Rising cost of school uniform is scary, says mum

Mother-of-three Lauren Barford-Dowling finds the rising cost of school uniforms, shoes, meals, and trips "scary" and "daunting." A Luton-based charity, Level Trust, has seen a 20% increase in demand for free school supplies. Research shows it costs £1,000/year for primary school and £2,300/year for secondary school, impacting children from low-income families. The Department for Education plans to cap branded uniform items and provide free school meals to children in households on Universal Credit by 2026.