Back to School - You Might Be Surprised What's Available

Does it feel like the summer holidays have flown by?

If you have children, back to school always seems to arrive quickly. One minute you’re making the most of the holidays and the next you’re thinking about school uniforms, shoes, packed lunches and everything else that comes with a new school year.

For many families, it’s one of the busiest and most expensive times of the year. The good news is that there are lots of organisations, schools and community groups working hard to help families with back-to-school costs.

You might be surprised by some of the support that’s available.

More schools are offering pre-loved uniforms

If you’ve not come across one before, many schools now have pre-loved uniform shops or swap events.

They’re a simple way for families to pass on uniforms that no longer fit and help other children get what they need at a much lower cost, or sometimes for free.

If your child’s school doesn’t have one, they may know about local uniform banks or community organisations that do. Housing associations and neighbourhood Facebook groups also regularly share details of local swap events throughout the summer.

There could be more support available where you live

If you’re struggling to cover essential costs, don’t wait until things become more difficult. Speaking to your child’s school, your local council or a free advice organisation as early as possible could help you find support that’s available to you.

Support is different depending on where you live, but many councils offer help with things such as:

School uniform grants
Free school meals
Home-to-school transport
Childcare costs

Your local council’s website will have the latest information about the support available in your area or check out our MoneyToolkit to see if any extra help is available.

Free school meals can unlock even more support

If your child receives free school meals, there may be other help available too.

In many parts of England, eligible children can also take part in the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme during the school holidays. It offers free activities and meals, helping children stay active while giving families extra support during the holidays.

Some schools also run breakfast clubs or after-school activities that are free or available at a lower cost.

Have things changed since you last checked?

Support changes over time, and so do family circumstances.

Even if you’ve looked before, you could now be entitled to extra financial support.

See whether you may be entitled to benefits or other financial support with our free Benefits Checker.

Your local community could help too

Many families find school uniforms, coats, shoes, lunch boxes and stationery through local community groups.

Neighbourhood Facebook pages, community centres, family hubs and local swap events often have families passing on items that are still in great condition.

Housing associations also share information about local grants, family events and support throughout the year, so they’re another good place to look if you’re wondering what’s available nearby.

There's more help available than many people realise

Back-to-school support doesn’t just come from one place.

Your child’s school, local council, housing association and community organisations may all offer different types of help. Even if you don’t need it this year, it’s useful to know what’s available should things change in the future.

If you’re not sure where to start, these organisations can often point you in the right direction.

Every family gets ready for September differently

There’s no single way to prepare for a new school year.

Some families make the most of local support. Others find a pre-loved uniform, discover they’re entitled to extra help or simply find out about services they didn’t know existed.

Whatever September looks like for your family, we hope you’ve discovered something that could make the start of the new school year a little easier.

If you’d like to see whether there’s any extra support available, you can use our free Benefits Checker. You can also visit MoneyHelper for free, independent money guidance, or speak to your child’s school, housing association or local council to find out what’s available where you live.