A new law is set to come into effect that will slash the cost of school uniforms for hard-pressed families.

A Parliamentary bill introduced by Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury aimed at reducing the cost of school uniforms is set to become law tomorrow.

The bill is expected to clear all its stages  just in the nick of time before the end of this parliamentary session.

In future, the new law will mean schools across England will have to comply with legally-binding guidance aimed at ensuring uniforms are affordable.

The bill passed its third and final reading in the House of Lords this afternoon (April 28) and is due to be given Royal Assent tomorrow when it becomes law.

Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who represents Weaver Vale, said: “I’m celebrating on behalf of hard-pressed families up and down the country. People have been going through tough times, particularly with COVID.

“Of course, the issue of expensive uniforms predates COVID but it’s more pertinent than ever because people have been on furlough or lost jobs as well as losing loved ones.

“This will make a real difference and bring the cost of school uniforms down, with the need for schools to put affordability front and centre in their uniform policies placed on a legal footing for the first time. So I’m over the moon for those children and their families.”

According to The Children’s Society, parents are spending on average £337 per year on uniform for each child at secondary school, while parents of primary school children spend £315 on average – three times what they feel is reasonable for school uniforms.

New guidance, which the Government aim to issue to schools in the autumn, is expected to insist the number of branded items is kept to a minimum, with a fair and open tendering process established around uniform suppliers to tackle long-standing monopolies.

The law was supported by the Government as well as colleagues from across the political divide in both Houses of Parliament.

Mr Amesbury’s Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill was delayed due to the impact of COVID on the Westminster timetable but crossed the line just before the end of this parliamentary session.

The delay placed the Bill in jeopardy, but earlier this year thousands of supporters of the bill wrote to Jacob Rees-Mogg, Leader of the House, calling on him to make more time for the bill, before it was brought back in March.