Stormont's Education Minister is being urged to further increase the school uniform grant as many parents struggle with rising costs.
It comes after one parent revealed that her son's grammar school gave him detention for not wearing a school branded coat over his blazer when it was raining.
She is also having to use her own birthday money to buy uniforms for her three children ahead of their return to school next month.
Read more: Northern Ireland schools urged to review and amend uniform policies amid cost of living crisis
It comes just days after boards of Governors at Northern Ireland's schools were urged by the National Education Union (NEU) to review and amend their school uniform policies in light of rising inflation and household bills that are stressing local family finances.
Many families are struggling with household bills as a result of increasing food, fuel, energy bills and rising inflation.
All of this is putting pressure on household budgets prior to the new academic year as parents and carers are facing the purchase of new uniforms, P.E kits, trainers, and school shoes.
Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, Koulla Yiasouma has urged schools charging as much as £600 for parents to buy branded uniforms to “wise up”.
Ms Yiasouma said those secondary and grammar schools charging a premium for specific items of clothing are increasing pressure on parents and the problem is “only going to get worse”.
She said government action is now needed on rising uniform costs, adding that she is "fed up" waiting for schools to move on the issue.
"We are seeing some prices of £500 to £600, that is just out of the reach of so many parents," Ms Yiasouma told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster.
Education Minister Michelle McIlveen recently announced that the school uniform grant will increase by 20% this year.
The children's commissioner said the current grant is nowhere near enough and should be higher.
“I actually think schools themselves need to meet the government halfway on this. We are long past the time in Northern Ireland that we need to stop leaving this up to boards of governors...many are found wanting here,” she added.
“It adds to the worry and the anxiety that families are experiencing at the moment and it is only going to get worse.”
One mother-of-three, Stacey, told the programme that she has already spent £300 on a school uniform for her eldest son but she still faces forking out a further £200 on three different PE kits.
Stacey said she did not have the money to pay for this, adding that it was "ridiculous that he needed all these uniforms".
She also highlighted that only one shop carried the branded uniform which meant "no competition" when it came to price.
"It is a lot of money just to send your child to get an education, it is extortionate," she said.
"It causing us as parents not only worry, it's taking from our households, from our gas, our electric, our food, our petrol or diesel to get to work. It's just stupid."
She also revealed that her son was previously disciplined by the school for wearing a non-regulated overcoat.
“I know last year I couldn’t afford to get my son an overcoat and he got detention because he put a black coat over his blazer. I felt pretty guilty for that because I couldn’t afford to get him a coat.
“I have had to rely on my parents for helping me. It was my birthday and I am using my birthday money to buy my children’s uniforms. It is a lot of money it is so much when you have three children and you are adding it all up.”
In a statement, the Department of Education said that Minister McIlveen understands the challenges families are currently having to address in relation to the cost of living, "including the pressures associated with school uniform costs at this time of year".
They added: "The day-to-day management of schools, including school uniform policy, is a matter for school Principals, subject to any directions that might be given by the Board of Governors.
"To assist schools in developing their school uniform policies, the Department of Education issued guidance.
"This guidance states that schools should give a high priority to cost considerations when designing their uniforms. It also advises that schools should ensure that their uniform is widely available in high street shops and other retail outlets rather than from a sole supplier.
"The guidance also recommends that schools consult with parents and pupils when drawing up school uniform policy."
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