work from home uk online

• Programming Full-Stack Programming Front-End Programming Back-End Programming
• DevOps and Sysadmin
• Management and Finance
• Customer Support
• Sales and Marketing
• Advanced Job Search New!
• Top Trending Remote Jobs New!
• Top Remote Job Searches
• FAQ - Job Seekers
• Top 100 Remote Companies
• Remote Work Resources
• Create Account New!
• Remote Work Trends
• Remote Hiring Guide
• Hiring Remote Software Developers
• Why Choose WWR?
• Bundle Pricing
• FAQ - Employers

Remote UK Jobs

Looking for remote jobs open to applicants based in UK? See below for the most recent job postings that are restricted to candidates based in UK.

All Remote UK Jobs Latest post 3 days ago

Sign up now and unlock all job access..

• View Company Profile Best Writers Cafe AI Content Writer featured Contract / USA Only/UK Only/Canada Only
• View Company Profile Outlier AI Content Editor featured Contract / USA Only/UK Only/Canada Only/Oceania Only
• View Company Profile Storyteller Delivery Manager featured Full-Time / USA Only/Europe Only/UK Only/Canada Only
• View Company Profile Outlier AI Content Writer featured Contract / USA Only/UK Only/Canada Only/Oceania Only
• View Company Profile DataAnnotation.tech FT/PT Remote AI Prompt Engineering & Evaluation - Will Train featured Contract / USA Only/UK Only/Canada Only
• View Company Profile Best Writers Cafe Freelance Creative Writer featured Contract / USA Only/UK Only/Canada Only
• View Company Profile Core Management Head of Acquisition/ Acquisition Manager May 8 Full-Time / USA Only/North America Only/Americas Only/Europe Only/UK Only/Canada Only
• View Company Profile Greenlight Media Pte Ltd Operations Manager Apr 18 Full-Time / Europe Only/UK Only/Asia Only/Oceania Only
• View Company Profile Aiir Senior Developer Apr 17 Full-Time / UK Only
• View Company Profile DesignFiles Full-Stack Ruby on Rails Developer Apr 17 Contract / Europe Only/UK Only/Africa Only
• View Company Profile Data Annotation Professional Freelance Writer Apr 16 Contract / USA Only/UK Only/Canada Only/Oceania Only
• ← Back to all jobs

All Things Remote Work

Remote companies share tips.

145 leading remote companies and virtual teams answer your top questions about remote work.

35 Questions

145 companies.

Recent Remote Jobs

Remote writing jobs.

Content Writer

Level Access | 9 hours ago

Remote Accounting & Finance Jobs

Payroll & Benefits Coordinator

Coforma | 9 hours ago

Remote Design Jobs

Senior UX Researcher - StreetEasy

StreetEasy | 9 hours ago

Remote Customer Service Jobs

Customer Service Representative

Colibri Group | 10 hours ago

Online Teaching Jobs

AI Tutor, K-12 Education Expert

Labelbox | 10 hours ago

Remote Virtual Assistant Jobs

Senior Administrative Assistant

Intel | 10 hours ago

Remote IT Jobs

Security Engineer II, Engineering

Trail of Bits | 11 hours ago

Remote Sales Jobs

Executive Support Agent- Client Representative

Invisible Technologies | 11 hours ago

Online Data Entry Jobs

Operations Associate

Pumpkin Insurance Services | 13 hours ago

Online Editing Jobs

Senior Motion Graphics Designer & Video Editor

Synthesia Ltd. | 13 hours ago

Remote Developer Jobs

Senior React & React Native Developer

Lemon.io | 15 hours ago

Remote Marketing Jobs

Social Media Strategist

Online Optimism | 15 hours ago

Other Remote Jobs

Engagement Moderation - Malay Bilingual

ModSquad | 15 hours ago

Remote Healthcare Jobs

Coder Abstractor

Munson Healthcare | 22 hours ago

Remote Recruiter & HR Jobs

HR Compliance Analyst

Prime Therapeutics | 23 hours ago

Remote Legal Jobs

Underwriter - Attorney or Paralegal

Randstad | 2 days ago

Remote QA Jobs

Senior QA Engineer - Integrations

Second Nature Home Wellness | 3 days ago

Remote Work Articles

20 Work-From-Home Job Scams and How to Spot Them

Finding legitimate remote jobs online can be tough. Here’s where to find real remote jobs and how to spot common…

10 Best Jobs That Require Little or No Experience

Searching for “no experience jobs near me?” Here’s how to find the best jobs that require little or no experience,…

How to Make Money Online: 25 Ways to Make Money From Home

Ready to make money online? Here's what you need to know about finding online jobs, and how to protect yourself…

Sign Up for Our Weekly Fresh Jobs Newsletter

What types of jobs?

•   General
•   Technology

5 Things Remote Employees Need for a Productive Career

Fighting Distractions While Working from Home

Remote Workers Share How They Embrace Spring

Working from Home When Your Kids Are Out of School

What Are QA Jobs? How to Land a Remote Position in QA

Want More Jobs?

Access 20,000+ more remote jobs on flexjobs, more remote jobs.

-Ingrid N., New Baden, IL

Advanced Remote Search Filters

-Ezra O., Oberlin, OH

-Lauren C., Columbus, OH

No thanks No thanks

FlexJobs is our bigger, better version of Remote.co.

Remote Customer Service Jobs

2. UK Background check and Right to Work Checks

As part of the Arise® Platform security procedures, each registrant is required to go through a valid background check and a check to confirm the right to provide contracted services in the U.K. A background check contains your criminal history information held by police and government departments within the UK. These documents are also known as a CRB or Basic Disclosure. A check to confirm you have the right to perform contracted services in the U.K. validates your nationality and that you have the legal right to provide contracted services in the U.K. including on a self-employed basis. 

Arise cannot accept a background check or validation of the legal right to provide contracted services already in your possession. We must perform new checks. 

– A disqualifying record may prevent you from enrolling in the opportunity

– Failure to prove you have the legal right to provide contracted services in the U.K. including on a self-employed basis with a copy of your valid U.K. passport, or a valid international passport with the relevant Visas, may prevent you from enrolling in the opportunity

Please use Arise’ AVA support tool if you have any questions

You will receive an email from PeopleCheck during the enrolment process to complete your checks. Please click and follow the link included in the email.

“I started using the Arise® Platform about five years ago.  

I was working at a traditional call center in the energy sector but needed more flexibility and choice regarding when I wanted to work. Shortly after I found the Arise® Platform, my husband became sick. 

I chose to provide services to an email-focused opportunity on the Arise® Platform, which gave me even more flexibility in my life. But sadly, my husband passed away in 2022.  

I then returned to a phone-based opportunity on the platform—and I am so thankful I did. It gave me something to focus on—something to structure my week and it helped me gain much needed additional income.”  

