People in primary and secondary teaching jobs know that there is a lot the government can do to help schools, teachers and pupils.

However, the latest ministerial announcement looks like it will come to the aid of hard-pressed parents. 

Education minister David Laws outlined new guidance to end the practice of using a single school uniform supplier in a bid to help reduce the cost of school uniforms. He said: "The fact, for example, that it is too easy for schools to have these single supplier arrangements where parents can end up paying more than they need to."

"And there are also things that we feel we should get rid of." "For example, it's possible at the moment to have cash back arrangements where schools can have these arrangements with single suppliers and in return get some of the profit from the business."

Mr Laws explained that school uniforms can be an important sign of identity and pride, but these factors should not come at the detriment of parents who are being forced to pay more than they need to for their children's clothing.

The government does not feel that the issue needs to be enshrined in law, but an Office of Fair Trading investigation last year suggested three-quarters of UK state schools placed restrictions on where uniforms could be bought and teachers' unions believe that without official rules, many schools could ignore the guidance.

Last month, the Local Government Association stated schools had a "moral duty" to help parents with costs, but explained that many uniform changes have been imposed by name alterations with the shift to academies.

As a teacher, is this something that you feel parents you speak to will be happy with? Or does the government need to back the guidance up with law changes?