UK parents and carers: what costs do you face when sending your children to school?

The government has brought in a new law which it hopes will reduce the cost of school uniforms. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/Alamy View image in fullscreen The government has brought in a new law which it hopes will reduce the cost of school uniforms. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/Alamy Schools UK parents and carers: what costs do you face when sending your children to school? What are some of the weirdest or priciest things parents and carers have to buy

Prefer the Guardian on Google From September 2026 a new law comes into force, which will mean parents and carers in England should not have to buy more than three items of branded school uniform . Secondary and middle schools may ask for four items if a tie is one of them.

The government says it hopes the new law will “ensure the cost of school uniforms is reasonable and provides the best value for money”.

And it’s not just about uniforms and kits – items that students need for some school subjects can also be expensive.

We would like to speak to UK parents and carers about the costs they face when sending their children to school. What are some of the weirdest and/or priciest things that you are expected to fork out for in the year ahead?

We know that costly items differ depending on the age of the child, so we’d like to hear from parents of younger and older students.

You can share your response in the form below or by messaging us.

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