Financial pressures increased by new school term

Financial pressures are really starting to bite parents now, with 33 per cent worried about the extra costs sending their child back to school has involved.

A 34 per cent felt there were just too many extras they had to stump up for, including school trips and books.

Families on lower incomes struggled to pay for their children to take part in school trips last year, with 14 per cent admitting their child had to miss some.

Around 12 per cent of parents said their child had even been bullied during the last 12 months because they did not have the latest clothes or equipment for school.

Alison Taylor, Director of Turn2us said: “Families who are already struggling to make ends meet due to reduced salaries and benefits, redundancy and other changes in working conditions will be driven to crisis point by back to school costs. Yet there is a range of charitable grants that may be able to give financial assistance for welfare or educational purposes. It’s important that parents investigate all sources of support, including help from charities”.