The cost of back-to-school necessities like stationery and uniforms can be overwhelming for some parents, with massive disparities between what different schools require.

With four kids of school age, mum Megan Pullyn says she holds her breath when reading their stationery lists each year.

She pays for two of the kids, and when stationery and uniform costs are combined, the total quickly stack up.

"Just for those two children, we are probably spending $350, if not more, a year."

Normally, Megan normally tires to reuse as many books and pens from previous years as possible.

However, some of her kids are now expected to hand everything on their lists over to their teacher on the first day of school, for the items to be shared among the class as needed.

This new shared approach means Megan is unable to employ some of her usual money-saving techniques.

"It was quite strange that both of the schools said they were going to be sharing the stationery; not to name them, not to cover them; and we had to order through a specific website which meant we weren't allowed to order from somewhere else to try and make it cheaper."

By contrast, parent Casey Watson is delighted to discover her school will be providing all students' stationery for free.

"I was so happy when I got the letter because that was money that I didn't need to pay towards another school item.

"Also, the thought of not having to go and deal with finding the books at the stores was amazing."

Casey used to spend $50-80 on stationery at the start of each year.

Now, she will put that money towards uniforms, which remains a significant expense - easily a couple of hundred dollars a year.

Lakeview School principal Tim Nelson says the initiative is a simple thing the board of trustees could implement to help parents battling with rising costs.

"These are really, really tough times, and people are really, really appreciative.

"It means that everyone starts with their stationery the same. Every kid will show up on the first day of school and their stationery will be there for them."

Because Lakeview School doesn't ask parents for any donations, it receives a payment of $154.13 per student through the Ministry of Education.

This payment is available for schools with an equity index of 432 or higher (previously for schools with a decile 1-7 rating).

Tim says it's the ministry payment that makes free stationery possible at his school.

He says the scheme costs about $14,000 a year, or about $30 per student.

"We have a lot of kids, so it's going to cost a lot of money, but it's definitely a really good way to spend money."

However, at most other schools, parents are expected to pay at least something, and there is a large variation in their expectations.

In a random selection of 10 Auckland primary schools, Checkpoint found a range of more than $100.

The average stationery pack cost $56.

The highest cost was for a year six pack at a North Shore primary school, coming in at $127.

The lowest is a year one pack at South Auckland's Bairds Mainfreight Primary School, which cost just $14.

Bairds Mainfreight principal Fiona McAree-Ngaau says her school only asks for stationery that students will definitely use.

"Where possible the school will supply some of the items instead of passing the cost on to whānau. The cost becomes higher the older our tamariki are, as they are using more stationery."

Fiona says supplying stationery affects the school's budget and is only possible because of the funding it received.

"Schools with a different equity index may be in a different financial position."

'It's a big cost'

Several charities have stepped up to help families struggling with their back-to-school costs, operating stationery or uniform banks with a model similar to foodbanks.

Education is a Right, Not A Privilege (Eiarnap) founder Benji Pritchard says as school subjects became more specialised, the equipment requires a ramp up in price.

"The cost of stationery often gets disregarded as a really small cost, but it's a big cost.

"You've got things like graphics calculators that could cost a family $150, $170."

Pritchard collaborated with schools in the Manawatū and Wellington regions, providing kids in need with the same stationery items as everyone else in a discrete manner.

"The reason we take that approach is so that the kids don't feel like they're sitting there with different books if everyone's got the same book except for them in the class.

"It goes back to not wanting anyone to feel like they're sticking out because of financial backgrounds."

Before the first term last year, the charity distributed about 3000 stationery packs, and Pritchard says while the need remained so high, it was on track to do the same again this year.

Parents on low incomes can also apply for hardship assistance for school costs through the Ministry of Social Development.

Client service delivery manager Geoff Cook says although this money will have to be paid back, MSD can discuss setting repayments at manageable levels.

"We know this time of year can be tough. Anyone struggling with school costs can come talk with us about how we may be able to help."

'Budgeting is key'

Financial Advice chief executive Katrina Shanks told Checkpoint there is no doubt the financial pressure on families at this time of the year is significant.

She says back-to-school costs for some children starting new schools can be as high as $1500 to $2000 once the costs of stationery, uniform and any technology requirements are taken into account.

"If you have a child which needs technology for the first time in school, you could be looking at anything between $500 and $2000 to just get the technology requirement in place for them.

"And then if you've got multiple children of course, that increases significantly."

Those costs are "absolutely huge for any family," she says, especially coming on the back of Christmas and school holidays.

Budgeting is "key", she says, and can help to alleviate the pressure at the beginning of the school year.

Her number one recommendation is that families try to budget for school costs throughout the year by setting up a specific account for their children's school needs and putting $30 or $40 into it each pay day.

"That kids account will slowly build - and that pays for your school camp and your fees and your stationery ... so you're actually allowing yourself to plan and budget for it."

Those who have not been able to plan and put extra money aside should investigate second-hand options for uniforms, she says.

"Swapping with friends is also really helpful - swapping bags of uniforms can bring the cost down."

She says it can pay to wait until stationery shops have sales before going out to buy what is needed, or to shop online to avoid their kids asking for additional items while in the shop.

Buy-now, pay later schemes could also help smooth the costs out over several weeks, but that option should only be considered by people who knew they would be able to make the repayments, Shanks cautioned.

-Tom Taylor/RNZ.