A campaign is being launched to encourage schools to allow cheaper uniforms.

An online parenting website says families can save around €300 per child each year, if schools 'can the crest' and use generic uniforms.

The petition has already received the support of 3,819 families in Ireland to date.

The campaign will run for several weeks, culminating in the presentation of the petition to the Department of Education.

The Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan is being urged to enforce new uniform regulations which could save parents thousands of euro over a school lifetime.

It is claimed that, at present, each year branded school uniforms are costing parents up to €400 per child per year. In contrast, the average generic uniform costs just €86 for two sets.

Research from MummyPages.ie last year revealed that 51% of mothers experience financial difficulty in putting their child through school, and 88% of parents think their uniform is unnecessarily expensive.

Laura Haugh of MummyPages.ie explains how the savings can be made.