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Almost 1,000 hard-pressed families in South Tyneside are to be given additional financial support to help with the costs of their children starting or moving schools.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ is to provide supermarket vouchers for families in receipt of free school meals whose children have just joined Reception, started secondary school in Year 7 or have moved into junior school at Year 3 from an infant school.

The vouchers are aimed at offsetting the costs of school uniform and is further evidence of the Council delivering on its priority of supporting families.

The vouchers are worth £25 per eligible reception and Year 3 child and £50 per child in Year 7. This recognises the additional costs for older children  and the fact that there is often more to buy for secondary aged pupils. 

Councillor Adam Ellison, Lead Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: "We understand that having to buy school uniform puts an additional strain on household finances. By providing these vouchers, we seek to help those at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis as they can now use these vouchers to offset other costs such as food.

"We recognise that our schools have some excellent and resourceful ways of providing and recycling uniform items and this is not meant to replace that. Rather, it is about seeking to help with additional costs that families are facing at this challenging time."

The Council has provided support for families struggling with costs through the Household Support Fund and will continue to do so through the autumn term.

The vouchers will be paid directly to eligible families via their school.