It is of consequence to the children who will still have no shoes to wear when they grow out of their current donated pairs.

400 would be all spent on a uniform in a school like that. ...what does that mean?  should they be at a school 'like that' if their parents can't afford shoes?

School uniforms can be bought second hand and or handed in families. They dont have to be bought new.

School uniform for my daughter in public primary school was $35 approx for polo shirt with school logo on it and a pair of skorts from Lowes ( $30 approx). Stationery less than $50.  Shoes $80.

Things have changed a bit recently. My grandies are in school, 2 in state school, the rest in Catholic and private schools. I can guarantee you that there is no change from $400 if you buy a uniform. The  schools generally require the uniform to be purchased from the school. Trackies and shorts can be bought elsewhere but jumpers, dresses, shirts and skorts, not.

In my grandson's case, both boys wear the same size clothes, year 2 and a preppie, so no hand me downs.

All families are different.

My 7 yo grandie is an only child, she is tall, so no second hand clothing available, no hand me downs. (they all have shoes) lol