Parents in Hucknall said they would rather "buy food than branded school uniforms" amid rising living costs.
It comes after a Nottinghamshire councillor criticised schools which say children must wear uniforms branded with their logo or emblem at an increased cost to parents compared with generic plain school clothing.
Councillor Daniel Williamson (Ashfield Ind) labelled the matter as “utterly ridiculous”.
He has has written to Conservative councillor Tracey Taylor, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Children and Young People Committee, asking her to write to relevant schools asking that they remove the requirement.
The committee discussed the council’s ‘exceptional payments’ scheme for school uniform and footwear during a meeting on March 7.
It gives money to families struggling to afford school uniform in exceptional circumstances.
This sparked a reaction in Hucknall, where parents had their say about the issue.
Sylwia Siegieda, an office worker in Hucknall and mum of one, has voiced her fury and said: "Some parents just cannot afford buying their children branded uniforms.
"They would rather buy food than branded school uniforms", she added.
The 41-year-old went on and said: "My child has both branded and unbranded uniforms.
"I am on minimum wage, I would not be able to afford if I was a single parent.
"I really feel for the single parents, especially now when the living costs are so expensive."
She said that the school that her child attends - the National Church of England Primary school on Montague Road, in Hucknall - does not force parents to buy them exclusively branded uniforms.
She added: "This school never put pressure on us to buy children branded uniforms.
"But I do understand other parents' struggle."
Kirstie Marriott, a 31-year-old parent in Hucknall, added: "My son does not have a branded uniform, and it has never been a problem with the school or staff.
"But I can feel that sometimes he feels ashamed because of it.
"I think it is an added cost that some parents cannot afford to spend."
Ms Marriott, who works at a garage, added: "Going to school should be about getting education and studying, not about uniforms.
"Schools should be more inclusive."
Sam Pickery, another parent who was walking his child to school in the morning, added: "The uniforms do not cost that much.
"It is an added cost sure, but my problem is that uniforms should feel more comfortable for the children, especially when you pay extra.
The 28-year-old went on to say: "There are alternatives to branded uniforms, but the problem is that children just do not like it how they feel."
Jordan Bradbury, a Hucknall parent and student, 33, said: "It is very expensive.
"I have a boy and a girls and I feel the costs, especially since I am a student.
"All the prices are on the rise, the bills are all increasing.
"It is very difficult at the moment."
It was established during the council meeting that exceptional circumstances are defined as “families who have experienced and can demonstrate severe hardship which has resulted in the family being unable to afford the cost of school uniform and where this affects the ability of the children attending school.”
This includes families who have lost clothes in a fire, a flood, theft or have been made homeless or are fleeing domestic violence.
Outside of the meeting, Councillor Williamson raised concerns over schools which insist on branded uniforms, which are often more expensive, during the cost of living crisis.
He said: “We have a massive cost of living increase and utility bills are soaring. There is no real wage increase to match it.
“We end up in a desperate situation where parents are paying for something with a little emblem on it for five or six times the cost of unbranded uniforms.
“It’s about a child’s access to education rather than their appearance. You should be presentable but not at a cost of your ability to learn.
“The real impact is the unbearable cost on parents.
“There is a massive undercurrent of people whose families work 40 hours a week but they still have to go to food banks. Paying £25 for a skirt or trousers is utterly ridiculous to me.
“If we have the clear message that education is more important than how we look that will benefit children in the whole of the county.”
Coun Taylor said: “No child should suffer or miss out on their education because the school’s uniform requirements are too costly.
“I am pleased that the government has asked schools to help families save money on school uniforms, with new legally-binding guidance requiring schools to make uniform affordable for all.”
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