time of year can be a daunting prospect.
Items can sell out before many parents have even thought about stocking up for the new term.
Luckily, presenter and Heart FM DJ Zoe Hardman and PR pro Georgia Dayton have shared their solutions to all your school uniform problems – and their trick will save you cash too.
Zoe and Georgia are no strangers to solving listener dilemmas on their podcast, Made by Mammas, where one mum confessed she’d left it a little late to buy her uniforms this year.
She wrote into the show saying: “Why is everything out of stock?”
It’s a problem Zoe has encountered too: “Oh my god. This was my reality this morning, everything was out of stock,” she said.
Georgia added that the reason for the lack of stock could be down to the 3-for-2 offers at the end of the previous school term, meaning lots of parents stocked up while they could get a good deal.
Not one to let a bargain pass her by, Georgia snapped up summer dresses, playsuits, skirts, pinafores and more for her daughter who is starting her first year of primary school this September.
Jumping on uniform deals is a good idea, no matter the time of year even if that means investing in shirts, trousers and skirts a size or two up from your child’s current size.
Despite her success with bagging everything her daughter could possibly need, Georgia did also have a handy tip for other parents who weren’t so lucky.
“If you’re really struggling, contact the school because there will be nearly new stuff that people like Zoe and I who also have older kids will be dropping off,” she explained.
Recent research by the Children’s Society estimated that parents spend £422 a year on uniforms for a child at secondary school, and £287 for primary school children.
This cost can put a strain on a household’s budget, but there are cheaper – and even free – alternatives to get items such as clothing and bags.
School uniform exchanges offered by local councils, charities, schools and even Facebook groups are a great way for parents to cut costs.
Parents usually have to swap items in order to get clothes for free, while other schemes charge a small amount such as £1 per item.
The exchanges are also an environmentally friendly option as it cuts down landfill waste and saves items of clothing including cotton and synthetics from being thrown away.
Search online to find out if you have a local school uniform exchange.
Level Trust runs an online uniform exchange with over 60 schools across the UK.
Parents can swap clothes for alternative items or get a gift card to use in the future.
Items are free and you can order online and collect from your school.
SEVERAL major supermarkets and retailers are set to launch their sell-out uniform deals.
Prices for the bundles and offers start at just £5
Among the chains offering bargain deals on kids’ uniforms are Aldi, Marks and Spencer, and Tesco.
Asda
Asda’s George range offers the following key pieces:
Boys Uniform
Girls Uniform
Peacocks
Discount fashion retailer Peacocks is offering its cheap uniform range in all stores with 20% off from July 28.
Its kids’ uniform goes from age 2-3 up to age 14-15 years, which is a new age range for this year.
Among its key items are:
M&S
M&S has held prices on its school uniform since 2021 and has confirmed the return of its popular 20% off school uniform early bird offer from July 2.
You can get the discount by shopping online or in stores where uniform is stocked.
Some examples of its range include:
Tesco
Tesco is bringing back its 25% off uniform deal again this year, the sale starts on July 23.
It doesn’t tend to run for a long time, so it might be a good idea to stock up while you can.
You need to ensure you have your Tesco Clubcard or app when you get to the till so the discount is applied.
Tesco is yet to reveal the exact items available in the offer.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s says it has maintained its 2022 prices on its school uniform.
It is said to be introducing its 25% off sale on June 19.
Last year you could pick up two packs of polo shirts starting from £3, trousers from £4 and two packs of gingham dresses from £10 both online and in stores.
IF you can't get targeted help from your council, you might have some other options available to you.
In some areas, you can talk directly to your school, which might be able to offer you clothing.
Or, you might be able to get cheap garments from low-budget shops or charity stores.
Some charities offer help to families in need too.
But bear in mind charities often have a limited amount of money to give and usually have specific criteria which must be met in order to get a grant.
Charity Turn2Us has a free grants search tool on its website which you can use to find out what help is available to you.
Meanwhile, you can always try approaching your nearest Citizens’ Advice branch.
If you don’t know where your nearest Citizens’ Advice branch is, you can find out by visiting www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/nearby/.
If you’re not eligible for a school uniform grant you might be able to get help through the Household Support Fund.
