TEACHING unions urged ministers to properly tackle the “scourge of child poverty” today, after the government instructed schools to keep uniform costs down.

The Department for Education published statutory guidance for schools in England today, which will instruct them to ensure their uniform is affordable and to remove unnecessary branding.

The instructions, which come into effect in autumn next year, will also require schools to ensure second-hand uniforms are available for children.

Teachers’ unions have welcomed the move but insisted the government needs to do more to tackle the causes of child poverty.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “We are deeply concerned about the financial hardship many families are currently facing.

“Schools do a significant job dealing with the effects of poverty in their classrooms, but schools cannot act alone and urgent action to tackle the scourge of child poverty is needed.”

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Schools are acutely aware of the need to keep uniform costs to a minimum, particularly as they often have many students who come from disadvantaged homes. 

“They deal on a daily basis with the impact of the high level of child poverty the government has failed to address.”

James Bowen, director of policy for school leaders’ union NAHT said: “It’s important to remember that a large number of schools already work extremely hard to ensure that their uniform is affordable for families.

“Many schools also run schemes to provide support for families who might be struggling with the cost of uniform."

The department’s statutory guidance requires schools to use “competitive and transparent contracts” with suppliers.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “This new binding guidance will help to make uniforms far more affordable for families by driving down costs as we work hard to level up the country.”

Matt Easter, co-chair of the Schoolwear Association, whose members provide uniforms for 75 per cent of school children in Britain, said the guidance “would not create unreasonable burdens on schools or uniform suppliers.”

Mark Russell, chief executive of The Children’s Society, said: “Until now, too many parents have had to fork out for expensive branded items rather than cheaper alternatives, while having to cut back on essentials like food or heating.”