A London council is set to become the first in England to provide universal school uniform grants to families earning less than £50,350.
Tower Hamlets has set aside £3million over the next three years to give payments of £50 each to children starting primary school and £150 to students starting secondary school.
The town hall said more than 21,000 children in the borough would benefit from the grants.
Parents spend an average of £422 a year on secondary school uniforms and £287 on primary uniforms, according to data from the Children's Society.
Charity Action for Children said the costs put “huge pressure on families” who are already struggling to manage skyrocketing bills and have resulted in some households cutting back on other essentials such as food or electricity.
The Government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which cleared parliament this week, limited the number of branded uniform items that schools could require parents to buy to three.
But the reforms do not provide any extra financial support for families struggling with mounting clothing costs.
Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said: “Limiting the number of branded items simply isn’t enough to alleviate the burden on families struggling to afford school uniforms, with charities reporting that more and more parents are being forced to search clothing banks for uniforms their kids can wear to school.
“My proposed new School Uniform Grant demonstrates the kind of financial support that national and local government should be offering, going beyond token gestures to directly relieve the pressure on cash-strapped families.
“I urge other councils and the government to follow our lead, ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the best chance to thrive in education and realise their potential.
“No child should feel out of place or unwelcome at school because of the hierarchy being created by the cost of uniforms.
“That’s why I’m proposing spending £3million on school uniform grants, in addition to £22million investment in our young people, including investment in Young Tower Hamlets and opening twenty youth centres, and becoming the first local authority in the country to provide universal free school meals and to restore the Education Maintenance Allowance as well as university bursaries.
“This is all part of our proposed balanced budget.”