Find the Right Fit

• Opportunities Available
• Geo Locations
• Service Partner Stories

Get Started

• Registration
• Service Partner Community
• Customer Service Work From Home

Need help? Email us or call us at 833-500-8019

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Acceptable Use Policy

Sorry - something went wrong with our website.

Error Reference: 18.91d1002.1715438248.329caa7d

Please try again and, if you are still having problems, contact us for further assistance.

Where Every Penny Counts

Skint Dad is reader supported. Purchases through links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission. Learn more

Genuine work from home jobs that anyone can do

by Ricky Willis · updated 7 May 2024

More than ever, people in the UK are looking to supplement their income by finding a job where they can work from home. 

£10 BONUS OFFER: Earn easy cash by watching videos, playing games, and entering surveys. Get a £10 sign up bonus when you join today. Join Swagbucks here >>

In an era when we are more connected than ever through the internet and social media, there hasn’t been a better time to find genuine opportunities to earn extra money. You might even find a whole new career!

But where on earth do you start?

You can go around in circles trying to work out what’s a legitimate job opportunity (and what’s not).

Just be sure to never pay any money upfront for an “opportunity” that seems too good to be true, and stick with genuine work from home jobs that won’t see you out of pocket!

Table of Contents

Genuine work from home jobs 

If you’re looking for a genuine work from home job in 2024, this is where you want to start.

Although this guide is geared towards the UK market, if you’re here from the US, Australia or Canada, these jobs could work for you as well – which is the joy of working from home.

Freelance Writer

What do they do?

As a Freelance Writer, you write and edit for online and offline publications. This could be writing for websites, blogs, magazines, or adverts.

There are so many different industries, so you could look to specialise in one area or branch out and cover lots of various topics.

What do you need?  

This is where GCSEs go out of the window, as you don’t need any special training. However, you do need a good grasp of the English language, and your grammar needs to be on point.

You’ll need a PC/laptop and access to the internet.

Perfect for: People who love to write.

Earning potential: With freelance writing, you’ll generally be paid for each article you complete, and it can also be based on the number of words you write. You could look to get around £10-£20 for smaller commissions or even hundreds for longer, more in-depth articles when you’re established.

Top tips: Make sure to proofread (at least twice) before sending your finished copy. 

To succeed as a freelance writer, you need to showcase your work. The best way to do this is to start a blog . You can then display a portfolio of work you’ve done and include links to published pieces.

Having a blog is also the best way for new and potential clients to find you.

You could also look to pitch real-life stories to publications and use case studies. People sell a story to the press , but you can be the middle person and pitch the idea.

Useful links:  Set up your profile on the Fiverr marketplace to start advertising your services, and take a look at Grammarly (which is free!) to help with proofreading.

If you are just starting out as a freelance writer, consider enrolling on an online writing course where you can expand your writing knowledge, polish up your punctuation, and even niche down into a particular topic.

Virtual Assistant

As a work from home Virtual Assistant, you support the admin of someone else’s business/tasks  – all remotely.

It can be a whole lot more than that, though. You may organise people, their diaries, finances, social media channels, data entry, or act as a proofreader – and that’s not even touching the surface!

You have to be mega organised yourself.

Most Virtual Assistants may never meet their clients face to face, so you must have excellent communication skills, as well as superfast broadband. You will also need to be computer savvy and understand file-sharing tools like Dropbox and Google Drive.

Perfect for:  A resourceful, self-starter.

Earning potential: Full-time salaries can pay you around £25-£30,000 a year. Some VAs look to charge around £25+ an hour, depending on the skills and services you offer.

Top tips: Look to hone your skills and specialise in one area (like newsletter marketing, SEO research, transcribing), which can see you attract high pay, as there are fewer people with the same skill sets.

Useful links: Step by step guide on how to become a Virtual Assistant

Audio Transcribing

As a transcriber, you will listen to audio or watch videos and type up what’s been said.

It could be for any range of subjects, and you could transcribe notes, caption videos (both spoken words and describe sound effects), or subtitle videos for YouTube or even for film or a brand’s marketing video.

You simply need a laptop/desktop and an internet connection. You will also need excellent English language and grammar skills. It may also be a good idea to have a pair of headphones, so you don’t get distracted listening to what you need to transcribe.

If you can write in a foreign language, you will get higher paid opportunities.

Perfect for:  Fast and accurate typists.

Earning potential: You will usually get paid per audio you listen to or per minute of the video you transcribe. (Be aware that listening to one hour of audio may take you two or three hours to type up.) On average, translating subtitles for video will make you around $958 a month, while captioning and transcribing will earn you $245 a month.

Top tips: Set up a PayPal account, if you haven’t already, as you will likely be paid in that way (you’re able to transfer it straight into your bank).

Useful links: Try a typing test here (it never hurts to check if you’re fast/accurate enough!). You’ll want to be aiming for at least 45-60 WPM (and you’ll need to be accurate.

You can also start training to become an audio transcriber today with this affordable course from Udemy.

Graphic Designer

As a Graphic Designer, you will design and create all manner of images, graphics and typography for your clients.

They could be looking for new logos for their company, brochures, packaging designs, website design, posters or banners, newsletters, social media posts and even GIFs.

You will be following the brief of your clients, so you need to be able to track deadlines and be a self-starter.

As well as creative skills, you will need to have a passion for design.

A basic computer setup won’t work, so you will need to invest in software like Photoshop (or similar) so you’re able to create your designs digitally.

Perfect for: The artistic types who can’t stop doodling

Earning potential: You could see earnings of around £30,000 a year. However, this will depend on your own experience and your client base.

Top tips: Don’t stop drawing and sketching. As you’re starting up, use anything you complete to build your portfolio, so you’ve got examples of your design skills.

Useful links : Affordable online graphic design courses to get you started.

Survey Taker

As a Survey Taker, you earn money giving your opinion on a variety of topics. In one survey, you could be sharing your thoughts on the branding and design of a new savoury snack that a major brand is looking to launch, and in the next, you could be giving your views on banking.

Your feedback will help shape the way businesses, governments and community groups develop products and policies.

You need to be willing to share your honest opinions about products, as well as not talk about the information you’ve seen (as much of it is sensitive, as products are still in development)

Access to the internet is a must-have. Most surveys allow you to complete them with access to a decent smartphone, but some do ask that you complete them via a desktop computer.

Perfect for: People who are happy to share their thoughts and opinions.

Earning potential: You get paid per survey completed and could see earnings of £200+ a month.

Top tips: Sign up to several different survey sites, so you’ve got the opportunity to access lots of various surveys.

Swagbucks is a great one to get started with as they offer an exclusive £10 signup bonus if you go through our link.

Useful links:  Best paid surveys

Tech Support

A work from home technical support job is when you offer help with the software or hardware of products. You could be providing tech support to businesses, or you could be assisting consumers with a product.

