How many bits of uniform??

[pontypandy]

Hiya my DS is starting reception is septemeber and i was wondering how many jumpers, polos, trousers, pe t-shirts and shorts i should get for ds.

Infact i am very nervous about DS starting school so any advice about starting school would be great thanks x

[LimaCharlie]

I was working full time when PFB DS started so bought 5 x polo shirts; 5 x sweatshirts; x trousers and 2 x everything in his PE kit as I did not need the stress of trying to get grubby little boy stuff clean for the next day.

With DD I was a bit more relaxed less bonkers and just went for two of everything uniform wise and one of everything for PE kit from DS' hand me downs.

Good luck it will be fine honest - I found reading Charlie and Lola's "I'm too little for school" really helped the DC get used to the idea if I could manage to read without sobbing

[pontypandy]

thanks i will look into getting that at the libary later, DS seems fine about starting school its me that going mental

[clemettethedropout]

DD started in January.
We have 1x PE kit. It stays at school for the whole of a half term because they don't do anything that causes them to get sweaty!
I originally bought two cardigans but have bought many more second hand. IME they get lost very easily (I don't do many pickups so can't keep track of them).
Otherwise we have six poloshirts/blouses (so I only have to worry about ironing at the weekend) and a selection of trousers/skirts/dresses. She comes home filthy most days, so at least five would be my recommendation.
I would say buy cheap things for reception. They get covered in paint/mud/glue which doesn't always wash out.

[pontypandy]

ok thanks, where would u recommend i get them from. I have to get the jumpers and polos from the school, but with pe kit and trousers where would you suggest?

[doggiesayswoof]

I got 5 polos, 5 skirts/pinafores, 3 cardis, 1 x PE kit for DD when she started

She needed clean stuff every day pretty much and I found it much easier having a full week's worth of stuff hanging up so not having to wash and iron through the week

Cardis were ok for 2 days, getting a scrub with a cloth on little marks

Reading books about school with them is good. Will he visit the school before the summer? DD had 2 settling in visits and she met the teachers and got to know the bulding a bit which was really useful and she loved it.

Don't let him know you are nervous! Be positive and upbeat and talk to him about having fun with new friends, playing with new toys, etc etc

[doggiesayswoof]

M&S has 3 for 2 just now and free delivery

I've had Sainsburys/Asda/Tesco stuff too and it's been fine

eg I got shorts and t-shirts for PE in Tesco last year

[pontypandy]

yeh yeh i am, would never let him see me being nervous.

Yes he is visting his new class on the 20th july, and i have a meeting next tuesday.

Me is thinking that uniform and stuff for school is gonna leave me skint lol

[doggiesayswoof]

It does add up, its a bit scary

Try the supermarket stuff, quality not too bad imo, you should be able to get trousers for maybe £4 or so

Are the school strict about uniform? I'm just thinking school polos might be expensive - you could get a couple of those and maybe have a couple of supermarket ones as well?

(I ended up only buying one proper school polo for DD and all the rest were plain white - but my school is quite relaxed about uniform)

[clemettethedropout]

Pack of 3 polo shirts were £4 in Asda. Asda trousers were £3 each.
PE kit here is just shorts and T shirt so we didn't have to buy anything special.
It can seem like a big initial outlay, but I haven't had to buy DD many "other" clothes since January as she doesn't get chance to wear them! Now with the summer holidays approaching I realise she has outgrown most of her normal clothes and I better get her some more...

[clemettethedropout]

free delivery from Asda direct.asda.com/george/school-uniform/010,default,sc.html

[doggiesayswoof]

Yeah clemette that's a good point, you notice that you're not having to buy other clothes nearly so much

[pontypandy]

OK thanks think i might have to have a little shop around at the weekend.

Yes they have to wear the school polo's and jumpers and they are £6.50 and £7.00 each !!

So am trying to save a bit on the rest of the stuff

[baabi]

Hi, if you do not mind 2nd hand, can I suggest ebay? You can find bundles at very reasonable prices and from experience a lot of it is unworn or worn very lightly as some people buy to much to start with and the kids grow too fast. I just bought two pinafore dresses for DD for £3 including P&P and they are like new. I found that apart from the white polo shirts that tend to go greyish/faintly stained after a while (whichever make/ price they are!) everything else seems to survive quite well. And DD can get quite mucky! In fact apart from the school jumper with the logo (£10 each), I get most of it from ebay and she has enough to wear a clean uniform everyday for about two weeks before I worry about ironing!

And I know how you feel about them starting school. I tried very hard to stop the tears on the very first day and everytime I think DS, my baby, is starting next September I get a teary eye, but they are fine. DD went happily in, no problems and DS is all excited and whenever we drop his sister he wants to stay behind. In fact it was quite funny when DD started, there was this huge group of parents outside sort of expecting they kids to cry or refuse to go in. All the 30 kids were excited and could not wait to go in, not a tear from them, but once the door closed we all just stood there, looking quite disappointed by their non clinginess and not really knowing what to do with ourselves.

[pontypandy]

ok cheers i will have a look on ebay.

lol i know my ds will be like that he has never been a shy one, hes loved play-group and nursary and he cant wait for "big school"