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Really struggling financially at mo. My ex pays a bit of maintenance, and Im on JSA. I get a bit of my mortgage interest paid, but I have to find the rest.
Just about coping, but on top of bit electric/gas bill that came today, I have a huge amount to pay on school uniforms. My daughter lost her blazer, which will cost approx £35 to replace. And my son starts secondary school in sept, and the uniform will cost approx £100. The uniforms have to be bought from a certain shop, with the logo on, so theres no option to buy cheap anywhere else.
I have been advised that there is no longer any assistance for anyone on benefits, either from Direct Gov or local council. Does anyone know of any assistance with this? Have been in tears over this, its not as if I want to treat us to a holiday (although that would be great!), I just want to be able to get their uniforms.
Hello help me now
My first instinct would be to contact the schools. Most run second hand stalls and you will be able to get a much cheaper blazer for your daughter and also logo items for your son and supplement them with the basic supermarket items like trousers, as little red hen suggests. I totally agree that it is ridiculous having to have logo stuff. Do you know anyone who used to go to those schools or still goes and their child is bigger. Bet they have got one or two items hanging around that they can't be bothered to take to the second hand stall.
How about someone in the extended family helping out? I asked my boys' grandparents to assist the year they started secondary.
A couple more points, firstly your daughter needs to start learning about looking after an expensive blazer and although this seems mean, I would be inclined to explain to her that they cost a lot of money and you need to give her less pocket money now for a while, and none at all if she loses the next one. Secondly, you say you get a bit of child support from their dad. Of course you could ask him to help out now, especially with your boy's first lot of secondary kit but in the longer term...is he working, can you negotiate more support from him on a regular basis?
Hey Help Me Now = I empathise totally. My youngests school blazer has to be bought from the school - and they whack on about £15 compared to Tescos plain ones, to cover the price of their embroidered crest being on the pocket. Last year I cut the badge off the pocket of her old one as carefully as I could and bought a cheap blazer and sewed it on the pocket myself. You could barely see and no one said anything, so that saved me a bit. I don't know how you feel about second hand clothes = but try putting a 'wanted' ad on Freecycle - kids grow out of uniform all the time don't they? I've put various bits of uniform on there when mines grown out? And this is probably a bit naughtey - but mines in her second from last year now, and just doesn't wear 'school approved' bottoms any more. She has shirts and the right jumper and blazer and PE kit, but she never would wear skirts, and trousers wear through too quickly for her, so she wears black cotton jeans now (skinnies as she calls them) because they last so much longer and I have less of struggle getting her to wear the rest of her uniform! (shoot me!) All the best xx
Hi all, thanks for advice. I can get the trousers anywhere, but the blazer has ribbon around + logo, so cant adapt a different one, also they have to wear a particular colour polo shirt (that has logo on), pe kit also has logo! Cant get any hand me downs, as they only changed to this kit last year, so everyone has new. Only year 11s going spare, that will be huge on my yr 7. lol.
The link took me to direct gov web, that in turn took me to local council, and they both just state how the schools cant make the kit too expensive (thats a joke), and then it suggests contacting the school as they may be able to arrange a payment plan. Family will also lend it to me, but dont know how I would be able to afford to pay it back (to them or in a school payment plan).
Cant ask ex, he is already struggling to pay his rent, and if he looses his accomodation the only choice would be for him to come back here (and I cant have that!).
My daughter feels really bad, but it really wasnt her fault, as she was in an exam at the time, and they all put them down in corner of hall. (Actually mainly my fault for not putting her name in it!). She has already offered to sell something to help me pay
, and I dont give her pocket money anyway.
Sorry to drone on and on, just thought there may be some type of grant for situations like this. But oh well, its not the end of the world, we have to laugh about it in the end
Hi help Me Now,
Besides discussing with your ex the up coming expenditure of the uniform, perhaps you could approach the supplier of the school uniforms and ask if they could put away the items you require and pay the balance off weekly. I'm sure in these recessioned times it's possible. Also have a word with the office at the school he will attend in September and explain your situation, they will more than likely have a glut of lost or donated items of uniform they can sell at a discounted price. My son's school provided the badge logo for £5.00 and we bought the black blazer separate from M&S but you could find cheaper am sure.