You will ask questions to determine issues and use your knowledge to walk through how to resolve the problem. This could be over the phone, via email or using live chat.

You will need to have strong communication skills and be able to talk about technical jargon in simple terms.

You’ll need to have a good knowledge of the software and hardware of the products you are supporting (however, there will generally be training).

Perfect for: People who are tech-savvy and quick learners.

Earning potential: You could earn £9-£15 per hour but can charge more if you’ve got knowledge in a specialist area.

Top tips: Always keep on top of the latest software and IT trends to keep your skills and knowledge sharp.

Useful links: Apple offers At Home Advisor jobs supporting their products, services and accessories. If you’re an expert in a particular software package or can help troubleshoot hardware, look to advertise your skills on Fiverr .

Online Customer Service

Having a home-based customer service job, you provide advice and guidance 0n behalf of leading brands. You will generally answer inbound calls as and when they come and record notes from the phone call.

You may also need to provide customer service via a chat facility or email.

Make sure you have access to a quiet space to work (with no interruptions) as you’ll be the voice of a company.

You will need a desk and chair, as well as a Windows PC, corded phone, headset and phone with broadband. Be aware that you may be asked to plug your broadband in as WiFi connections can’t always be trusted.

You will also need to have some level of flexibility as you may be asked to work weekends.

Perfect for: People who can work set shifts, have excellent communication skills and have some knowledge of IT as you’ll be using a phone and computer a lot.

Earning potential: You will get paid for each hour you work, including time spent waiting for calls and updating systems, as well as time talking to customers. Some companies will take you on as an employee, but some will ask that you’re self-employed. You’ll find the hourly pay is around £9 per hour (or £10.55 per hour in London).

Top tips: You will get training before you start working, but make sure to revise your training notes regularly so you can answer customer questions.

Useful links: You may see some “opportunities” advertised online; if it seems too good to be true, it may well be. Some companies do recruit directly, but there are usually roles via Sensee (employed) or Arise (self-employed).

Some jobs have more needs than others (which may mean you get paid more)! Check out the most in demand jobs .

Bloggers share their opinions on a variety of subjects on their own websites; some are very personal, but others can be more factual.

As well as writing and editing content for the blog, a blogger will manage social media channels, business development, graphic design and SEO, to name a few.

Once you’ve decided on your niche and blog name, you need to start a blog, create social media channels (and grow them) and get writing.

You’ll also need a bit of patience as the payoff isn’t immediate, so you need to keep the momentum and build up a readership.

Perfect for: Oversharers and people who find the technical side of running a website interesting (it’s not all about writing).

Earning potential: You can earn money through sponsored campaigns on your site, as well as on social media, through affiliate marketing and display advertising. Depending on how much work you are willing to do, earnings are uncapped, and many full-time bloggers are now making around £100,00 a year. Some bloggers have also gone on to be published authors, TV presenters and even major celebrities!

Top tips: When you reach 25,000-page sessions, look to join the Mediavine advertising network, as your earning potential will be far higher.

Useful links: Best affiliate networks in the UK | Start a blog from scratch

Ironing Service

While you may like ironing, there are loads of people who don’t or haven’t got the time to do it themselves.

You’ve got two options: start your own ironing business from home, or find an agency or company who’ll take you on. You will then iron clothes by the bag for your customers within an agreed timescale.

Setting up an ironing service where you work from home is quite easy. It might sound obvious, but you’ll need a decent iron and an ironing board (which you likely already have). On top of that, as it will look professional, have a supply of quality hangers to return the items. You’ll also need to get professional indemnity insurance, just in case you accidentally burn through something.

Create a Facebook page with useful information and client recommendations. Then, join local selling pages and advertise your services. Gumtree allows you to advertise for free too.

Perfect for:  People who are comfortable standing for long periods. It’s also best for non-smokers as you won’t get repeat customers if clothes are returned smelly.

Earning potential: The amount you make depends on how many regular clients you get. The most common way to charge is per item or by the weight of a bag. The average charge per item ironed (a shirt) is around £1.50, or per weight of a bag of clothes is around £5-£5.50 per kg. You’ll want to charge individually for items like shirts/blouses as they take more time. (It’s best to research in your local area to see what the competition charges).

Top tips: Offer to iron friends and family’s clothes for free in exchange for some testimonials. Also, offer a refer a friend discount to help build up a client base.

Useful links:  Business insurance for ironers

ESL Teacher

As an English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher, you support people (both adults and children) from all over the world who are looking to improve their language skills by teaching English online .

You will need to be fluent in English, and some people will want you to be degree educated. You will need a good internet connection as well as a Skype account so you can video chat with your students.

Non-native English speakers are looking for people to help practice their conversational skills, so it would be good to have plans for each of the “lessons” and a way to test and record results to provide feedback.

You don’t always need to be a qualified teacher, either.

Perfect for:  People who have patience and are good at communicating. They are also great as jobs for ex teachers .

Earning potential: You could look to charge around $25 per hour.

Top tips: Look to take a CELTA or TEFL training course to improve your knowledge and learn how to become a tutor .

Useful links: Online TEFL course

Travel Agent

As a home-based Travel Agency, you will usually work for a host agency and find holiday deals for people looking to take a break.

While you may think people book their jollies online, there are still loads of people who are looking for a personalised approach when it comes to booking a holiday abroad or in the UK.

You’ll need a good internet connection, phone line, website, printer and knowledge of the world. You can choose to specialise in one area of travel (like business travel, or weddings, Disney, cruises etc.) or you can be more generalised, but you will need to become very familiar with the types of holiday you sell so you don’t disappoint your customers.

It would be a good idea if you’ve studied a BTEC in Tourism in the past, so you have some background knowledge, but it’s not essential.

Perfect for:  People who love to travel, enjoy networking and are great at finding a bargain.

Earning potential: You receive a commission on each holiday sold, and earnings are uncapped. Working full time (as self-employed) you could look to make around £32,000 per year.

Top tips: Do your research on host agencies to see what level of commission you need to pay back/if it’s a franchise, and how much training and support they can offer you.

Useful links: Institute of Travel & Tourism

Don’t want to work from home, but still earn good money? Here are the highest paying jobs you can do without a degree .

How much should you charge as a freelancer?

It can be hard to work out what freelance rates you should charge your clients while still being able to take a good or above average salary to cover your own needs.

Be sure to do some research, don’t undersell your skills and talent, and you need to consider extra things.

If a company pays you, they take care of a lot of extra things as part of your regular salary. Being self-employed means you’ll need to factor this in yourself.

Included in your freelance rate (whether you charge per hour/day/project), be sure to make sure you account for:

• Holiday pay
• maternity/paternity pay
• National Insurance/tax
• Business Insurance
• Equipment, PC/phone/broadband
• Your home utilities, water, gas/electric, rent

Declaring your income

Congrats on securing a new work from home job.

