Tesco is trialling a schoolwear embroidery service as it seeks to give parents whose kids need bespoke uniforms a cheaper alternative to specialist suppliers.

Tesco will write to the head teachers of 1,448 state schools in Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield and Hertfordshire to invite them to take part in the trial. It will enable parents to buy a uniform with their school’s emblem embroidered.

Terry Green, Tesco’s chief executive of UK Non Food said: “We know that many parents struggle with the cost of embroidered uniform. With households budgets tight this year we want everyone to be able to take advantage of our top quality, great value schoolwear.”

The Local Government Association said in a report last August that nearly a fifth of parents can only get uniforms from one supplier, or via the school itself, resulting in parents “paying through the nose”. Following the report Schools Minister Iain Wright said he wanted the Office of Fair Trading to look into deals where schools used sole suppliers.

Last year Tesco launched a school uniform for just £3.75.

The supermarket said the service may also be extended to school sports teams with logos.