Council cuts £1.3m from free school uniform scheme

Wakefield Council is to cut its school uniform fund by £1.3m and be "targeted" at struggling families, the Reform UK-led authority has said.

Support will be available only to "those who need it most", it said, including children eligible for free school meals and families experiencing hardship.

The new scheme is expected to cost about £700,000 and replaces a £2m scheme approved by the previous administration to provide all school children with free uniform vouchers.

Cabinet member for children and young people, Matthew Caton, said: "Targeting the limited funding we have directly towards the children and families who need it most is common sense and what any responsible council should be doing."

Caton added: "The universal giveaway we inherited from the previous administration was never the best use of public money.

"It meant residents without school age children, who might also be struggling, could be subsidising better off parents.

"The scheme we're putting in place will provide support that is deliverable and good value and it enables us to invest in other essential local services to improve the lives of our residents."

Eligible families will be offered £30 per child under the revised plans.

Access to the scheme will be determined through a combination of eligibility for free school meals and a small discretionary "hardship fund" allocated directly to schools.

A spokesperson for Wakefield Council said: "This allows schools to provide vouchers to families they know are struggling with the cost of uniforms.

"By allocating part of the fund in this way, we can ensure support is flexible and reaches those who may not always meet formal criteria, while still targeting help where it's most needed."

The school uniform initiative will be funded by a one-off pot of money from the profits of an affordable housing venture completed by the outgoing council.

Caton said the council was committed to reducing overspending.

"We've heard the message from residents loud and clear that you want change," he said.

"A big part of that is putting a stop to spending money on things that the council simply can't afford to do.

"By reducing the cost of this scheme by £1.3m we can repurpose our resources into local services to improve our communities."

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