January 15, 2001 15:28: LACK of help with the cost of school uniforms for Bromley parents on low incomes could be putting their childrens education at risk, claims a report from the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB).

It argues the financial assistance available to parents on low incomes, who need to kit out their children for school, is far from adequate and failing to meet needs.

This could result in children being victimised by both teachers and pupils.

NACAB chief executive, David Harker said: "Not having the proper uniform can mark out a child as being poor or even as being a troublemaker - failing to meet the most basic of school discipline policies.

"It can mean young people are excluded from the social and academic life of the school.

"At best, children feel uncomfortable. More seriously, they get picked on, choose to exclude themselves, or are even threatened with exclusion by the school."

A NACAB survey of 125 local authorities found uniform costs range from £105 to £274, but Bromley only offers an annual grant of £26 for primary school children, and £52 for secondary school children.

This grant is exclusively available to families who receive income support, job seekers allowance, widowed mothers allowance or housing benefit, but even this help is badly advertised.

The NACAB is calling for more generous and consistent help with uniform costs for parents on low incomes.

Mr Harker said: "The time has come for all local education authorities to be required to provide a minimum standard of assistance, with proper funding made available to them, as they already do in the case of free school meals.

"The alternative is to countenance social exclusion which starts in the playground."

Matthew Skinner

9:30am Monday 15th January 2001

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