Changes to make school uniforms more affordable

Changes to uniform guidance for schools from September 2026 will help to make uniforms more affordable for parents and carers.

The updates to the UK Children and Wellbeing Schools Bill aim to cut over £70 million from the cost of uniforms for families across the UK. Some of the changes which will help to make uniforms cheaper for families from September 2026 include:

• Limiting the number of compulsory branded items in uniforms and PE kits
• Schools updating their uniform policies so that they can be easily found and understood on their websites.

To read the updated statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms, please visit the Government website:

Cost of school uniforms - GOV.UK.

The Council's approach

Everyone in full time education should have equal opportunity and access to the things they need to fully participate in school life. Please contact your school directly to see if they can provide any help for families, such as a uniform exchange scheme.

The Council’s Crisis and Resilience Fund is available for any families who need help with a sudden or unexpected financial crisis. You can apply for the Crisis and Resilience Fund from 1 April 2026:

Crisis and Resilience Fund | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Help with school uniforms in Cheshire West

If you’ve just got your school place, you might be starting to think about school uniforms. There are several local charities who can help with pre-loved school uniforms:

• Kidsbank support families in Chester, Ellesmere Port and surrounding areas with children aged 4-11 years: Uniform Self Referral Form – Kids Bank
• Free UniformS for School (FUSS) help with secondary school uniforms in Ellesmere Port, Neston and surrounding areas– Ellesmere Port Fuss
• Green Uniform and Baby Bank (GUBB) offer primary and secondary school uniforms in Winsford, Northwich and surrounding areas: GUBB
• Her-Place run a Share Hub, Baby Bank and Community Laundrette in their Winsford Hub: – Motherwell Community Hub and Laundrette - Her-Place