Hope these suggestions help.
Hi help me now, you're not droning on, it is a massive issue for parents! and it is about time schools got real about the cost of these items 
I think I would contact the school - is it not possible to buy plain white t shirts for gym without the logo or the coloured polo shirt without the logo - or will your children feel the odd ones out - I don't know many schools where the kids all dress the same - there are usually quite a few wear their own version of the uniform which is acceptable (and cheap!)
I know my friends get £40.00 for uniform from primary school. I know when struggerling with he bmy sons uniform yes the blazer but i have asked them and wougave him a new one so i w ould contact the school please dont forget aant community care grant you dont have to pay it back
lrh, afraid the school pe top, has a huge logo the size of t-shirt, and they dont allow plain ones for that or the polo top. To tell the truth even if they did allow it, I would will too bad having my kids look different to the others.
Prices are £38 for blazer, £10 per polo top (will need two), Jumper £16, PE T-Shirt £10, PE hoody £18. This is before the usual shoes, trousers, trainers, jog bots (that at least can be bought else where). I know I have a while, but having just struggled to replace one blazer for daughter, reminded me of how much I will struggle with sons full uniform.
Sammie, thanks, yeah I did look into community care grant, but from what I can see it states that you cant apply for it for school uniform.
Im not upset about it now, as I know family will help. But I try not to use them as much as possible, as Id rather go to them in an emergency. + will struggle to pay back. It makes me mad that there must be so many parents struggling, as I am, and all I keep hearing is that schools try to keep it as cheap as poss! lmao
Can totally understand your dilema help me now, number 3 child is about to start secondary in September, and i was thinking that i would just let her wear her older sisters old stuff and they have gone and changed the logos etc, they want all children to have this new uniform for September.
So i am in the process of having to buy three new sets of uniform 
I buy them a couple of sizes bigger and have been spreading it over the last few months, not much help to you i know, another option in future is a Social fund or budgeting loan, which you would have to pay back, you can take a look here
Hi everyone, just wanted to say that there is help out there if you are really struggling you can approach your local education office and ask for a discretionary grant, by definition not everyone will get one but they are obliged to at least look at why you need one, hope this helps xxx
Help me now, does your daughters blazer have the logo on the pocket? If it does then we advise parents to source a blazer from elsewhere and tranplant the pocket from the old one onto the new one xxx
Hello tired mum (and FAB to see you, hope you are well?)
Thank you for those tips, it makes my blood boil when you have to buy a certain blazer or sports kit. Schools are supposed to ensure that uniform is affordable for all (after all much of the thinking behind having uniform at all, is that it is a leveller.... but some are more level than others!)
Hi Louise
It is so frustrating and worrying at this time of year
I have been so lucky here, my youngest is going to an academy and they have a great policy, if you are in reciept of free school meals for your child then the uniform costs you £29.99 and £15 for the regulation school coat, you only get this in the 1st year but it certainly helps a lot xxx
I've just found out that our local market does uniforms at half price
That's great, Jacs. Big stores like Asda and Tesco do the basic items quite cheaply but it is all this "special item" business that pushes the cost up.
Apparently the 'special items are available too - hope so or I'm in trouble!!! 
I hope so too, Jacs! Which supermarket have you struck lucky with?
Hi rudiment... RM!! Not a supermarket - a stall on the local market apparently! Will be back in the Uk in 6 weeks' time, so will be able to have a look! Still waiting for confirmation of a school place 
my first instinct is to say get the ex to pay but you might find some suggestions here
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/grants-low-income#school
although you have looked on the directgov website
have you checked if the school offer a second hand system
I know uniforms can be expensive but you can get the basic black trousers and white shirts cheaply at supermarkets - there is a bit on the direct gov website saying schools have to take into consideration your ability to provide the uniform but i realise you may not want to single your son out by not having the full uniform - i am sure others will be along soon