Now you’re working, you need to make sure that you declare any new income to HMRC. It is straightforward to do.

Head over to the HMRC site and register as self-employed .

Keep records as the months roll by for what you’re earning and your expenses. You will need this to complete an end of year self-assessment.

Working from home jobs (UK based) also means you can deduct expenses such as the working from home tax relief .

Is it legal to run a business from your home?

When you are running a business from home , there are lots of things to consider.

There are so many different self-employment business ideas , and most are fine to do from home.

In the majority of circumstances, it’s legal to run a business from your kitchen table, shed or garage.

You may need to get permission from your mortgage provider/ landlord and even the council, depending on what kind of business you plan to do.

Why we don’t mention MLMs

MLM stands for Multi-Level Marketing. You’ve likely seen people offering you products via social media or even your friends trying to sell you the latest in “something”.

You may recognise MLM brands like Utility Warehouse, Herbalife, Avon, and Scentsy, but you can also see products like nail wraps, greeting cards, books, diet drinks, skincare, cosmetics, candles, bath bombs, kitchen gadgets, and even bras!

While “networking” and word of mouth selling is one way to make money, it’s all about building a team where they employ remote workers themselves.

To make any decent money, you need to get people to sign up to be part of your team and sell too. The recruiter earns money off everyone in their team (which is why they are so keen to sign you up!).

It may seem like an easy win: work from home, set your own hours, don’t worry about childcare costs, be a “mum boss”, and the person who tells you “ we fund all our holidays and got a free car “, but it’s not always like that. 

For many of these companies, you will need to pay out for setting up costs/a starter kit. However, some 99% of people who join MLM companies lose money and find it’s not legitimate work.

I’m not saying don’t try an MLM if you really want to. Please just go into it with open eyes and having done your research first.

We also try and avoid other scam jobs like working from home jobs packing envelopes which will lose you money.

• Latest Posts

• Free ice cream at Ben and Jerry’s Free Cone Day - 8 April 2024
• Where can I sell my stuff online for free - 12 March 2024
• Tesco Value Valentine card – for free - 7 February 2024

Cheri Southam says

25 November 2022 at 08:58

A very useful post, thank you so much for the info!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Find out how to

Manage money

Buy our book

Start a blog

Budget recipes

Join the community

Information

Awards, Media and Press

Affiliate disclosure

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Terms & Conditions

K2 Tower Bond Street Hull HU1 3EN

Skint Media Limited is a registered company in England & Wales. Company reg no: 09991508 VAT No: 318 7349 80

Check out our sister site Skint Chef

• How to save money on groceries
• Save money on energy bills
• Save money on water bills
• Frugal living tips
• 1p Saving Challenge
• Sun holiday codes
• Make money online
• Best paid surveys
• Best side hustle ideas
• Genuine work from home jobs
• Best budgeting apps
• Average household bills
• credit score apps
• Farmfoods offers
• Blue Light Card discounts list
• When is the Next sale
• 25% off Wine

Tory education boss says parents are allowing kids to skip school on Friday as they work from home

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan criticised parents for taking

• 09:09, 10 May 2024

Parents are allowing their children to skip school on Fridays while they work from home, the Education Secretary has suggested.

Gillian Keegan said deliberately taking children out of school was "unacceptable", pointing to figures that 50,000 more pupils are "regularly" absent at the end of the week compared with the start. She said schools are facing "major challenges" with absenteeism as 157,000 students are now missing more than half of their lessons.

Ms Keegan blamed a rise in working from home, which boomed over the pandemic, as well as parents pulling their children out of class for weekends away or holidays. Kids are also said to be skipping school due to rise in youth mental health issues, which worsened over the lockdowns.

The Tory minister suggested kids with mild anxiety should be expected to attend school. Her call comes as maximum fines for school absences are to increase to £80 in September.

But experts warned the Government must do more to support children and families who are facing mental health challenges. More than a quarter of a million kids and young people who were referred to mental health services in 2022-23 are still waiting for support, according to research by the Children's Commissioner in March.

Student absenteeism jumps by 20% on the last day of the working week, according to an analysis of official figures. Overall absence rates are 6.6% on Wednesdays and rise to 7.8% on Fridays, with primary pupils 21% more likely to be absent on Friday and 24% more likely to be absent without a reason, research by the Times found.

Unauthorised holidays are also said to be up 25% on pre-Covid levels. Some 150,000 children at state schools were classed as severely absent for the 2022-23 school year, up 30,000 from the year before. It is also 150% higher than the 60,000 who were severely absent in 2018-19, before the pandemic, according to government statistics.

Ms Keegan said "the Covid pandemic has had a major impact on school attendance" and there were "still too many children whose attendance hasn't recovered" following lockdowns. She said she wants to see normal school attendance return, telling parents: "It is unacceptable to take a deliberate decision to take your child out of school."

The Tory MP for Chichester said there needs to be a move from the Covid-era trend of kids being out of school with runny noses and minor conditions. She said support systems such as attendance hubs and mentors could make "a massive difference" for schools and parents.

"Where this support-first approach does not work, we have increased the minimum fine by £20, to £80," she said. "Every day a child is absent they will miss on average five to six lessons, time they never get back".

But Beth Prescott, a researcher at think-tank the Centre for Social Justice, warned ministers not to blame parents. “The main drivers of the school attendance crisis is mental health and anxiety in children," she told the Times. "Despite the education secretary saying absence is a top priority, the actual response has not reflected that at all. The government should do more to support children and families.”

Pepe Di’Iasio, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, added: “High rates of pupil absence are being driven by factors such as poor mental health, unmet special educational needs, and families who are struggling to cope, and these are just not being adequately addressed by the government.”

MORE ON Department of Education Schools Gillian Keegan

Get uk politics insight with our free daily email briefing straight to your inbox.

End of working from home? Your rights to flexible working explained

• Thursday 9 May 2024 at 7:14pm

A growing number of employers are asking their staff to return to working in the office as companies edge further away from post-Covid attitudes.

Working from home has become a popular choice for millions of people around the United Kingdom, with many now used to a hybrid model.

So, with a return to the office being mooted in a number of industries, what are your rights if you wish to submit a flexible working request?

ITV News spoke to an employment law expert to answer the key questions.

What are the rights of an employee?

Earlier this year, all employees in England, Wales and Scotland gained the legal right to request flexible working. Different flexible working rules exist in Northern Ireland.

Consequently, all employees have the legal right to request flexible working, and can ask for a change to the following:

The number of hours they work

When they start or finish work

The days they work

Where they work

What must an employer do?

Employers are required to deal with a flexible working request in a "reasonable manner", according to gov.uk .

