BARNSLEY Council’s cabinet voted to scale back its school uniform support scheme at a meeting last week.
The project saw parents receive a voucher to contribute towards the cost of buying new school uniform £50 per primary school aged child and £100 per secondary school-aged child.
A total of 33,803 vouchers were issued to Barnsley families.
It was decided on Wednesday by cabinet that the scheme will only support children in reception and year seven.
Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, criticised the withdrawal.
She said: “Targeting support can make sense, but this proposal risks leaving thousands of families worse off.
“The council needs to be honest about who will lose out, what support will replace it, and why a scheme they previously celebrated as a success is now being scaled back so sharply.
“At a time when families are still feeling the squeeze, Reform councillors should be expanding practical support, not cutting back a scheme that parents have used and valued.
“I will be asking for much more detail on the impact of these changes and will keep standing up for constituents who rely on this help.”
