The government has launched new school uniform guidance, confirming caps on branded uniforms to save parents money.

From September schools must comply with the new legal limits on the number of branded uniform items they can require, allowing parents to buy more of the everyday basics, like trousers and shirts, from any shop or supermarket rather than one pricey supplier.

In addition, after polling found a third of parents still worry about uniform costs, the government is also publishing strengthened statutory guidance telling schools to take more steps to bring down the cost of individual items, especially for more expensive items like blazers and jumpers, in time for the 2027 school year.

The guidance outlines the cost considerations for schools when they are developing and implementing their uniform policies and managing their uniform supply arrangements.

It also covers the legal limit on the number of branded items of school uniform and PE kit that schools can require, the provision of second-hand uniform, and other support available to help with the cost of school uniform. It also gives the information schools should provide to parents about their uniform requirements.