For example, this could include evaluating the pros and cons of an application, or discussing potential alternatives to a request.

Karen Baxter, an employment law partner, told ITV News that an employer has two months to reach an outcome "unless a longer period is agreed".

Flexible working requests can be refused if an employer has a good business reason for doing so. There are eight possible reasons as to why this could be the case, including:

Burden of additional costs

Detrimental effect on ability to meet customer demand

Inability to reorganise work among existing staff

Inability to recruit additional staff

Detrimental impact on quality

Detrimental impact on performance

Insufficiency of work during the periods you propose to work

Planned structural changes

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…

What if I'm in disagreement with my employer?

Ms Baxter advised that in any potential dispute, the more "conversation and discussion" that an employee can have with an employer the better.

She added: "There is a massive difference in the sort of likelihood of succeeding in a flexible working request which just says 'this is what I want to do' as compared to one that says 'this is what I want to do, this is how I think it might affect the business, but this is how I think we can address that'.

"A request which shows that the employee thought about it from the company's perspective from the off, it's much harder to say no to those sorts of requests."

What does a 'reasonable manner' mean?

Ms Baxter said a reasonable manner could be reduced to an employer dealing with a request in "good faith, being honest about the reasons [and] not giving a misleading response as to why something has or hasn't been agreed, and progressing it without an unreasonable delay".

Can you appeal a decision?

Ms Baxter said it is possible to bring a complaint to an employment tribunal when contending that your "flexible working request hasn't been properly considered, the employer hasn't followed the process or has relied on an unfair reason to reject my request".

Employees can take an employer to a tribunal hearing if the latter does not handle a request in a reasonable manner.

Anyone looking to bring forward a tribunal claim should be aware that you will need to contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) in advance.

Have you heard our new podcast Talking Politics? Every week Tom, Robert and Anushka dig into the biggest issues dominating the political agenda…

Money blog: 'Loud budgeting' - The money-saving trend that has nothing to do with giving up your daily coffee

Created accidentally by a comedian, "loud budgeting" is breaking down the taboo of speaking about money. Read this and the rest of our Weekend Money features, and leave a comment, and we'll be back with rolling personal finance and consumer news on Monday.

Saturday 11 May 2024 09:05, UK

Weekend Money

• 'Loud budgeting': The money-saving trend that has nothing to do with giving up your daily coffee
• What is most in-demand period property?
• £12m tea advert, downsizing, £320 tasting menus and job interview mistakes: What readers have said this week
• Free childcare applications about to open for new age band
• Where has huge week for UK economy left us?

Best of the week

• How to avoid a holiday data roaming charge (while still using the internet)
• Mortgage rates up again this week - here are the best deals on the market
• My daughter discovered undeclared £600 management fee after buying her flat - can we complain?
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

By Jess Sharp , Money team 

Money saving trends are constantly popping up on social media - but one in particular has been gaining huge amounts of attention.

Created accidentally by a comedian, loud budgeting is breaking down the taboo of speaking about money.

The idea is based on being firmer/more vocal about your financial boundaries in social situations and setting out what you are happy to spend your money on, instead of "Keeping up with the Joneses". 

On TikTok alone, videos published under the hashtag #loudbudgeting have garnered more than 30 million views - and that figure is continuing to climb. 

We spoke to Lukas Battle - the 26-year-old who unintentionally created the trend as part of a comedy sketch. 

Based in New York, he came up with the term in a skit about the "quiet luxury" hype, which had spread online in 2023 inspired by shows like Succession. 

The term was used for humble bragging about your wealth with expensive items that were subtle in their design - for example, Gwyneth Paltrow's  £3,900 moss green wool coat from The Row, which she wore during her ski resort trial...

"I was never a big fan of the quiet luxury trend, so I just kind of switched the words and wrote 'loud budgeting is in'. I'm tired of spending money and I don't want to pretend to be rich," Lukas said. 

"That's how it started and then the TikTok comments were just obsessed with that original idea." 

This was the first time he mentioned it...

Lukas explained that it wasn't about "being poor" but about not being afraid of sharing your financial limits and "what's profitable for you personally". 

"It's not 'skip a coffee a day and you'll become a millionaire'."

While talking money has been seen as rude or taboo, he said it's something his generation is more comfortable doing. 

"I've seen more debate around the topic and I think people are really intrigued and attracted by the idea," he said. 

"It's just focusing your spending and time on things you enjoy and cutting out the things you might feel pressured to spend your money on."  

He has incorporated loud budgeting into his own life, telling his friends "it's free to go outside" and opting for cheaper dinner alternatives.

"Having the terminology and knowing it's a trend helps people understand it and there's no awkward conversation around it," he said. 

The trend has been a big hit with so-called American "finfluencers", or "financial influencers", but people in the UK have started practising it as well. 

Mia Westrap has taken up loud budgeting by embarking on a no-buy year and sharing her finances with her 11.3k TikTok followers. 

Earning roughly £2,100 a month, she spends around £1,200 on essentials, like rent, petrol and car insurance, but limits what else she can purchase. 

Clothes, fizzy drinks, beauty treatments, makeup, dinners out and train tickets are just some things on her "red list". 

The 26-year-old PHD student first came across the idea back in 2017, but decided to take up the challenge this year after realising she was living "pay check to pay check". 

She said her "biggest fear" in the beginning was that her friends wouldn't understand what she was doing, but she found loud budgeting helped. 

"I'm still trying my best to just go along with what everyone wants to do but I just won't spend money while we do it and my friends don't mind that, we don't make a big deal out of it," she said. 

So far, she has been able to save £1,700, and she said talking openly about her money has been "really helpful". 

"There's no way I could have got this far if I wasn't baring my soul to the internet about the money I have spent. It has been a really motivating factor."

Financial expert John Webb said loud budgeting has the ability to help many "feel empowered" and create a "more realistic" relationship with money.

"This is helping to normalise having open and honest conversations about finances," the consumer affair manager at Experien said. 

"It can also reduce the anxiety some might have by keeping their financial worries to themselves." 

However, he warned it's important to be cautious and to take the reality of life into consideration. 

"It could cause troubles within friendship groups if they're not on the same page as you or have different financial goals," he said.

"This challenge isn't meant to stop you from having fun, but it is designed to help people become more conscious and intentional when it comes to money, and reduce the stigma around talking about it." 

Rightmove's keyword tool shows Victorian-era houses are the most commonly searched period properties, with people drawn to their ornate designs and features.

Georgian and Edwardian-style are second and third respectively, followed by Tudor properties. Regency ranked in fifth place.

Rightmove property expert Tim Bannister said: "Home hunters continue to be captivated by the character and charm of properties that we see in period dramas.

"Victorian homes remain particularly popular, characterised by their historic charm, solid construction, and spacious interiors. You'll often find Victorian houses in some of the most desirable locations which include convenient access to schools and transport links."

