If you feel that school uniforms are too expensive at your child's school, please sign this petition. Year on year the prices just keep on going up. There are other suppliers who I'm sure can offer more competitive prices. We should not have to continue to pay these extortionate prices for uniform, especially when people are struggling to put food on their plates. Speak to your child's school and let them know how you are feeling. Tell them how expensive uniforms affect you. 

In order to be a child friendly city we need to address the reality of how many of our children in Redbridge are being fed from foodbanks as their parents are pushed into poverty due to several factors. How can we therefore justify the rise in prices in expensive school uniforms, and as policy dictates, they must adhere to it.

As part of this pledge of making Redbridge a Child Friendly Borough I urge all members of the London Borough of Redbridge Council and our MP Sam Tarry to TAKE A STAND WITH THE CHILDREN AND PARENTS OF REDBIRDGE and ask the schools of Redbridge to make their uniforms more affordable. It can be done if we all work together and find a solution. How? Is a discussion we urgently need to have before the next academic school year starts.  

This is an issue that affects people all over the country. Please BE THE FIRST TO SHOW YOU ARE LISTENING, AND THAT YOU CARE AND TAKE ACTION TO MAKE A CHANGE.

A school uniform teaches students to dress keenly and take pride in their appearance. Uniforms are meant to create a sense of equality among students. 

I live in Redbridge, and my children attend a school in Ilford. Just the other day I heard a parent telling her son of for getting paint on his school jumper. She told him off said "its your only jumper and you know I can't afford another one". My heart just dropped, and then I realised this is not the predicament of only one parent. Then I spoke to others who have more than two children and they expressed their frustrations at the cost of the uniform. Some parents might not say anything but you can see the struggle in their faces, or you see them leave bits behind when at the till point as it is too expensive. 

And then there are the children that have lost of misplaced their uniforms. Or the children that have ripped their uniform. Or for basic hygiene reasons having another set to change into midweek. 

And we are held to ransom to buy them as it is school policy that the children must wear the uniform with a logo on it. So we have no choice.

Many parents feel the burden of paying extortionate prices for the school uniform. We do what we can and we share or pass the uniform down to siblings but we still need to buy the essential items every year.

Just this school year I spent  £149.00 on 2 girls: 

£58.00 on cardigans

£28.00 on school polo t shirts

£6.00 on a book bag

£14.00 on white polo PE T Shirts

£22.00 on PE Black Joggers

£10.00 on PE bags

£11.00 on a backpack

And now I say...WE DO HAVE A CHOICE ...We CAN COLLECTIVELY SAY NO. WE REFUSE TO PAY THESE PRICES.

o   Schools need to lower their prices or find a new supplier

o   Schools can sell us the embroidered logo and we can stick or stitch or iron it on

o   Schools can change their uniform policy so it is not as restricting so parents have the chance to shop in the high streets an buy more reasonably priced uniform items.

Uniform and travel awards: https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/schools/uniform-and-travel-awards/

In some exceptional circumstances, the council might be able to provide assistance to buy school uniforms, when applying they will ask for written evidence from the professional support agency involved with your family.

·       enforced re-housing and an associated move of school

·       parent(s) and child in a refuge necessitating a change of school

·       emergency or disaster such as a fire

Background Information on Making Redbridge Child Friendly

Unicef UK has launched a partnership with the London Borough of Redbridge to improve the lives of children living in the borough. The Redbridge Joint Partnership Plan for 2025 includes a commitment to work towards Redbridge becoming a UNICEF-accredited “Child Friendly Borough”

The UNICEF Child Friendly Cities and Communities programme brings together UNICEF UK and local government to put children's rights at the heart of children's public services. With our partners we will look at practical ways to embed children’s rights within local services.

In a Child Friendly Community all children:

·       Have a say about decisions that affect them

·       Can express their views freely and are encouraged and supported to do that

·       Can access good health, education, transport and other services

·       Feel safe and protected from discrimination and harm

·       Can enjoy public spaces and meet other children freely

It is expected that by the end of this programme Children and Young People in Redbridge will:

·       Understand their rights

·       Have the skills and support to constructively challenge and campaign when their rights are being overlooked

·       Are aware of, and can access the support they need, when they need it

·       Are satisfied with the services that they experience

·       Feel they have the ability to influence and shape services which affect them

Leading council members make a series of pledges focusing on the rights and welfare of children to launch Redbridge’s journey to becoming internationally recognised as child friendly, aiming for Redbridge to become a place where children not only understand their rights but one where they also feel they have the ability and influence to shape services affecting them.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Cllr Elaine Norman said: “We want Redbridge to be a great place for families of all kinds. By working towards our ‘Child Friendly’ status we will continue to build on our commitment to ensuring the voices, needs and rights of children and young people form a fundamental part of our policies, services and decisions.”

“These are challenging times for local authorities, but this partnership represents a bold commitment from the council and their partners to put children’s rights at the heart of everything they do – from early conversations around children’s spaces and services in Redbridge, to the day-to-day running of those services.

Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Kam Rai added: “We have chosen to work towards gaining child friendly recognition to demonstrate our commitment to deliver the best possible universal opportunities for our children, regardless of their background.”

Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with their partners, they work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

Almost half of emergency food parcels from Redbridge foodbanks go to children

https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/emergency-food-for-redbridge-children-from-foodbanks-1-6389791

Redbridge parents say they are 'held to ransom over school uniforms'

https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/education/redbridge-parents-held-to-ransom-over-uniforms-1-6289516