School Costs and Family Struggles

1 in 5 parents say they're struggling with the cost of sending their children to school according to the National Parent Survey.

There're uniform costs, school trips, afterschool clubs and school dinners to consider, but is there a way to keep costs down?

Some changes are on the way with government plans to give every parent of a child in a state primary school in England the legal right to a half hour breakfast club, as well as limits on how many branded uniform parents have to buy.

This week Felicity Hannah will hear from parents and is joined by Jo Thurston, parenting coach from Action for Children’s Parent Talk service, Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at the investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown and Neil Renton, Head Teacher of Harrogate Grammar School.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle

(This programme was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday the 15th of January 2025)