How far will new measures help families facing cost-of-living pressures?

Cost-of-living pressures continue to affect families in England, with the rising cost of essentials placing pressure on household budgets. For families with school-age children, these pressures can be felt in schools, where teachers are often stepping in to support pupils when families are struggling to meet basic needs.

From 1 September, the Government is introducing measures which aim to ease some of these pressures. Changes to school uniform requirements will limit the number of compulsory branded school uniform and PE-kit items schools can require. Schools will also need to continue to assist with helping families access second-hand uniform, if required.

A potentially more significant change for families experiencing financial pressure is the expansion of free school meals (FSM) eligibility from September. All children in England whose parents receive Universal Credit will become eligible for FSM, following the Government's announcement last year. 

NFER previously welcomed this change, with the Department for Education (DfE) estimating that over 500,000 pupils could benefit from the FSM expansion.

What our research tells us

NFER has been researching the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on schools, teachers and families over the past few years.

In our 2024 report, The ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis on schools, around 40 per cent of primary teachers reported an increase in pupils arriving at school without adequate clothing, such as proper uniform, winter clothes or shoes compared to the previous year. Around a third reported an increase in pupils arriving at school hungry. 

The research also highlighted the extent to which teachers were personally responding to these pressures. Around a fifth of primary teachers (19 per cent) and secondary teachers (17 per cent) reported spending their own money on pupils’ pastoral or welfare needs, such as food or clothing.

The report also highlighted that schools provide extensive support that goes beyond education itself, including food parcels, subsidised breakfasts and support for pupils and families experiencing financial difficulties. 

For instance, over 70 per cent of school leaders reported providing or supporting access to food parcels, food banks or food vouchers to pupils. 

We also did a follow up survey in 2025, which highlighted that these issues are ongoing.

Cost of living pressures impact on pupil wellbeing and mental health needs, as well as higher levels of school absence. Recent NFER research on pupil wellbeing and persistent absence emphasised the importance of addressing the wider factors affecting children and families’ wellbeing to address the current attendance crisis in schools.

Taken together, the evidence shows that there is a continuing demand for schools to respond to challenges that extend beyond education itself. 

To what extent will the new measures in September help families?

The new uniform requirements may reduce costs for some families, but their impact is likely to be relatively modest for many, particularly as some schools have already taken steps to make uniform more affordable.

The Government’s expansion of FSM eligibility is likely to have a more direct impact on household budgets for families who become newly eligible. Ensuring families are aware of the change and that eligible pupils can access FSMs from the start of the new school year will therefore be important. NFER has previously highlighted the need for schools to prepare for the changes to the eligibility process.

FSM eligibility is an important way of supporting disadvantaged pupils and their families. These measures therefore have the potential to provide practical help, but they should be seen as part of a wider response to the financial pressures facing families.

Schools are also under financial pressure

While our evidence suggests that schools are taking extensive steps to support pupils and families with cost-of-living pressures, schools are also facing their own financial pressures. For example, the percentage of local authority-maintained schools in deficit increased to 17.8 per cent in 2024/25, from 15.3 per cent in 2023/24. 

NFER’s 2025 research also found that school leaders were expecting their financial position to deteriorate further, with falling pupil numbers adding to the pressures facing some schools.

This creates a difficult balance. Schools are being asked to respond to increasingly complex needs among pupils and families while also managing constrained budgets and capacity.

What does this mean for government?

The changes to FSM eligibility and school uniform requirements have the potential to provide practical support to families. But further action will be needed so that pupils and their families have the support they need.

As the Government considers its broader approach to supporting families with the cost of living, it will be important to listen to schools, teachers and families and use research evidence to understand the challenges they face. This will help ensure that policy responds to the pressures that matter most.