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More than 3 million parents are cutting back on spending to cover school costs

More than 3 million parents are cutting back on spending to cover school costs

From uniforms to school meals, new research reveals the financial sacrifices millions of UK parents are making.

Natalia Lebedinskaia/Getty Images

Ruairidh Pritchard

Published: September 29, 2026 at 10:29 AM

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More than three million parents across the UK have had to cut back on other spending to afford the cost of sending their children to school, according to new research.

With the new academic year underway, the findings reveal just how much financial pressure families are facing. From school uniforms and meals to transport and after-school clubs, the everyday costs of education are forcing many parents to make difficult decisions about their household budgets.

Parentkind's National Parent Survey 2026, which questioned 6,053 parents across the UK, found that almost a quarter (23%) had struggled to afford school costs in the previous 12 months, while three in ten (30%) had made cutbacks elsewhere to cover these expenses.

Half of the poorest families are cutting back to afford school

While the cost of schooling is affecting families across the UK, the research reveals that parents on the lowest incomes are experiencing particularly significant financial pressure.

Almost half (47%) of parents in households earning less than £20,000 a year said they had struggled to afford school-related expenses. Half (50%) had also made cutbacks elsewhere to cover these costs.

And it's not just the lowest-income households feeling the strain. Among families earning between £20,000 and £34,999 a year, 36% reported struggling with school costs, while 41% had cut back on other spending.

Other groups experiencing financial difficulties included:

Single parents: 38% struggled to afford school costs, while 46% had made cutbacks elsewhere.
Disabled parents: 40% struggled with school expenses, while 45% had reduced other spending.
Parents with three or more children: 32% struggled with school costs, while 38% had made cutbacks.
Parents of children with special educational needs (SEN): 30% struggled with costs, while 38% had cut back elsewhere.

The findings highlight how school expenses can place additional pressure on families who may already be managing tight household budgets.

It's not just uniforms: the school costs worrying parents

For parents, the financial demands of the school year extend well beyond buying new shoes, uniforms and stationery in September.

According to the survey, school uniforms remain a major concern, with 42% of parents worried about their cost. That's equivalent to approximately 4.6 million parents across the UK.

The financial divide is particularly noticeable here, with 60% of parents in the poorest households concerned about uniform costs, compared with just 23% of those in the wealthiest households.

But uniforms are only part of the picture. More than a quarter (26%) of parents are also worried about paying for school meals, rising to 35% among the poorest households.

The survey also asked parents about other potential expenses, including technology, transport, before and after-school clubs, extracurricular events and materials needed for particular lessons.

Only 22% of parents said they weren't concerned about any school-related costs. Among the poorest households, that figure fell to just 11%, while only 14% of single parents reported having no concerns.

School costs remain a problem for families

Despite the start of a new academic year, the findings suggest that financial difficulties associated with schooling are an ongoing issue rather than simply a back-to-school expense.

In Parentkind's 2024 survey, 21% of parents reported struggling to afford the costs of sending their children to school. That figure stands at 23% in 2026.

And the financial pressures don't necessarily disappear when term ends.

The same research found that more than half (51%) of parents find the school holidays financially difficult, rising to 70% among the poorest households.

For working families, childcare can add another expense. Among parents who used holiday clubs and activities, the average daily cost was £28.87 per child.

What the findings mean for parents

The research paints a picture of the financial pressures that can come with raising school-aged children, particularly for families on lower incomes.

With three in ten parents making cutbacks elsewhere to meet school expenses, the cost of education is affecting more than just the school budget.

For families concerned about upcoming expenses, contacting their child's school to ask about available financial assistance, payment arrangements or lower-cost options could be a useful starting point.

The survey did not establish exactly which household expenses parents were sacrificing, but its findings show that for millions of families, covering the everyday costs of school means finding savings elsewhere.

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Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.