Over four million children are set to benefit from reduced school uniform costs under new government plans, according to fresh analysis.

As the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill moves through the House of Lords this week, new measures are set to cut over £70 million a year from parents’ uniform expenses. This comes amid concerns revealed in a recent survey, where a third of parents said they are still worried about the rising cost of uniforms. One in five schools reportedly increased the number of branded items required over the past year.

Currently, schools must limit the number of branded, often more expensive, uniform items. However, today’s findings show almost half of schools are not adhering to this rule. Parents now face an average cost of £442 to equip a child for secondary school and £343 for primary school—putting significant strain on family budgets.

To ease this burden, the new legislation will cap the number of branded uniform items schools can require to just three, excluding ties. This change forms part of the government’s broader Plan for Change, aimed at reducing financial pressure on families and removing barriers to education.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

“Looking smart at school shouldn’t cost the earth, and no parent should be forced to choose between buying family essentials and a school shirt or tie.

Alongside our free breakfast clubs, these new laws will save parents hundreds of pounds a year, and make sure family finances have no bearing on children’s time at school.

This bill is about keeping children safe, saving parents money and bringing every school up to the standard of the best, so we can break down barriers to opportunity and deliver our Plan for Change”.

In addition to uniform reforms, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill includes measures to strengthen protections for vulnerable children, provide free breakfast clubs for all schools, and raise standards across the education system.

The new uniform rules alone could save some families £50 per year on back-to-school costs. Combined with the free breakfast initiative, parents could see an overall saving of around £500 annually.

An estimated 4.2 million pupils across 8,000 schools will gain greater flexibility in where they can buy their school uniforms, helping further reduce costs.

While uniforms can foster pride and a sense of belonging, they have also been a source of stress for some families, even affecting school attendance in extreme cases.

Lynn Perry MBE, CEO of Barnardo’s, welcomed the move:

"It cannot be right that children are attending school in ill-fitting clothes or shoes because of unaffordable uniform costs. We hope the government will take even bolder steps in its upcoming child poverty strategy."

Although current guidance already urges schools to keep uniform costs affordable, the new mandatory cap on branded items aims to strengthen this commitment.

The government remains determined to fulfil its Plan for Change—ensuring that a child’s background never limits their future opportunities.