Getting the children ready to return to school can be expensive. Even though the school summer holidays are far from over, it’s a great time to start planning ahead and budgeting for uniforms, saving on travel costs and getting childcare cost support in place.
We've also shared information on how free school meals are changing, which you can read here: Free school meals changes: what families need to know.
How to budget for school uniforms
Uniform costs can add up, especially if you have more than one child to buy for. Here are some practical ways to help keep costs down:
- Check the uniform policy before buying. From September 2026, school uniforms are changing to make them more affordable for everyone. Make sure you know which items must be branded and which can be bought from supermarkets or the high street.
Uniform changes from September
- Use second-hand options. Check with the school about uniform swaps, pre-loved sales, parent groups or community schemes.
- Buy slowly where you can. Buy the essentials for the first week of school and then move onto non-urgent items over the course of the term.
- Label everything. Replacing lost uniform items can become a hidden extra cost.
- Ask early if you need help. Schools and councils are usually better able to support you before a problem becomes urgent. If you get Universal Credit, you can apply for a budgeting advance. This is a loan, so you will need to repay it. Find out more here: Apply for a Universal Credit advance. Charities can sometimes help with school costs, too. Check if there's a charity that can support you by visiting the Educational Trusts' Forum website.
How to keep school travel costs low
If your child attends their nearest school and it’s more than two miles from home, your local council could help with the travel costs. This will depend on your child’s age, the distance from your home to the school and whether the school is the nearest one they can attend.
If your child can't walk to school because they have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), they should be entitled to free school transport. Find out more about the help you can get below.
Get help with SEND school transport
Get help with childcare costs
There are various schemes available to help with childcare costs. The support you could get will depend on your circumstances, such as whether you’re working, have caring responsibilities, receive certain benefits or meet the minimum earnings requirement.
Need help with budgeting?
If you’re worried about money and need support, give our friendly Money Advice team a call on 0345 60 20 540 for a free and confidential chat. You can also message the team here. They’re here to help you keep your finances on track.
