Industry News

School uniforms 'help pupils belong'

Posted on 31st August 2007

Following recent concerns about the potential cost of school uniforms before the start of the new academic year, one expert has suggested that school dress can be a positive way of helping children develop.

Clinical child psychologist Dr Angharad Rudkin told the Western Mail that a uniform can help a child to feel like they belong to a group, while also highlighting their role in school.

"If they are getting dressed in a uniform they know they are getting ready to be a pupil and to learn," Dr Rudkin said.

Additionally, a uniform can assist children in making the distinction between school and their home life, enabling them to realize when they can "be a kid and relax again", she commented.

However, Citizens Advice recently found that 59 per cent of parents and guardians expect to pay more for their child's school uniform for this year than they did last September.

According to the charity, three in four parents believe that meeting the costs of school will be "very" or "quite" difficult.