Throughout the week Money blog readers have shared their thoughts on the stories we've been covering, with the most correspondence coming in on...

• A hotly contested debate on the best brand of tea
• Downsizing homes
• The cost of Michelin-starred food

Job interview mistakes

On Wednesday we reported on a new £12m ad from PG Tips in response to it falling behind rivals such as Twinings, Yorkshire Tea and Tetley....

We had lots of comments like this...

How on earth was the PG Tips advert so expensive? I prefer Tetley tea, PG Tips is never strong enough flavour for me. Shellyleppard

The reason for the sales drop with PG Tips could be because they increased the price and reduced the quantity of bags from 240 to 180 - it's obvious. Royston

And then this question which we've tried to answer below...

Why have PG Tips changed from Pyramid shape tea bags, to a square? Sam

Last year PG Tips said it was changing to a square bag that left more room for leaves to infuse, as the bags wouldn't fold over themselves.

We reported on data showing how downsizing could save you money for retirement - more than £400,000, in some regions, by swapping four beds for two.

Some of our readers shared their experiences...

We are downsizing and moving South so it's costing us £100k extra for a smaller place, all money from retirement fund. AlanNorth

Interesting read about downsizing for retirement. We recently did this to have the means to retire early at 52. However, we bought a house in the south of France for the price of a flat in our town in West Sussex. Now living the dream! OliSarah

How much should we pay for food?

Executive chef at London's two-Michelin-starred Ikoyi, Jeremy Chan, raised eyebrows when he suggested to the Money blog that Britons don't pay enough for restaurant food.

Ikoyi, the 35th best restaurant in the world, charges £320 for its tasting menu. 

"I don't think people pay enough money for food, I think we charge too little, [but] we want to always be accessible to as many people as possible, we're always trying our best to do that," he said, in a piece about his restaurant's tie up with Uber Eats... 

We had this in... 

Are they serious? That is two weeks' worth of food shopping for me, if the rich can afford this "tasting menu" then they need to be taxed even more by the government, it's just crazy! Steve T

If the rate of pay is proportionate to the vastly overpriced costs of the double Michelin star menu, I would gladly peel quail eggs for four-hour stints over continuing to be abused as a UK supply teacher. AndrewWard

Does this two-star Michelin star chef live in the real world? Who gives a toss if he stands and peels his quails eggs for four hours, and he can get the best turbot from the fishmonger fresh on a daily basis? It doesn't justify the outrageous price he is charging for his tasting menu. Topaztraveller

Chefs do make me laugh, a steak is just a steak, they don't make the meat! They just cook it like the rest of us, but we eat out because we can't be bothered cooking! StevieGrah

Finally, many of you reacted to this feature on common mistakes in job interviews...

Those 10 biggest mistakes people make in interviews is the dumbest thing I've ever read. They expect all that and they'll be offering a £25k a year job. Why wouldn't I want to know about benefits and basic sick pay? And also a limp handshake? How's that relevant to how you work? Jre90

Others brought their own tips...

Whenever I go for an interview I stick to three points: 1. Be yourself 2. Own the interview 3. Wear the clothes that match the job you are applying Kevin James Blakey

From Sunday, eligible working parents of children from nine-months-old in England will be able to register for access to up to 15 free hours of government-funded childcare per week.

This will then be granted from September. 

Check if you're eligible  here  - or read on for our explainer on free childcare across the UK.

Three and four year olds

In England, all parents of children aged three and four in England can claim 15 hours of free childcare per week, for 1,140 hours (38 weeks) a year, at an approved provider.

This is a universal offer open to all.

It can be extended to 30 hours where both parents (or the sole parent) are in work, earn the weekly minimum equivalent of 16 hours at the national minimum or living wage, and have an income of less than £100,000 per year.

Two year olds

Previously, only parents in receipt of certain benefits were eligible for 15 hours of free childcare.

But, as of last month, this was extended to working parents.

This is not a universal offer, however.

A working parent must earn more than £8,670 but less than £100,000 per year. For couples, the rule applies to both parents.

Nine months old

In September, this same 15-hour offer will be extended to working parents of children aged from nine months. From 12 May, those whose children will be at least nine months old on 31 August can apply to received the 15 hours of care from September.

From September 2025

The final change to the childcare offer in England will be rolled out in September 2025, when eligible working parents of all children under the age of five will be able to claim 30 hours of free childcare a week.

In some areas of Wales, the Flying Start early years programme offers 12.5 hours of free childcare for 39 weeks, for eligible children aged two to three. The scheme is based on your postcode area, though it is currently being expanded.

All three and four-year-olds are entitled to free early education of 10 hours per week in approved settings during term time under the Welsh government's childcare offer.

Some children of this age are entitled to up to 30 hours per week of free early education and childcare over 48 weeks of the year. The hours can be split - but at least 10 need to be used on early education.

To qualify for this, each parent must earn less than £100,000 per year, be employed and earn at least the equivalent of working 16 hours a week at the national minimum wage, or be enrolled on an undergraduate, postgraduate or further education course that is at least 10 weeks in length.

All three and four-year-olds living in Scotland are entitled to at least 1,140 hours per year of free childcare, with no work or earnings requirements for parents. 

This is usually taken as 30 hours per week over term time (38 weeks), though each provider will have their own approach.

Some households can claim free childcare for two-year-olds. To be eligible you have to be claiming certain benefits such as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit, or have a child that is in the care of their local council or living with you under a guardianship order or kinship care order.

Northern Ireland

There is no scheme for free childcare in Northern Ireland. Some other limited support is available.

Working parents can access support from UK-wide schemes such as tax credits, Universal Credit, childcare vouchers and tax-free childcare.

Aside from this, all parents of children aged three or four can apply for at least 12.5 hours a week of funded pre-school education during term time. But over 90% of three-year-olds have a funded pre-school place - and of course this is different to childcare.

What other help could I be eligible for?

Tax-free childcare  - Working parents in the UK can claim up to £500 every three months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of their children to help with childcare costs. 

If the child is disabled, the amount goes up to £1,000 every three months (up to £4,000 a year).

To claim the benefit, parents will need to open a tax-free childcare account online. For every 80p paid into the account, the government will top it up by 20p.

The scheme is available until the September after the child turns 11.

Universal credit  - Working families on universal credit can claim back up to 85% of their monthly childcare costs, as long as the care is paid for upfront. The most you can claim per month is £951 for one child or £1,630 for two or more children.

Tax credits -  People claiming working tax credit can get up to 70% of what they pay for childcare if their costs are no more than £175 per week for one child or £300 per work for multiple children.

Two big economic moments dominated the news agenda in Money this week - interest rates and GDP.

As expected, the Bank of England held the base rate at 5.25% on Wednesday - but a shift in language was instructive about what may happen next.

