Best John Lewis school uniform staples for kids and teenagers

For the warmer months, this gingham dress will be a lovely addition to a girl’s uniform. The slim belt ties at the back so it doesn’t get in the way, while adding a bit of shape to the dress. We also like that the waist is elasticated for a better fit.

Customers say the dresses wash well too, an important factor when choosing a school uniform as you don’t want clothes that will fall apart after a couple of months of wear! The fit is true to size and it’s made from recycled polyester so as well as looking nice, the dresses are good quality while being better for the environment too! You only get one dress for the price though so you may need to buy another one to last through the summer term.

When it comes to picking a school uniform, it’s the little details that can make them stand out from the rest. We love the little additions to this grey tunic; the cute little bow on the raised waistline and the pleated detail to the skirt add a little something extra to your standard uniform.

True to size, the dress is a good fit, sitting on the knee line with a comfortable stretch around the waist. The material has also been made to be stain resistant, repelling water, oil and other stains to help the dress look smarter for longer. It dries quickly too, which is great if you have to do a last minute wash on a Sunday! 

Tights are one of those items that you could end up buying many pairs of if they snag too easily or aren’t thick enough, which can get quite costly over the course of the school year. These opaque tights are part of John Lewis’ ANYDAY range, which makes quality clothing at affordable prices. 

Made from soft, stretchy materials, the tights are available in seven colours so you can buy them in other colours for the weekend too. The pink colour, in particular, is great for ballet classes. John Lewis also offers plenty of options for great school footwear from different brands, including these Start-Rite Kids' Leapfrog Riptape Glossy Leather Shoes.

If your child wears polo shirts to school then you’ll probably need plenty of spares in case they get stained or go missing (often on PE day!), so you’ll be glad to know these Pure Cotton Easy Care School Polo Shirts come in a pack of two. They are unisex t-shirts, which will be handy if you have similar age and sized children in the house. 

Another selling point of these t-shirts is they are easy to wash and care for. The material has been designed to need less ironing and is stain resistant to help them stay looking good. Made from 100% cotton, the polo shirts are a good fit (if a bit on the long side) and comfortable to wear. They come in four colours, white, red, blue and yellow.

Has your son ever come home from school with ripped knees in their trousers? It’s very common and particularly frustrating if they barely even last a half term. Thankfully, the John Lewis Slim Fit School Trousers come with reinforced knees for this very reason - giving them extra strength to prevent holes. 

We like the slim fit of these trousers which cuts close to the hip and thigh giving them a more modern look. The trousers also have an adjustable waist for a better fit and the crease down the front makes them look smart while still being durable for plenty of play at school.

With an adjustable waist, stain resistant fabric and stretchy material, this A-Line skirt is smart, comfortable and requires minimal care. The waist is half elasticated to make it nice and stretchy and it can be adjusted to help get a better fit.

Below the beltline, it features a zipped pocket to give the skirt a little extra detail, something we’re sure the girls will love.

Made from tight tension and treated fabric, these cotton jumpers have been designed to resist pulling and colour fade so your child will continue to look smart throughout the school term. The V-Neckline also adds to the look, sitting nicely under the shirt collar.

The jumper is unisex too so if it still looks good when your child has grown out of it, you can pass it onto younger siblings so that you get plenty of value for money out of it.

Like the V-Neck jumper above, these cotton cardigans are made from material that is easy to care for while maintaining the colour and quality even when it has to be frequently washed.

The material is soft and comfortable and each one is finished perfectly with long sleeves, ribbed cuffs, and button fastenings, so your DC will look smart and be comfy all day long. Plus, although they're thicker than others, they'll do for winter and colder days.

Like many of the other items on our list, these slim leg shorts have been made to last, with strain resistant fabric, adjustable waist and strong seams for growing, boisterous boys. We like the slim fit of these shorts with a pleated front detail to keep your son looking smart during the summer months. 

When your child starts wearing blouses and shirts for school, you know the iron is going to need to come out a bit more often. However, these short sleeved blouses have been designed to be almost crease-proof, so they require minimal ironing. Music to the ears of those of us who try to avoid ironing at all costs!

The material is durable and stain resistant too, with stronger seams to ensure they last throughout the school year. We like that they come in a pack of two, so not a bad price for this wardrobe staple. 

Made from thicker, warmer organic cotton, you won’t have to worry about these shirts being too thin or looking see-through, which can sometimes be the case for school shirts. As well as being better for the environment, organic cotton is also kinder to your skin as it isn’t treated with harsh chemicals, so these shirts could be a good option for children who suffer with skin conditions, such as eczema. 

While they are a bit pricier than your standard easy-iron shirts, they do come in a pack of two. It’s worth noting that some consumers claim the thicker cotton creases a lot after washing making the shirt hard to iron.

A new school term brings with it colder temperatures as the country braces itself for autumn and winter. Thankfully, you needn’t worry about keeping your child’s feet warm and dry while they’re at school and beyond. These soft, cosy, wool rich socks from John Lewis are designed to keep feet snug and crafted from a lovely wool blend. They come in packs of three, so you may need to buy a couple of packs, and feature a classic ribbed design.