Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Written evidence submitted by Parentkind (CWSB139)

S ubmission to the Public Bill Committee’s c all for e vidence on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Introduction to Parentkind

Parentkind is one of the largest federated charities in the UK, with almost 70 years of experience working with Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs). Alongside our work with schools, we are the voice of parents. We regularly survey parents and use this research to advocate for change.

Our National Parent Survey is Britain’s largest annual parent poll, the data used in this submission is taken from our National Parent Survey 2024*.

Free breakfast clubs

Amongst parents, there is a high level of support for the roll out of free breakfast clubs for all primary aged children.

· Almost 4 in 5 (79%) parents support the roll out of free breakfast clubs for all primary school children, 70% support free breakfast clubs for all school children.

· Over 1 in 5 (22%) of parents of a child who attends a breakfast club say it reduced the cost of living for their family.

· Almost two-fifths (39%) of say it helps their child get to school on time.

· Over a quarter (29%) say that it helps their child to learn.

However, this measure alone does not go far enough in helping families in poverty.

· Over a quarter (28%) of parents are concerned about the cost of school meals.

· Four-fifths (81%) of parents support the roll out of free school meals for all primary school children, three quarters (73%) support free school meals for all school

children. 

The government should consider a roll out of free school meals for all primary school children in England.

School uniforms

Reducing the cost of school uniform by limiting compulsory branded items is a step in the right direction to alleviate the cost of sending a child to school.

· Almost half (47%) of all parents are concerned about the cost of school uniforms.

· Amongst parents whose child is eligible for free school meals (FSM), over half (58%) are concerned about the cost of school uniforms.

However, parents’ concern over the cost of school stretches beyond school uniforms.

· Over a fifth (21%) of all parents struggle to afford the cost of sending their child to school. This figure more than doubles to almost half (48%) of parents whose child is eligible for FSM.

· Over two-fifths (43%) of all parents, and a half (51%) of parents whose child is eligible for FSM, are concerned about the cost of school trips.

· Over a quarter (27%) of all parents, and over a third (38%) of parents whose child is eligible for FSM, are concerned with the cost of technology to support their child’s learning.

School uniforms are not the only school related cost that the government needs to consider tackling.

*The National Parent Survey 2024 was conducted online by YouGov. The fieldwork took place from 26th April to 16th May 2024 amongst 5,490 parents from across the UK who have at least one child aged 4 to 18 in school. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK parents aged 18+. Figures used in this submission are taken from the sample of 3,012 parents in England.

January 2025