Starting reception and when to buy school shoes

[frangipanflowers]

My child is starting reception in September, should I be getting school shoes now or leaving it to the last minute? Thanks.

Unless they need new shoes anyway I'd leave it as close as possible. My DD either stays the same size forever or blows through 3 sizes in 2 months. I'm waiting as she's had the same size for 4 months now, so definitely due another growth spurt!

Go mid-august to a nice independent shoe shop. Do it at 9am so you can beat any crowds and take dd for a lovely brunch somewhere grown up afterwards feeling smug that you avoided the scrum that is Clarks ticketing systems and queues.

Often they start a week after everyone else. I would leave it until all the other children are back in school.

I wait until last minute, growth spurts are a pain and random so shoes can be outgrown in a very short span of time. Last years shoes were bought 1 week before start and lasted the whole year. Bought them half a size larger than the then current size which was success this year. In Reception went through 2 sizes (nvm the shoes falling to bits). Y1 went through another 2 pairs. Since than managed to get one pair that has lasted the whole year by predicting how ds is growing and should grow. Kangol and Kickers have been the best buys in this house so far for a very active kid. Clarks have all been a miss as well as store bought shoes.

As late as possible. Last year I bought DD's in the first week of September and she's outgrown them by October half term. She was still in the October ones by the time she broke up in July, so there must be some growing due. I'm hoping it's over the summer so she can have nice new shoes to go back in.

I wouldn't leave it until the last minute - yes, your DC might grow at an inconvenient time, but not enough to make shoes unwearable after 3 weeks or so.

And it's better than finding out that her size has sold out in all the styles you/she likes (demand can be huge, yes this can happen, did to me e)

Do find out if you need to book an appointment if you leave it to the last week of the holiday.

I always go the first week of the holidays. They tend to sell out quickly.

My solution is to use the Clarks in Mothercare which only does fairly small sizes. Not usually busy.