Help us please

Fran

magoogy wrote:

i cannot understand why they cannot get a school uniform grant - if you are entitled to school dinners you are entitled to the uniform too - surely every authority provides this?

Not all authorities give a uniform grant.

Spendless

magoogy wrote:

i cannot understand why they cannot get a school uniform grant - if you are entitled to school dinners you are entitled to the uniform too - surely every authority provides this?

AFAIK no they don't. Some do but even that seems to be restricted to secondary schools. What makes it worse is where you can only buy the uniform from the school as then its a set price rather than you being able to buy when a sale or offer is on.

My son is only at infants and the only thing I have to buy from school is the sweat-shirt but from what a friend tells me the local secondary school is worse for insisting the majority of clothes purchased can only come from school itself.

Fran

Who is currently claiming Child Benefit for the children? Perhaps your n dil could apply (assuming mother agrees) in which case son & n dil could put in a claim for Tax Credits - contact Inland Revenue - or can do it online - Tax Credits Online/

They might also contact a local/national cancer charity which might be able to offer other ways of support.

Amethyst

Currently the Child benefit is claimed by her mum - I will talk to them to see if they can get it paid to n dil instead, I know it will have to be done soon anyway.

Son has been trying to contact the CAB and welfare today - to be honest I hadn't thought about Asda etc but I will take the children out for the polo shirts & trousers - ages are 6,8,10 & 13.

10 year old boy wears mens clothes!!!

Thanks for all the messages.

Kind regards
Amethyst

Debt_Free_Chick

Hello Amethyst

The School(s) should give clear guidance as to what is acceptable uniform e.g. plain white shirt, black trousers etc .... They may also suggest suppliers, usually the special School clothing stores, but you are NOT forced to buy from them.

Get the clear guidelines from each school - then shop around. Matalan are also very good. My partner's son is now at secondary school and the only real bit of uniform we had to buy was a blazer. However, I think (not sure) we could have bought the badge and sown it onto any standard black blazer. The one from the school outfitters is particularly horrid - very shiny & nylon-y.

Once you have the list, why not start a new post either here or on Money Saving Old Style or the Families Board as I'm sure others will suggest other stores that supply good standard uniform items at reasonable prices.

Good luck

Ted_Hutchinson

Budgeting Loans will pay for clothing and shoes so this might be applicable. More info here Help from the social fund (GL18)

Penny-Pincher!!

Hi Amethyst

What items do you need? I have a few pale blue poloshirts you can have-i think there an age 9-10, they are like new!! Ive put them on ebay-but nobody wants them and started the bidding at 99pence :eek:

If they can be put to good use-there yours!!

You could apply for a crisis loan which would cover the cost of the uniform. I have always found matalan/Asda the best quality for poloshirts. My daughter (a pain in the bum 10 yr old) has changed these past few months and now likes the M&S school shirts/blouses(says they feel nicer than poloshirts). These are £12 a throw :eek: So now, I always look through ebay and get mainly from there. 3 weeks ago I got 4 M&S blouses for £6 inc delivery and were new!! These will last her till the summer-hopefully autum and winter too. Also bought 2 navy M&S skirts at £1.99 each inc postage-these were tagged at £16 each!! I also managed to get a pair of BN leather George/Asda girls shoes in a size 4(big kips)for £5.00 inc delivery, these were labelled at £16.

You dont have to pay alot for good quality school uniform-6 months ago (pre-money saver) I would have ordered all online and paid with my credit card and paid full price from M&S :eek: My daughter has a good quality uniform/shoes/summer dresses (mainly M&S/George/Matalan)for less than most mums pay for a skirt or cardigan full price from M&S!!

All the best!!

Penny-Pincher!!
XXX

Savvy_Sue

It is worth checking whether the LEA policy is "no school uniform grants" or "we only give a few school uniform grants and the money's run out this year."

If it's the latter, then it's worth applying again in July, ready for September! It takes a long while, and the money is usually only available for secondary schools, and for families on benefits.

Check the shoe situation carefully: nothing worse than buying, say, brown shoes and then discovering they should be black.

I hope the children settle in well at new schools, it must be a very traumatic time for all of them. That idea of raiding the lost property isn't so daft! Usually loads of stuff left unclaimed at the end of the school year.

Another thought: if you have Primark near you they are also very cheap for uniform basics.

Ted_Hutchinson

Penny-Pincher!! wrote:

You could apply for a crisis loan which would cover the cost of the uniform.

Afraid not, see the above link I posted. It has to be Budgeting Loans and not Crisis Loans or Community Care Grants

Fran

You can only get a Budgeting Loan if you have been on Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Pension Credits for 26 weeks or more. The Crisi Loan is more likely because anyone can claim (don't have to be on benefits) and it could perhaps be claimed for "unable to pay for something else and this will be a serious risk to the health and safety of you or your family?"

The best one to go for if claiming Income Support, Income based JSA or Pension Credits is the Community Care Grant because it does not have to be paid back. The site in Ted's link says "Need help because you and your family face exceptional pressure, such as family breakdown or someone in the family having a long-term illness?" - but check about the benefits.

It would be a good idea for someone to take all the info to a Citizens Advice Bureau and get the overall situation checked out. They can tell you exactly what benefits etc.