The National Parent Survey 2024 | Page 20

Almost half of parents are concerned about the cost of school uniforms
Cost of living and poverty

Cost of living and poverty

2.8 million One in five

parents are worried about affording their rent or mortgage

Parents are most likely to skip meals if they are on the lowest incomes

It comes as no surprise that one of the biggest concerns for parents right now is the cost of living . A third of parents told us they are struggling with their finances and one in four are worried about falling behind on rent or mortgage payments . More than a third of parents have less than £ 500 in the bank for a rainy day .
While many families have had to tighten their belts over the last year , it ’ s the poorest who are forced to make the toughest choices – four in ten have skipped meals , almost half rationed their heating and one in five used food banks . Parents of children entitled to free school meals are also twice as likely than those with children not entitled to fall into debt every month .

Parents with a child with SEN are also far more likely to have skipped meals , rationed the heating , used a food bank , taken out a loan or debt , or taken on an extra job or extra hours than parents without a child with SEN . parents struggle to afford the cost of sending their child to school

Almost half of parents are concerned about the cost of school uniforms

34 % rising to

of all parents are struggling with their finances

45 % 45 % 46 % 60 % of parents with a child with SEN

of parents whose child ’ s first language is not English
of parents with a disability
of parents with a household income of less than £ 20K
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