Bank governor Andrew Bailey opened the door to a summer cut to 5%, telling reporters that an easing of rates at the next Monetary Policy Committee meeting on 20 June was neither ruled out nor a fait accompli.

More surprisingly, he suggested that rate cuts, when they start, could go deeper "than currently priced into market rates".

He refused to be drawn on what that path might look like - but markets had thought rates could bottom out at 4.5% or 4.75% this year, and potentially 3.5% or 4% next.

"To make sure that inflation stays around the 2% target - that inflation will neither be too high nor too low - it's likely that we will need to cut Bank rate over the coming quarters and make monetary policy somewhat less restrictive over the forecast period," Mr Bailey said.

You can read economics editor Ed Conway's analysis of the Bank's decision here ...

On Friday we discovered the UK is no longer in recession.

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.6% between January and March, the Office for National Statistics said.

This followed two consecutive quarters of the economy shrinking.

The data was more positive than anticipated.

"Britain is not just out of recession," wrote Conway. "It is out of recession with a bang."

The UK has seen its fastest growth since the tailend of the pandemic - and Conway picked out three other reasons for optimism.

1/ An economic growth rate of 0.6% is near enough to what economists used to call "trend growth". It's the kind of number that signifies the economy growing at more or less "normal" rates.

2/ 0.6% means the UK is, alongside Canada, the fastest-growing economy in the G7 (we've yet to hear from Japan, but economists expect its economy to contract in the first quarter).

3/ Third, it's not just gross domestic product that's up. So too is gross domestic product per head - the number you get when you divide our national income by every person in the country. After seven years without any growth, GDP per head rose by 0.4% in the first quarter.

GDP per head is a more accurate yardstick for the "feelgood factor", said Conway - perhaps meaning people will finally start to feel better off.

For more on where Friday's figures leaves us, listen to an Ian King Business Podcast special...

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money .

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

If you've missed any of the features we've been running in Money this year, or want to check back on something you've previously seen in the blog, this archive of our most popular articles may help...

Loaves of bread have been recalled from shelves in Japan after they were found to contain the remains of a rat.

Production of the bread in Tokyo has been halted after parts of a "small animal" were found by at least two people.

Pasco Shikishima Corp, which produces the bread, said 104,000 packages have been recalled as it apologised and promised compensation.

A company representative told Sky News's US partner network, NBC News, that a "small black rat" was found in the bread. No customers were reported to have fallen ill as a result of ingesting the contaminated bread.

"We deeply apologise for the serious inconvenience and trouble this has caused to our customers, suppliers, and other concerned parties," the spokesman said.

Pasco added in a separate statement that "we will do our utmost to strengthen our quality controls so that this will never happen again. We ask for your understanding and your co-operation."

Japanese media reports said at least two people who bought the bread in the Gunma prefecture, north-west of Tokyo, complained to the company about finding a rodent in the bread.

Record levels of shoplifting appear to be declining as fewer shopkeepers reported thefts last year, new figures show. 

A survey by the Office for National Statistics shows 26% of retailers experienced customer theft in 2023, down from a record high of 28% in 2022.

This comes despite a number of reports suggesting shoplifting is becoming more frequent. 

A  separate ONS finding , which used police crime data, showed reports of shoplifting were at their highest level in 20 years in 2023, with law enforcements logging 430,000 instances of the crime.

Let's get you up to speed on the biggest business news of the past 24 hours. 

A privately owned used-car platform is circling Cazoo Group, its stricken US-listed rival, which is on the brink of administration.

Sky News has learnt that Motors.co.uk is a leading contender to acquire Cazoo's marketplace operation, which would include its brand and intellectual property assets.

The process to auction the used-car platform's constituent parts comes after it spent tens of millions of pounds on sponsorship deals in football, snooker and darts in a rapid attempt to gain market share.

The owner of British Airways has reported a sharp rise in profits amid soaring demand for trips and a fall in the cost of fuel.

International Airlines Group said its operating profit for the first three months of the year was €68m (£58.5m) - above expectations and up from €9m (£7.7m) during the same period in 2023.

The company, which also owns Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, said earnings had soared thanks to strong demand, particularly over the Easter holidays.

The prospect of a strike across Tata Steel's UK operations has gained further traction after a key union secured support for industrial action.

Community, which has more than 3,000 members, said 85% voted in favour of fighting the India-owned company's plans for up to 2,800 job losses, the majority of them at the country's biggest steelworks in Port Talbot, South Wales.

Tata confirmed last month it was to press ahead with the closure of the blast furnaces at the plant, replacing them with electric arc furnaces to reduce emissions and costs.

In doing so, the company rejected an alternative plan put forward by the Community, GMB and Unite unions that, they said, would raise productivity and protect jobs across the supply chain.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

• Order Status
• Shipping & Delivery
• Order Cancellation
• Size Charts
• Promotions & Discounts
• Product Advice
• Send Us Feedback

Popular Search Terms

• Air Force 1

Top Suggestions

Members: Free Shipping on Orders $50+

Sale: Up to 50% Off

Look for Store Pickup at Checkout

How to Measure Your Foot to Find the Right Shoe Size

Buying guide.

Follow these simple instructions to measure your feet — then check out Nike size guides to determine which shoe size is best for you.

Whether you’re looking for high-performance athletic footwear or casual, everyday kicks , it’s important to wear well-fitting shoes that comfortably support your feet. Shoes that don’t fit properly can leave your feet feeling uncomfortable, achey or blistered . And unfortunately, wearing the wrong size shoe is more common than you might think.

A 2018 study from the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research found that up to two-thirds of people may be wearing shoes that fit improperly, and that wearing the wrong size is associated with foot pain and poorer foot health overall.

So, how do you know if you’re wearing the right shoe size? Finding the correct shoe size starts with accurately measuring your feet. Read on to learn how to measure your foot size and how to find your shoe size in Nike footwear. Plus, check out additional tips for picking out comfortable, supportive shoes that meet your needs.

(Related: 8 Ideas for Storing Shoes )

How to Measure Foot Size

• For the most accurate measurement, it’s best to measure your feet at the end of the day. Feet tend to swell throughout the day and may have a slightly larger measurement in the evening than in the morning.
• Before measuring, put on the same pair of socks you plan to wear with the shoes.
• Tape a piece of paper to a hard floor, ensuring the paper doesn’t slip.
• Stand with one foot on the paper and a slight bend in your knees. You can also sit in a chair, but make sure your feet are firmly planted on the ground.
• With a pen or pencil pointed straight down, trace the outline of your foot on the paper. If possible, ask another person to help you with this step. That way, you can keep your feet still and capture the most accurate measurement.
• Repeat the process with the other foot. It’s common for a person’s feet to be two slightly different sizes.
• Mark the tip of the big toe and the outermost part of the heel, and use a ruler or measuring tape to measure the distance between the two points. This measurement represents the length of your feet. (For the most precise measurement, consider using a ruler with centimeters, rather than inches.) Note: Nike shoe sizes are based on foot length. If you find that a standard-size shoe feels too narrow on your foot, you may want to explore wide or extra-wide styles. There are several Nike shoe icons that are made in wide and extra-wide fits, including the Nike Pegasus and the Nike Monarch .
• If your feet are two different sizes, use the foot measurements of the larger foot when comparing your measurements against a size chart.

