A lot of parents will be on furlough or out of work, financial circumstances will have changed for thousands of parents, while outgoings remain the same.
You are correct, can't mess about with feet, especially school shoes, so where do kids go to try them on and get fitted?
They can't, same goes for bespoke school uniform.
'normally' you will get a good idea of where your kids are at and when the time to buy during the ongoing school term.
However, most kids haven't put on a uniform for six months and that's the problem, there's no weekly gauge, irrespective of affordability or sourcing issues.
Times that by ten for people who just can't afford it right now.