Law change hands households £9,000 back under Andy Burnham

Law change hands households £9,000 back under Andy Burnham The changes have closed loopholes used to "overcharge" households. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Claire Schofield 05:03, Sat, Oct 24, 2026 A new school uniform law will cap the number of branded items parents are required to buy (Image: Getty) A September law change will hand UK households up to £9,000 per year back under Andy Burnham’s Government. The savings come from a new school uniform law introduced last month, combined with the rollout of 1,400 more free school breakfast clubs, the expansion of free school meals from this month, plus access to 30 hours of government-funded childcare per week, which together give parents around £9,000 worth of annual savings. As of September 1, new rules now cap branded uniform items at three for primary school pupils and four for secondary, meaning parents can now buy more of the everyday basics, such as trousers or shirts, from any shop or supermarket, instead of from one single expensive supplier. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT When the new rules for uniforms were first proposed last year, the Department for Education (DfE) said parents were having to pay £442 on average to kit out their child for secondary school and £343 for primary school, but the changes could save parents around £50 per year in their back-to-school shop. Schools will now be expected to seek out suppliers offering payment plans and to review supplier arrangements at least every five years, so families aren’t left paying whatever one supplier chooses to charge. Get the latest politics news - straight from our team in Westminster and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . Andy Burnham confirms new time off work rule under April law change Older state pensioners set for £768 boosted DWP payments in 2027 The tougher rules make clear there are no excuses for schools dodging the limit, whether by listing an item as optional with no affordable alternative, or pressuring parents into costly branded sports kits. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Announcing the changes last month, the Prime Minister said: “The cost of sending your child to school has got out of hand, and parents are rightly fed up. School uniforms shouldn’t be charged at luxury prices when they’re everyday essentials. That’s not right. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT “I’ve listened to parents and alongside the cap on branded items that came in this week, I’m going further to change the rules. We’ll close loopholes and make sure schools shop around for suppliers and consider payment plans. “This is one of our everyday fixes to stop families paying over the odds, give them the breathing room they deserve and help to bring back hope across the country.” The new uniform rules come alongside further support for families launched in September, including free school meals for every child in a household claiming Universal Credit. According to the government, this will benefit at least 500,000 more children and save families £500 per child per year. Last month also kickstarted the launch of more than 1,400 extra free breakfast clubs in schools, taking the total to over 2,700 clubs nationwide - a change that is estimated to benefit more than 680,000 children, saving families £450 and 95 hours per year. Additionally, eligible parents of children aged nine months to school age can access the full 30-hour government-funded childcare hours per week from the start of the autumn term, resulting in savings of up to £8,000 a year per child. This is alongside parents being able to access more than 9,000 childcare places from September 2026 through the school-based nursery programme. In total, the changes rolled out from September amount up to £9,000 worth of savings for families, with Mr Burnham saying the series of ‘everyday fixes’ will help make life fairer and give people room to breathe. Dan Paskins, executive director of UK Impact at Save the Children, said: “The Prime Minister is right to go further to push schools to work with suppliers, recognising the pressure the cost of uniform has put parents under. “Financial concerns should never impact a child’s education and these announcements will help ensure more children can focus on learning instead of being worried about food at school and having the right uniform.” Andy Burnham Cost of living Money saving School Education Savings Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments