Agenda item

Councillor Hannaford to move:

Council notes

In July 2019, the Work and Pensions Committee and Education Committee held a joint evidence session on school holiday poverty.

Following the session, the chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, Frank Field, sent a letter to the Secretary of State for Education stating that the testimony at the session from parents and parental support organisations was “profoundly distressing” and raised the issue of school uniform costs, in particular schools using particular providers for generic items.

The letter asked the Secretary of State to consider what the Government can do in supporting parents dealing with high uniform costs. It further stated that the committees would return to the wider issue later in the year, with further evidence sessions and a report.

Council notes with concern.

The Children’s Commission on Poverty, supported by the Children’s Society, published The Wrong Blazer: Time for action on school uniform costs in 2015, a report that highlighted concerns about uniform costs, recommended making the DfE guidance statutory, as well as that the Government should explore a school uniform cost cap.

In August 2018, the Children’s Society published an update to the report, based on a survey of 1,000 parents, which highlighted uniform costs and the potential impact on children:

The report, The Wrong Blazer 2018: Time for action on school uniform costs, revealed families are paying out more on school uniforms, with an average of £340 per year for each child at secondary school – an increase of 7% or £24 since 2015. Parents of primary school children spent on average £255 per year, an increase of 2% since 2015.

The high cost of uniforms can be put down in part to school policies that make parents buy clothing from specialist shops rather than giving them the choice of buying items at cheaper stores such as supermarkets or high-street chains. Where parents have to buy two or more items of school uniform from a specific supplier, spending was found to be an average of £71 per year higher for secondary school children and £77 higher for primary school children.

For children themselves, the cost of school uniform can have a serious impact. Around one in 10 parents said it had led to their child wearing uniform that didn’t fit properly, and more than one in 20 said that their child had been sent home for wearing the wrong clothes or shoes as a result of them struggling to afford the cost.

The full report again recommended that the Government make the DfE guidance statutory, and also that the Government should end the freeze on key benefits and tax credits for families with children.

Council welcomes

The Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill 2019-20 that was introduced by Labour Mike Amesbury MP following the Private Members' Bills Ballot on 9 January 2020.

First reading took place on 5 February 2020 and the Bill's second reading is due on 13 March 2020.

The bill is designed to cut the cost of school uniforms in England. The draft legislation would aim to strengthen existing guidance encouraging schools to keep down costs.

It could also force schools to keep compulsory branded items, like blazers, to a minimum. Especially as an inquiry last year heard items like blazers embroidered with school logos can cost up to three times more.

The bill, whose details have yet to be finalised, now stands a much better chance of approval with government support.

The draft law has already received the backing of some Tory MPs such as Huw Merriman and Kevin Hollinrake, as well as Lib Dem education spokesperson Layla Moran.

It understood that the bill would aim to make government uniform guidance statutory, meaning schools would be legally required to follow it.

The move would bring the English school system into line with Wales, where new statutory guidance came into force in September last year.

Council therefore resolves

To formally write to all Members of Parliament in the Devon County Council area, clearly raising all these issues and concerns, with some local context, to urge them to actively support and vote for this Private Members Bill, through all its parliamentary stages to ensure that it is enacted into law at the earliest opportunity.

Councillor Hannaford MOVED and Councillor Hart SECONDED that in accordance with Standing Order 6(6), the Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Hannaford be considered at this meeting.

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

Councillor Hannaford then MOVED (with the amendment shown below and with the consent of the Council) and Councillor Hart SECONDED;

Council notes

In July 2019, the Work and Pensions Committee and Education Committee held a joint evidence session on school holiday poverty.

Following the session, the chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, Frank Field, sent a letter to the Secretary of State for Education stating that the testimony at the session from parents and parental support organisations was “profoundly distressing” and raised the issue of school uniform costs, in particular schools using particular providers for generic items.

The letter asked the Secretary of State to consider what the Government can do in supporting parents dealing with high uniform costs. It further stated that the committees would return to the wider issue later in the year, with further evidence sessions and a report.

Council notes with concern.

The Children’s Commission on Poverty, supported by the Children’s Society, published The Wrong Blazer: Time for action on school uniform costs in 2015, a report that highlighted concerns about uniform costs, recommended making the DfE guidance statutory, as well as that the Government should explore a school uniform cost cap.

In August 2018, the Children’s Society published an update to the report, based on a survey of 1,000 parents, which highlighted uniform costs and the potential impact on children:

The report, The Wrong Blazer 2018: Time for action on school uniform costs, revealed families are paying out more on school uniforms, with an average of £340 per year for each child at secondary school – an increase of 7% or £24 since 2015. Parents of primary school children spent on average £255 per year, an increase of 2% since 2015.

The high cost of uniforms can be put down in part to school policies that make parents buy clothing from specialist shops rather than giving them the choice of buying items at cheaper stores such as supermarkets or high-street chains. Where parents have to buy two or more items of school uniform from a specific supplier, spending was found to be an average of £71 per year higher for secondary school children and £77 higher for primary school children.

For children themselves, the cost of school uniform can have a serious impact. Around one in 10 parents said it had led to their child wearing uniform that didn’t fit properly, and more than one in 20 said that their child had been sent home for wearing the wrong clothes or shoes as a result of them struggling to afford the cost.

The full report again recommended that the Government make the DfE guidance statutory, and also that the Government should end the freeze on key benefits and tax credits for families with children.

Council welcomes

The Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill 2019-20 that was introduced by Labour Mike Amesbury MP following the Private Members' Bills Ballot on 9 January 2020.

First reading took place on 5 February 2020 and the Bill's second reading is due on 13 March 2020.

The bill is designed to cut the cost of school uniforms in England. The draft legislation would aim to strengthen existing guidance encouraging schools to keep down costs.

It could also force schools to keep compulsory branded items, like blazers, to a minimum. Especially as an inquiry last year heard items like blazers embroidered with school logos can cost up to three times more.

The bill, whose details have yet to be finalised, now stands a much better chance of approval with government support.

The draft law has already received the backing of some Tory MPs such as Huw Merriman and Kevin Hollinrake, as well as Lib Dem education spokesperson Layla Moran.

It understood that the bill would aim to make government uniform guidance statutory, meaning schools would be legally required to follow it.

The move would bring the English school system into line with Wales, where new statutory guidance came into force in September last year.

Council therefore resolves

That Council be asked to formally write to all Members of Parliament in the Devon County Council area, clearly raising all these issues and concerns, with some local context, to urge them to actively support and vote for this Private Members Bill, through all its parliamentary stages to ensure that it is enacted into law at the earliest opportunity.

The Motion (as amended above) in the name of Councillor Hannaford was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.