A study of the price of school uniforms and kit has revealed that mums and dads will be facing a 27 per cent hike in costs this year.
The price of the September return to school will average out a whopping £224 compared with £177 in 2012.
Research by Santander credit cards found that the cost broke down very differently across different types of school: parents of children at community schools paid an average of £210.31 for uniform, sports gear, books, stationery and technology; those at grammar school spent £284.40; gear for academies cost £242.59 and trust foundations £276.20.
Their survey also revealed that a massive £447 million a year goes on kids' transport, food and outings.
Parents might be relieved to hear the cost of the school run has fallen though, as mums and dads have cut back on car journeys, spending £158.34 a year on petrol to ferry kids around, compared with £163 in 2012.
Probably enough to splash out on another packet of felt tips...