School Uniform for little girls

[MrsL1123]

My dd is starting school this year, I have all boys so have never had to buy a girls uniform

Could you tel me what your girls wear to school and a list of things I would need to get, don't know where to start: trousers, skirts, skorts, shorts, pinafores.

Trying to think of things that will be easy for her to get on and off by herself but also want her to look smart

It’s not really complicated don’t over think it either a skirt, pinafore or trousers polo and a cardigan. Ask her which she prefers. School probably have a list on their website.

DD1 wears shorts, polo and school jumper
Dd2 wears summer dress or pinafore and polo - she prefers cardigans. She wears leggings rather than tights in winter. Pinafores have the added bonus of keeping polos clean

My dd preferred to wear a pinafore dress with a cardigan and tights for ages but more recently she prefers trousers.
Soft trousers that are almost like jogging bottom material work really well.
They’re very good for PE days as there’s no faffing about with tights.

It might depend on what your school wants. Polo shirts are easier for Reception children to put on and take off, but my DC's school insists on proper shirts. Skirts or trousers are probably easier than a pinafore, but my DD wanted pinafores so I got them. We have to have the school logo cardigan. Socks are easier than tights, I got knee length socks and ankle socks.

Pinafore with a zip or pull over the head is by far and away the easiest for them. Although mine always started back in the gingham dress, which is easier still.

Dd starts school in August. Her school have a list on their website with regards to her uniform.

Get the list from the school website and buy what's on it? Not difficult, surely?!

My dd found pinafore with zip at front easiest when she was just starting school. Her school had shirts rather than polo shirts for both boys and girls and it seemed easier for her not to have the waistband you get on skirts or trousers

Odd question. It's not exactly hard. Look on asda

Personally I would wait until the Summer holidays to actually get confirmation of a starting date. I work in a school and we aren't even 100% certain our new reception children will be able to start.

@ihearttc
Oh really? Probably a good idea actually as we haven't had confirmation yet either

As for everyone saying it's an odd question etc, just wondered what most people put their girls in, only wanted an opinion that's all. My school doesn't have a website and my boys are older so have forgotten everything needed.

It depends on your school surely? Some schools don't require uniform in Reception, others expect joggers and a polo shirt. Some want polo shirt with skirt/trousers. Some allow pinafores. Some insist on trousers only. Some are traditional and want a shirt and tie. Some insist on particular colours. Some insist on logoed items whereas other are happy with anything from any shop. As you have a girl, she may or may not be able to manage tights, which will also have a bearing on your decision.

It's an odd question because none of us can tell you what the uniform requirements are at your particular school. My DD wore a white polo shirt and grey pinafore dress with a blue cardigan (despite cardigans not being part of official uniform) if that helps? We found pinafores better than skirts as they kept the polo shirt cleaner (messy child). And DD (at the time) refused to wear trousers.

I really hope they can start but trying to start new reception children at exactly the same time as all other years are going back especially if some degree of social distancing is in place is going to be difficult for the staff and really hard on the children.

My daughter started off in pinafores. She was normally not a dress girl but she was so titchy the smallest trousers were far to long for her. Even so the pinafore made her look like a Victorian school child. In winter she needed tights to keep warm - she couldn't manage tights by herself so wore leggings underneath. She soon switched to 'boy' shorts. Knee length, lots of pockets ("for stuff") and elasticated waist so easy to get on and off.
That will be your priority. Easy to remove for PE changing and going to the lav.

Check the school website about things like PE kit, our school didn't use it in Reception, the kids just played in their normal uniform.

DD is a practical kid and prefers comfort to prettiness so summer uniform was pull on grey knee length girls shorts from Sainsbury's with a white polo top.

Winter was grey joggers, white polo and school fleece.

We both work full time so lots of rushing about in the mornings and evenings so we had enough uniform for the week, 5 polos, 3 trousers/shorts, 2 fleeces. She would re-wear trousers and fleeces a couple of times. You may need 1 of everything if the current COVID rules still exist and she needs fresh clothes daily.

DD is tall and slim so we have to size up to get the height but then use the elastic tighteners inside the waistband to stop them falling down. Sainsburys and M&S are both good for that.

If you go the dress route then buy way more socks/tights then you think you'll need, the tights shrink in the wash or get holes and the white socks go grey.

Depends on her frame. DD is tiny and pinafores just hung off her so went with a skirt. She wears ankle socks or tight with it.

My dd always had these H&M treggings for PE days. They are easy to get on and off and thicker than leggings and they look like trousers.

www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0806183001.html

The soft jersey pinafores are easier to manage than the stiffer traditional ones.

Avoid heart buttons.

I have KS1 age girls.
Jersey type fabric pinafore from Asda/Sainsbury's - comfy, easy on and off, and seem to stand up to the marker/paint/dirt hammering.
Our school specifies proper short sleeve shirts, but I put on polos for PE days. So much easier.
Gingham dresses in summer, with zips.
Tights or socks.
Oh, and I resent the specified cycling type shorts for PE so just buy boys ones.
I also look for dresses with pockets.
No idea about shoes though, none seem to last

It's school dependant I know but as a former TA I'd advise joggers, polo and sweatshirts.

Both my DD's teach, and both report little girls with bleeding ankle blisters by the end of their first day at school. It never happens to little boys. Even classic expensive brands sell 'fashion' styles for girls that are useless for active children to run around in. Whatever clothes you buy, I do urge you to have an eye to the comfort and wearability of her shoes and have her try them out at home for long enough to be sure she won't suffer. It's not a nice first day memory. 😢

The school has no website? That's very unusual these days. Our school has so much info on theirs, I rarely ever ring them.

My daughter wears soft jersey school trousers which I get in Asda or Sainsbury’s. Really comfy and practical and warm. She’s always with them and loves her dresses usually. But is happy to be comfy and warm !

@7ofNine
The school has a website but nothing about school uniform on it.. usually they send out a pack with school uniform etc but nothing has appeared yet

@Nearlygranny

Good point, we bought DD boys shoes from Clark's because she's a run around, jump in puddles type kid and all the girls shoes were ballerina/Mary-Jane type open topped styles and I wanted shoes that covered her whole foot. They also have more robust, grippy soles so less likely to slip in the winter.

I've been having the same wondering - my oldest is a boy and we've totally figured out what we like by now. There are so many more girl options! Since her brother has been at the school for three years I've got a good sense of what the other girls wear, and have asked other parents. I want to go for jumpers but my girl is desperate for cardigans, other than that I think we'll go for jersey pinafores and tights (she's great at those so not a worry). Can you ask some of the other school parents?