The high cost of keeping children in uniform has been illustrated by mothers struggling to make ends meet.

Speaking anonymously to protect her privacy, one parent said she had no idea how to get her child ready for her school’s winter uniform on Friday.

While many parents in difficulty have said children had been sent home for turning up without the mandated uniform, the Department of Education advised needy families to keep school authorities apprised.

A spokeswoman said the department was “keenly aware” of the hardships faced by some families.

“School principals are committed to ensuring that each child has a quality education experience no matter what their family’s economic situation,” she added. “To that end, we encourage all parents who are experiencing difficulty in maintaining the school standard of uniform to inform their school counsellors or principal, who are keen to work with and help to support each family.”

Such cases were confirmed by two parents. One, whose six-year-old child attends Victor Scott Primary School, said the school had been accommodating when she sent her daughter in summer clothes last week.

“I don’t have a job, number one, and I can’t pay for her uniform,” she said. “I am on financial assistance, but my worker said things like shoes and clothes are not in the budget this year. A lot of people that are on assistance who are used to that are flabbergasted. You worry how your children are going to get stuff. It’s another burden on you.”

She confirmed remarks this week from the Coalition for the Protection of Children: today’s uniforms are not as easy to mix and match than in years gone by.

Basic white shirts have been replaced with “polo shirts with the label of the school on it”.

Unemployed for three years, she said she had received a second call for a job after interviewing for the position, only to find it had been taken. Even the discount prices of the Red Cross shop prove burdensome.

“When it comes to the high schools, you don’t have the choices like you did back in the day,” she added. A 31-year-old mother of three confirmed that added difficulty: one son, 16, attends CedarBridge Academy, but another, 15, is at the Berkeley Institute — and the uniforms differ substantially.

“Mostly everything I have is hand-me-down, but now it’s time to change into winter uniform, everything’s expensive.”

She estimated that her older son’s gym clothes would cost her $160, including the tracksuits that come with winter.

“I don’t see anything getting better for me,” said the woman, who was incarcerated nine years ago and has been haunted by her criminal record.

“I got locked up for an importation and ever since, I can’t find a job,” she said. “Sometimes I have to send my children to school with no breakfast.”

She is also on financial assistance, which she said could make it difficult to obtain further help.

“That is a situation which does not make any sense,” added Sheelagh Cooper, the founder of the Coalition. “The fact that you are on assistance is already an indicator of need.”

Ms Cooper thanked those who this week donated uniforms to help the organisation’s clients.

A third woman, whose daughter is now 18 and had graduated, said she had faced a struggle even covering the cost of graduation clothes at the Berkeley Institute — without which her child would have been left out of the ceremony.

“They let me pay down — I paid half, and I’m still paying,” she said. “I had to make it plain for them.”

The Coalition is seeking suggestions for a better uniform system. E-mail cpc@ibl.bm