"Sorry we couldn't do it sooner" say council on school uniform grants
£40 school uniform grants will be sent out on 23 October, over a month and a half after term started.
Hull families with a child that has just started Year 7 and is eligible for free school meals will receive a £40 grant to help with uniform costs. The Labour Group have criticised the Liberal Democrat-led council for not acting sooner.
Labour say they brought forward proposals for uniform grants in June 2022 and again in July 2023, but both were opposed by council leadership.
Councillor Linda Tock, portfolio holder for children's services, said: "We're that we couldn't do it sooner. Obviously we've had to have a look at a whole raft of things in terms of the budget and I wish we could've done it sooner but I'm sure it will be appreciated now."
Families should receive the grants on 23 October. Hull City Council said around 1,100 pupils will benefit from the grant, as they focus on maximising the number that benefit rather than the individual amounts given out.
The Children's Society said requirements to buy branded clothes and those from specific suppliers were pushing up costs for families. They estimated that on average, parents in England spend £422 a year on secondary school uniforms.
Linda Tock said: "£40 at this stage, if you think about the cost of that and the 1,100 pupils that benefit from that... I'm really pleased on the one hand but I really wish we could go further."
Uniform grants will be distributed through a voucher system similar to free school meal vouchers, so that families won't have to apply for the money.