Education Minister’s call to “make uniforms cheaper” welcomed by Alyn and Deeside MS

Local MS, Jack Sargeant, has backed new Welsh Government guidance designed to help schools make sure that uniforms are affordable, including an end to compulsory schools logos. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Education and Welsh Language Minister Jeremy Miles published the new statutory guidance following a public consultation on school uniform policies. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The results of the consultation revealed that 56% of respondents felt that school logos should not be a requirement on uniforms. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Furthermore, almost 90% of respondents agreed that schools should avoid single-supplier agreements. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Significantly, the overwhelming majority of respondents felt that schools should offer uniform exchanges or recycling schemes. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The new guidance from the Welsh Government echoes this sentiment, calling for the establishment of such schemes for parents and carers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Jack Sargeant, MS for Alyn and Deeside, warmly welcomed the announcement, stating that “Purchasing expensive uniforms should not be a pressure which families have to face, especially during a cost-of-living crisis.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Welsh Labour Government is supporting lower-income families through its School Essentials Grant, described by Jack as “the most generous scheme of its kind in the UK.” The grant offers families up to £300 to purchase school uniforms and essential equipment. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He expressed confidence that the new guidance will benefit not only parents and carers but also learners in the community during these challenging economic times. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The new guidance encourages school governing bodies to review their current uniform policies, prioritising affordability. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It also urges schools to ensure that any changes to uniform policy are communicated to families before the end of the current school term, allowing them ample time to prepare for any adjustments. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This initiative from the Welsh Labour Government represents a significant step towards ensuring that no family is unduly burdened by the cost of school uniforms, a common concern across the UK. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

To find out more about the School Essentials Grant for children whose families are on lower incomes and qualify for certain grants, please visit:  https://www.gov.wales/school-essentials-grant ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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