UK parents are bracing to spend an average of £85 ($115) this spring on children's school supplies such as uniforms, shoes, and stationery, as they try to spread the rising cost of education over the year.
Research for cashback website Rakuten found that nearly four in five parents of children aged four to 16 now use the spring months to top up on school items, rather than waiting for the traditional back-to-school rush in late summer.
The nationwide survey of 2,000 parents, carried out by Opinium in March, showed that outgrown uniforms, scuffed school shoes, and fresh stationery are among the main reasons families are heading to the shops earlier in the year, according to Yahoo Finance.
How Much UK Parents Spend on School Supplies
On average, parents expect to spend £85 ($115) during spring on school essentials, according to the research. Many households say this strategy helps them manage tight budgets, especially as wider data suggests the overall cost of uniforms and other school-related items can run into hundreds of pounds per child over the course of a year.
Around 29% of parents surveyed said they deliberately shop in spring to ease financial pressure by spreading purchases, rather than facing one large bill ahead of the new school year.
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Bola Sol, a savings expert for Rakuten, said parents are increasingly planning ahead and looking for small ways to save as living costs remain high. She explained that back-to-school shopping is "no longer just a September moment," with families changing not only where they shop but when, to make their budgets go further.
Consumer groups and charities have also warned that the overall cost of schooling, from uniforms to equipment, can put serious strain on low and middle-income households.
The Rakuten research suggests that parents are focusing their spring spending on core items children need immediately, such as replacing jumpers and blazers that no longer fit, buying new shoes after winter wear and tear, and restocking pens, notebooks and other classroom basics, Independent reported.
Some families also reported needing to buy specific items for the summer term, including a lighter PE kit or seasonal uniform pieces, which adds to the total.
Other recent surveys indicate that these spring purchases come on top of substantial back-to-school costs later in the year, with separate polling by YouGov and uniform industry bodies pointing to typical outlays of around £100 ($135) or more on clothing and sports kit alone ahead of a new academic term.
For now, the shift towards spring shopping shows that many UK parents are trying to smooth out those expenses, even if the overall financial burden of kitting out children for school remains high, as per the Schoolwear Association.
