School uniform - how many of each item?

[vacaloca]

DD1 starting school in September. She's very excited about it and I thought we could go and buy her uniform next week. How many do you buy of each thing. She's got to have a school sweatshirt and everything else is up to us: polo shirt, skirt, pinafore, trousers... I was thinking of getting 2 of everything, perhaps 3 polo shirts? Or do I need 3 of everything seeing as I'm not the most organise mum in the world?

Any other top tips about uniforms? Do girls often wear trousers? I was thinking of getting one pinafore (because they look sooo damn sweet in them) and one skirt.

[MaryAnnSingleton]

yes, girls do wear trousers, nice for the cold weather too...I'd get 3 of everything,just 1 set of PE kit -

[tissy]

I got 5 polo shirts, one for each day of the week

3 sweatshirts

3 dresses

5 prs of tights

depends a lot on whether you want to wash mid-week or not, whether you can wash and dry overnight, whether your child is a messy eater etc

[RusselBrussel]

Right, have just rifled through dd's wardrobe.
(she is just about to finish reception)
She has had this year:

2 pairs of trousers (ideal for the winter months and for PE days to avoid struggeling with tights)
3 skirts
5 polo shirts
5 pairs of tights
5 pairs of socks
4 summer dresses
1 pe kit
3 cardigans with school logo

I did not buy her a pinafore because when we tried it on her in M&S she struggled to get into/out of it and I wanted her to be as independent as possible wrt getting changed for PE.
(and she looked damn cute in grey pleated skirt, red polo shirt, red tights and logo'd school cardigan)

[SlightlyMadSweet]

For my DTDs we have managed with (each)

1 sweatshirts
1 skirt
1 pinafore
1 trousers
3 polos
4-5 tights

They only need clean Monday and Wednesday usually - apart from tights.

1 shorts, 1 T shirt for PE each

[SlightlyMadSweet]

The key is to convince them to take their sweatshirt off whilst doing painting. The aprons never cover everything

[vacaloca]

oh blimey, you all have a lot more than I was planning to get. I went to a convent school where we were told to wear our sweater and skirt all week and change our shirts and socks every other day so we were VERY careful not to make any mess. So pleased DD1 won't have to put up with that crap nonsense.

[SlightlyMadSweet]

You don't need all what is on most of those lists.

My list is much shorter than the others.
Some parents were surprised that they only have 1 sweatshirt, goes in teh wash on a Friday - that is usually all that is necessary.

you can always by more after a few weeks if you realise you need more. Shops don't stop selling uniform on 31 Aug!

Is it an absolute rule that they have a school sweatshirt? At out school most wear the school swirtshirt - but some wear a plain cardigan. You can get a plain cardi from Tesco's for £3 - and use that in emergencies if she messes up sweatshirt mid-week. Thats what we have done for Yr 1 & 2 (actually we brought it to go with summer dresses, but have since used it in winter as an emergency).

[hana]

I dont think getting a school cardigan is bad value considering they wear it for most weeks during the year!

And your dd might not like trousers/skirts/pinafores (delete as appropriate!)

dd now in year 1 hated trousers so they were a waste in the end. So we have

3 summer dresses
3 pinafores
3 cardigans
6 polo tops

1 pe kit

countless tights/socks

[Hulababy]

DD has:

2 summer dresses
2 winter pinafores
1 cardigan (rarely worn)
5 shirts
2 ties
Loads of pairs of tights
1 PE kit

[vacaloca]

Excellent, this is all really helpful. Do they get to wear the summer dresses much? And do you tend to get a size bigger for those seeing as they'll probably only wear it for a couple of weeks this year?

[WendyWeber]

I always had at least 5 polo shirts (1 a day in case I got behind with laundry) + 3 each of sweatshirts & trousers (1 on, one clean, 1 in the wash - approx ).

And one PE kit, which came home for a wash at halfterm if it was lucky.

[hana]

If she's starting in Sept I wouldn't bother with the summer dresses at all, just go in with the other options. Stores will all have promotions in the spring for summer uniform. My daughter did wear summer uniform in year 1 - when she started - but only because she had it from the summer term in reception. iyswim

[Hulababy]

Re. summer dresses: Well, DD has to wear her summer for the final half term, no choice. But DD also choses to wear her summer dresses from Easter up until October half term (rest of time winter uniform is compulsary). DD wears her summer dress regardless of weather - she much prefers it!

[WendyWeber]

I would get at least 1 summer dress for Sept (in a size that will also do for next "summer") - if you don't get one you can guarantee it'll be boiling hot in Sept, everybody else will be wearing dresses & you won't be able to find one anywhere

[Orinoco]

Message withdrawn

[Hulababy]

Agree with WW. When DD first started school I only bought the winter uniform, assuming that would be the norm. Guess what? DD was one of only 2 in her class in winter, rest came in summer. I felt so sad that DD was odd one out so soon at school I went out shopping that day to buy the summer uniform as well! I;d get a summer dress, just in case!

[Orinoco]

Message withdrawn

[suwoo]

I am with those who have loads. I don't want to be worrying about a last minute wash (I work evenings and don't have a tumble dryer).
We had 6 polo shirts
3 jumpers
3 skirts
4 trousers (although 2 is plenty)
4 summer dresses (again have managed with 1 in yr 1)
shitloads of socks
decent Clarks shoes, because cheap ones are a false economy and are scuffed on day one.

I have needed way less stuff in year 1 than nursery and reception because of the lack of messy stuff, so bear that in mind.

[somersetmum]

The problem with Reception is all the glue and paint they get over everything practically every day! Fortunately, it gets noticeably better as the year progresses.

dd has
2 cotton summer dresses
2 skirts
2 trousers
3 polo shirts
3 cardigans
1 fleece (barely worn)
1 p.e shirt
1 p.e shorts
a shed load of socks!

[WendyWeber]

Oh yes, loads of socks & get several multipacks all the same, then it doesn't matter when odd ones disappear.

[WendyWeber]

re the glue, it dissolves in cold water but sets in hot so try to spot it before it goes into the machine

[crumpet]

For the private school nursery she went to the uniform was expensive so she just had 2 blouses, 1 skirt and 1 jumper (& 1 pe kit which was brought home and washed at 1/2 term). Jumper/skirt was sponged as necessary during the week and washed at weekends. Got at least 2 days wear out of each blouse and a quick wash during the week if needed.

Then went to the local school where the uniform all semed to cost about £2 -£5, so she ended up with a lot more! Have to say though, that the quality was poorer than at her first school, so it dd fade etc more quickly.

[VanillaPumpkin]

We have
two summer dresses (worn since Easter)
two pinafores
one skirt (worn once )
one pair of trousers (never worn )
three cardigans
five polo shirts
loads of socks
four pairs of tights
one pair of shorts
one t-shirt.

I think I got it right apart from the trousers. Having the skirt in the wardrobe stopped me panicking .