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Back to school: a revealing moment of inequality

August 2026

For many children, the start of the school year means reunions, new learning and new projects.

For many families, it also means calculations, compromises and worry.

Behind the cheerful image of new schoolbags and fresh notebooks lies a more difficult reality: the start of the school year represents a period of significant expenses, concentrated into just a few weeks.

A particularly costly period

School supplies, clothing, sports equipment, specialised materials, transport costs, school meals, activities or educational outings: expenses linked to school accumulate quickly.

For the 2024–2025 school year, nearly a quarter of parents considered the start of term a major source of financial difficulty. Among households with the lowest incomes, this proportion rose to more than a third.¹

For some families, these expenses arrive at an already complicated moment: just after the summer holidays,² while other bills continue to weigh on the household budget.

Choices children should never have to bear

When resources are scarce, families do what they can.

They postpone certain purchases, look for second‑hand materials, spread out expenses or give up certain activities.

But behind these coping strategies sometimes lie more difficult situations: a child who cannot take part in an activity, an outing that becomes inaccessible, or equipment replaced at the last minute – or even missing altogether.

These small differences may seem trivial, yet they remind children that they do not all have the same means.

Concrete support at the moment it is most needed

Each year, the Restos du Cœur support thousands of families through their "Back‑to‑School Action".

Nearly 3,600 children are expected to benefit from this assistance during its sixth edition across the entire network.

Behind this figure lie countless different stories: single‑parent families, households weakened by rising living costs, parents who work yet still struggle to cope with back‑to‑school expenses.

Last year, 4,135 children were already able to receive support thanks to this initiative.

Beyond the material provided, the aim is simple: to enable every child to begin the school year in the best possible conditions.

Because no child should start the year feeling they are already at a disadvantage.

Giving every child the same starting chances

The start of the school year should never be a source of exclusion.

Yet for many families, it remains a moment when inequalities become particularly visible.

Through their "Back‑to‑School Action", the Restos du Cœur wish to reaffirm a simple conviction: every child deserves to begin the year with the tools they need to learn, grow and build their future.

Because before speaking of the school of tomorrow, we must first ensure that every child can experience school today.

Help us support 3,600 children

¹: Survey by the Ligue des Familles on back‑to‑school expenses 2024–2025.

^2: See our article: When holidays become an everyday challenge.