Telford support group calling for an end to VAT on school uniform
They told us kid's clothing sizes are unrealistic
A Telford support group is calling for an end to VAT on school uniform to help parents with the cost.
Children over the age of 14 must pay VAT on their clothing, despite still being in school.
What is the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill?
This comes as The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is being scrutinised in the House of Lords.
The Government has insisted it will help to reduce the costs of school uniform by placing limits on the number of branded items schools can require children to have.
Schools are required to limit the amount of branded uniform items but a survey has shown they are not doing so, with parents having to pay on average £442 for secondary school uniforms, and £343 for primary school uniforms.
This limit will be three items, excluding school ties.
How do Telford Crisis Support help?
Simon Lellow is the Operations Manager at Telford Crisis Support. They give away school uniform donated to them to any family that needs it.
He said that a cut in VAT would better benefit parents: "With our school uniform service, we ask two questions: what is the child's age and what is their clothes age.
"From our data, in 80% of cases, the clothes age is bigger than the child's age.
"Children are taller than they were 20 years ago, so now we have younger children getting dragged into paying tax," he said.
"No parent should be forced between buying family essentials and a school shirt"
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has defended the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
She said: "Looking smart at school shouldn't cost the earth and no parent should be forced to choose between buying family essentials and a school shirt or tie.
"Alongside our free breakfast clubs, these new laws will save parents hundreds of pounds a year and make sure family finances have no bearing on children's time at school.
"This Bill is about keeping children safe, saving parents money and bringing every school up to the standard of the best, so we can break down barriers to opportunity and deliver our plan for change."
How much money will parents save?
The new uniform laws will save parents £50 a year in the back-to-school shop, according to the DfE.
Alongside the uniform limits, the Bill proposes to introduce free breakfast clubs, create a new register of all home-schooled children in England and reform academies.