How to Find Your Shoe Size

Now that you’ve measured your foot size, compare the measurements against a Nike size chart to find the best shoe size for you.

While other shoe brands may use similar size scales, it’s best to check out a shoe brand’s size charts before purchasing a new pair of shoes from them, as each brand’s exact approach to size and fit may vary.

Men's Shoes

Women's shoes.

These charts reflect U.S. footwear sizes. For conversions in other markets, check out the Nike size charts below.

What’s the Difference Between Men’s and Women’s Shoe Size?

Generally speaking, there is a 1.5 size difference between men's and women's shoes at Nike. For example, if you're a size 8 in women's shoes, you're likely a size 6.5 in men's shoes. Some footwear styles are offered in unisex sizing, however, so be sure to double check the product details before purchasing a new pair.

4 Signs You May Be Wearing the Wrong Shoe Size

When a shoe fits correctly, you should be able to perform your desired movement — be it walking, running or playing a sport — with comfort and confidence in your feet. That said, there are a handful of telltale signs to look out for if you suspect you’re wearing wrong shoe size, including:

• The toe box is too tight. If a shoe is too small, you might experience pinching or irritation on the edge of your big toe or pinky toe.
• Your heels or ankles feel irritated. If a shoe collar is too high, for example, you might experience redness or blisters on your ankle bone (indicating a too-large fit).
• The shoe’s arch is in the wrong place. If the shoe is too big, the arch might land too close to your heel. In a shoe too small, it might land too close to the ball of your foot.
• Your heel slips out while walking. In a shoe that is too big, this might happen even when the laces are tied tight.

Tip: When trying on a pair of Nike shoes to assess the fit, be sure to mimic whatever movement you intend to perform in them. For example, if you’re shopping for running shoes, consider testing how they feel by taking a quick jog around the block while wearing them. If you’d like expert tips and advice from a Nike teammate, head to your local Nike store to try on different styles in person.

3 Tips to Help Kids Find the Right Shoe Size

When finding new shoes for a child, or understanding when it’s time to discard a previous pair, caregivers may need to do some detective work, as children aren’t always able to articulate certain nuances related to fit.

(Related: The Best Nike Shoes for Back to School )

Try these tips to ensure a kid’s footwear is the proper size:

• Ask the child to stand in the shoes, then feel for the tip of their toe in relation to the tip of the shoe. There should be enough room for you to place the tip of your finger in that space. If there’s not enough room, the shoe is likely too small.
• Observe how the child runs or walks in their shoes. Children tend to have less consistent gait patterns than adults. However, if they seem to be moving in a slightly less steady manner, they may be uncomfortable in their shoes.
• For very young children (like toddlers), if they are constantly fidgeting with their footwear or attempting to take them on and off frequently, they may be wearing the wrong size.

4 Factors That Can Affect the Way a Shoe Fits

Using the measurement tools in this guide is a great way to determine the right shoe size, but it’s important to note that different shoes have different designs and purposes, which may impact the way two different shoes feel on your feet, even if they are the same size.

There are a handful of factors that can affect the way a shoe feels on your feet:

• The shoe’s last and overall structure. A last is the footform that a shoe is built on, and different shoes (including different Nike shoes) are made with different lasts. For example, a Mercurial soccer cleat is made with a different last than a pair of Air Force 1s . While Nike soccer cleats are designed to fit true to size, they serve a different purpose than a lifestyle shoe, for example, so they are likely to feel different than an Air Force 1 on-foot. Many soccer players, especially elite-level athletes, choose to size down in their soccer cleats so they can feel a more sensitive touch on the ball. (Related: How Should Soccer Cleats Fit? )
• Material. Some fabrics will have more stretch and softness than others. For example, leather might feel softer and more pliable than certain synthetic materials.
• The closure system. A shoe with laces may allow you to loosen or tighten the fit for a more personalized feel, while a slip-on shoe will have less adjustability.
• The intended purpose of the shoe. For athletic performance, you may want a soccer, football or baseball cleat to provide a snug, tight fit. Meanwhile, you may want a slightly roomier fit, with more wiggle room in the toe box, for an everyday shoe.

Measurements aside, shoe fit is subjective. It’s normal for preferences to vary from person to person. You may prefer extra roominess or tightness in your footwear, depending on how you like the shoe to feel. Your best bet: Use your foot measurements as a guide, but be sure to try on several pairs to find what feels most comfortable on your feet.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re experiencing pinching in the toes or have very little wiggle room in the toe box, you’re likely wearing shoes that are too small. If the shoe collar height is too high or there’s rubbing or other irritation around the ankle, you may be wearing a size that’s too big. Your heel may also slip and move around in a shoe that’s too large, or you may feel the arch support is off-center underfoot.

A child might be wearing the wrong shoe size if they are constantly fidgeting with their footwear, expressing discomfort or showing unusual gait patterns. Also, if there isn’t enough space for you to put your fingertip between the tip of their big toe and the tip of the shoe, the shoe is likely too small.

If you find that a standard-size shoe feels too narrow on the foot, you may want to explore wide or extra-wide styles. There are several Nike shoe icons that are made in wide and extra-wide fits, including the Nike Pegasus and the Nike Monarch.

To convert shoes sizes between U.S. and European sizing, be sure to check an individual retailer’s size charts, as sizing can differ from brand to brand. To convert Nike shoes from U.S. to European sizes, check out the shoe size charts on Nike.com for men’s , women’s and kids’ footwear.

Canada uses the same footwear sizing system as the U.S., so there is no need to convert U.S. shoe size to Canadian shoe size.

Words by Julia Sullivan

Shop Nike Shoes

Nike Air Max Dn

Nike Air Max 270

Air Jordan 4 Retro "Industrial Blue"

Nike Go FlyEase

Easy on/off shoes.

Air Jordan 1 Low

Nike Court Legacy Next Nature

Air Jordan 1 Mid

Nike Dunk Low Retro

Nike Dunk Low

Big kids' shoes.

Originally published: November 26, 2021

Related Stories

Shop These Nike Running Shoes for Cross Country

What Is Pronation — And What Are the Best Nike Running Shoes for Flat Feet?

How Should Soccer Cleats Fit?

Running Shoe Fit Guide: What to Look for When You Shop

3 Keys to Buying the Right Gym Shorts