Aug 20 2008
Parents and grandparents who put away savings for children to pay for youngsters' school costs may be shocked to learn that going back to school could cost £1,623.
Insurer Sheilas' Wheels said "must-have" gadgets for schoolchildren have pushed up costs by 20 per cent compared to last year.
A poll of nearly 900 parents of school-age kids, 43 per cent of children took a mobile phone to school, with 21 per cent under ten years old.
Hair straighteners, MP3 players and hand-held games consoles can also be found in schoolkids' rucksacks, the survey found.
In addition, designer sportswear and trainers are also on the wish-list for many children this September, with 41 per cent of parents polled saying they "felt pressured" to buy their children an expensive PE kit.
By starting early, parents may be able to cover these expenses and more. Investing Child Trust Fund vouchers after the baby's birth may be a good starting point, while later a tax-free cash individual savings account may take the school costs hit. As for school fees themselves, school fee plans may help parents.
