'Madness': Parents wait in huge queues as UK schools return after lockdown
A long queue of parents has been filmed outside a London school uniform shop as children prepare to return to school for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown.
In the video filmed on Monday, the line of shoppers waiting to get into school uniform store Hewitts of Croydon, snakes down the street and around the corner in London.
Schools in the UK have been closed since March 18 due to the coronavirus pandemic but Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced all children will return to school after summer holidays in September.
Little social distancing was shown as parents headed to what is reportedly the only store that sells uniforms for schools in that area.
“Madness.... so sad for all of the kids starting as getting the new uniform should be a fun part of it all,” one person replied to a Twitter post of the incident.
“The queue at Hewitts Croydon is completely extraordinary. I hope the staff are ok – there will be a lot of exasperated people,” one person wrote.
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One person responded and suggested parents had six weeks notice of schools reopening and was confused why they appeared to have left it till the last minute to buy uniforms.
“My son has grown three inches in five months. I’d have been mad to buy uniform at the start of the holidays. I’m now praying his feet don’t decide to catch up as I’ve just spent an arm and a leg on shoes!” one parent responded.
A few people suggested due to the pandemic students shouldn’t have to wear a uniform, while others questioned why only one retailer was providing the service.
“Why is there only one retailer of uniforms in Croydon?! It's a licence to print money. At least one store is doing well after the decimation of the town centre by the local council,” a local wrote.
“That is absolutely true. This is an absolute disgrace. Why do all uniforms have to be purchased only from here. And at exorbitant prices,” another person commented.
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