Schools have barely closed their doors for the summer and already there is talk of back-to-school basics, with Aldi first out of the traps with a promise to sell cash-strapped parents a complete primary school uniform for less than €6.50.

The German discounter’s school uniform range features what it says are “high quality, hard wearing staples” including trousers, polo shirts, jumpers and skirts.

The price tag will be attractive to many parents faced with spiralling costs. Each year the National Consumer Agency (NCA) publishes estimates of how much parents need to spend on sending children to back to school.

Last year its research estimated that back-to-school costs were €487 for each child attending primary school, with the cost of uniforms including shoes for a year put at €190.60.

Aldi’s offer would see parents spending less than 20 per cent of that total.

Aldi’s boys’ school uniform is made up of a €1.99 pair of trousers in a choice of navy, black or grey; plain blue or white polo shirts at €1.99 for a two-pack, and a round neck sweater for €2.49 in navy or red. Girls can get a navy, black or grey pleated skirt for €1.99, with the polos and jumpers costing the same as the boys’.

Aldi said the clothes were all “independently quality tested” by a “worldwide testing laboratory” and the trousers and skirts are coated in Teflon to help protect against common classroom stains and water.

Aldi will also sell other back-to-school items including short sleeve shirts at €3.49 for two, pinafores at €3.99 and shoes for €7.99.

"We know that sending children back to school can be extremely costly for families and, at Aldi, we aim to reduce that financial pressure by providing Ireland's best value school uniform," said Colin Breslin, the company's group buying director. The school uniform range will be available in stores on Thursday, July 24th.