Disadvantaged students at risk of falling behind as parents struggle to afford school costs

Zahra is a mother of four and recent immigrant who has struggled to afford school costs for her children. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

The cost-of-living crisis is having dire effects on school-age children, as parents struggle to afford uniforms, lunches and excursions, a report by the Smith Family has found.

Two-thirds of the almost 2,000 parents and carers supported by the organisation who were surveyed for the report had found it harder to afford what their children needed for school this year. Half the parents surveyed said the main reason was the increasing cost of petrol, groceries and rent.