One parent paid £320 for her son's uniform and PE kit

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A struggling mum has been forced to "cut back" after buying "ridiculously priced" school uniform items.

As the cost of living increases, many households will be finding ways to keep costs at a minimum. As bills skyrocket and food prices increase, there are concerns about families struggling this winter.

But adding to the stress will be school uniform prices as some parents across Merseyside report paying over £350 for their child's essential items. Coming at an already financially stressful time, parents have hit out at the "ridiculous" prices.

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The ECHO previously reported on a new law, coming into effect from September 2022, which will force state schools to remove unnecessary branded clothing items from their uniform requirements. The aim is to help parents during the cost of living crisis, allowing them to hand down uniforms from older to younger children more easily or shop around for cheaper unbranded alternatives.

But parents are really feeling the brunt of this year's uniform costs. One 35-year-old, who did not wish to be named, told the ECHO she is struggling to pay her bills this month after being "wiped out" buying her child's uniform.

The worried mum, who has spent just over £300 on a list of uniform items, said she is having to "cut back" on things like her food shop so she can afford the "ridiculously priced" items as she questioned why cheaper alternatives could not be used. She added: "What about parents with several children, it's not cheap and with everything going on, you shouldn't have to be in debt over a uniform."

Last month, one savvy Instagram blogger shared her top tips on how you can reduce the cost of school uniforms ahead of the new term. Mum-of-two Emma Stretton runs the Instagram account @emma.wears.it.all and has partnered with Little Loans to offer six money-saving tips that have helped her save on new uniforms for her two little boys.

Her top tips include not to panic buy and give clothes a second life. The ECHO has also reported on a number of uniform recycle schemes across Merseyside that help families recycle and reuse their old uniforms to help struggling families.

One Prescot mum has also hit out at the prices as she said: "Prices are just extortionate. There's a strict list of what is and isn't allowed and it all just adds up. Everything has to have a logo on and it costs a fortune, but with the way things are going it shouldn't be allowed.

"I've spent £320 on my boy's uniform as he starts a new school in September and I'll likely have to go through it all again next year because he's still growing. It's like this every year and it can be a real struggle, more so now. I have friends who are really stressed about how they can afford items and are faced with hard decisions.

"I don't get how a uniform can impact on a child's education. Whether they wear branded stuff or not, it's not going to affect how they learn, it's just making it harder for families, especially single households like ours."

The ECHO previously reported on how families can get a discount of £200 on school uniforms ahead of the academic year. School uniforms can cost parents more than £300 per year for each child. However, low-income families can get a discount of £200 to help.

The School Uniform Grant is a government-run scheme. It is non-repayable and has a maximum amount of £200, however, this depends on your local authority and individual circumstances.

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