What’s everyone doing about school uniform??

[BrieAndChilli]

Normally by now I would have ordered the logo’d stuff, and start picking up the other stuff when the offered on on - school shirts etc
But with no certainty that school will be back as normal in September and with them currently not wearing uniform due to hygiene reasons (can’t wash a blazer etc daily) I’m not sure what todo?
I don’t want to buy it all and them not have to wear it for 6 months and have grown out of it!!
What’s everyone else doing?

I hope they allow blazers. Just gave DS's outgrown jumper to the second hand uniform shop, it hasn't been worn since I bought it three years ago.

Our school are, supposedly, all going back full time in August. Thankfully they are to wear uniform as ds3 had completely outgrown everything at the beginning of the year and I had just replaced it all before lockdown. I’m too frightened to get him to try it on now!

Primary here, so just a jumper and PE kit to worry about. I can't decide whether to go for a size up and pray he grows into it and it doesn't look too stupid. Or the size he is now and pray he doesn't grow over, the next six months or so to make it worth it.

The only other thing, that might be able to help is if your schools do second hand clothing, DS' school uniform was barely worn, so it might do for a smaller child

@Sobeyondthehills Why would you buy the same size uniform again?

Just get the next size up and he can swap when it fits.

I’ve never understood this need to buy new just because it’s September!

Our school are saying black joggers or leggings. Black trainers and school polo top and jumper as they are not having pe kits or indoor shoes anymore .

I wouldn't rebuy the same sized things.. that way madness lies...

MIne is starting secondary and the uniform is extortionate. I'm trying to work out if I can get away with 1 blazer/1 jumper/2 skirts/5 shirts. But there's also logo'd pe kit/labcoat. Will be over £300

our uniform shop is by appointment but they're recommending appointments now in the next couple of weeks so things can be back before school starts. I've no idea what size to buy as I've never ordered this early before...

I think her shoes are okay-ish. Do Clarks still have a good selection of shoes a few weeks into September or is it empty?!

@RosieLemonade, I know lots of people have quite rightly told you why exactly they might not want to get two blazers for their secondary kids 🙄🙄🙄

However, quite aside from that, it’s not up to the parents if the child wears uniform or not! The school will dictate this when they tell parents the rules for attending.

Legally primary schools can't enforce uniform. DD2 was back for a few weeks (Y6) not in uniform but we're OK for DS (3rd child) iif he has to wear uniform. But there is no way I'm buying uniform for secondary before knowing for definite if the DDs are going to have to wear uniform or not (or even go back). Both are growing quickly at the moment as well!

That leaked guidance document said normal uniform should be worn but I'd be more impressed if they said stick with no uniform. There is likely to be an increase in infections as things open up and if we end up with multiple local lockdown then school uniform will hardly be worn. Lots of people have less money at the moment and paying for uniform is an unnecessary additional expense.

@Muchtoomuchtodo

I am talking about 3 different sizes, the size he was in, in March, the size he would fit in now and the size he will probably fit in come December. He is at the awkward size where it is just too small, just right and too big as of today, but given how much he is shooting up at the moment, I don't want to waste money on something he might not wear.

I am the same as a lot of PP posting that are saying they have to order now because the one uniform shop that supplies all the schools in my area has said to get an order in as soon as. Normally I leave it as late as possible (September) so that way I have a hope that it might last 6 months at least, if its not lost or ruined

Ds1 (year 10) is back at school 1 day per week. His school have requested that they wear uniform if it still fits, and send them in something "appropriate for school" if not with a note.

DS2 (different school, year 8) is due to go in for 1 day before summer. His school have said the same. Summer uniform (ie no jumpers or blazers) if it still fits. If not then smart with a note.

Not sure what I'll do for September. I guess wait until we know what's happening and then order anything we need and hope it comes in time.

And at the idea parents can buy enough secondary uniform for clean everything every day!
DS2s school has logo jumpers (£15ish)
Blazer (50-60). Trousers and shirts can come from anywhere (they are meant to have a specific pair of trousers which start at £22 but no one bothered after the first year). Logo PE kit, 2 different sets. Indoor trainers. Outdoor trainers. Football boots. Shin pads etc. Logo bag.

DS1 changed schools and his has a much more sensible uniform. Grey trousers from anywhere. White polo (must be a logo one if they take their jumper off) and logo jumper. Logo pe kit. I think it's only 1 set of pe kit and can't remember what pe shoes he needed, I think it was 1 pair of trainers and football boots. However whilst there is less logo items the ones they have are expensive. Polo shirts for eg are £18-20 each!

I long for the primary days when I could buy jumpers for £4 each!

I'm holding off as long as possible. DS is moving up to secondary, where the current yr 10's are in uniform whilst I'm at the moment, so I'm guessing that will continue next year? Just in case though I'm going to leave it as long as possible

I'm fortunate that there isn't a huge amount of branded items we need.

DD1 (yr 9) needs new trousers as she has shot up, but I have had to order them on line as I can't get long leg and slim waist on the high street. She is doing one morning next week, but I had to get the trousers as the others were halfway up her legs.

DS (yr 7) also grown but luckily had bigger trousers available (got 2 sizes last september, just kept the bigger ones)

Luckily they only need blazer, jumper, tie and pe top, anything else is non specific. They should fit into last years. He has been going in one day a week in uniform.

DD2 (yr 3) There is logo uniform, but it is not compulsory, so I will just wait. She's not grown as much.

I am fortunate that for all three the majority can come from Sainsburys.

If anyone wants to buy DD1 four more kilts at £40 a go then I'll DM my bank details. Let alone come round and iron the pleats back into the buggers when they get washed every day.

We've heard nothing from either of our schools about uniform. DD1's school can be pretty reasonable but DD2's primary is run by a uniform stickler. It'll cause her actual pain to take the kids back without full uniform!

My son’s school hasn’t been able to accommodate any children in reception before the summer break as the numbers of key worker children is too high. Additionally, despite the leaked plans, we don’t know how the inflection rate locally will be and looking at what has happened In Leicester, I’ve decided not to spend anything. I’m hopeful we’d have a few weeks notice of what September plans look like for me to prepare nearer the time.

We’ve been told that if they go back in September they won’t be wearing uniform. The school want them in clean clothes each day, which isn’t possible with blazers.
Secondary school.

Mine are teens so should still fit in this years stuff (unless DS shoots up a few inches over summer which is possible!) so I'll just have to get more shoes (probably just for DS as DD is done growing now). Hopefully I'll be able to get to a shoe shop between now and Sept!

I said secondary doesn’t have to be worse. Which it doesn’t. Yes, I’m living the dream.

But you can just say sometimes schools can be a nightmare about this stuff, and sometimes they aren’t, rather than “pre/primary are super cheap, just you wait until secondary when everything is super expensive”. When often it’s not much different. And I’m sure there are nightmare preschools too.

Primary school: whatever you like provided its school colours (blue & grey) and fit for lots of outdoor learning. (Big change)
High school: no blazer needed but rest of uniform required (easily bought from supermarkets)
Such a relief

Chankley - its hugely different in our area. Nearly all primary kit is from supermarket apart from jumper. Can be v v cheap.

Secondary - lotsnof school specific uniform, pe kit is expensive, regulation skirts, blazers... school blouses. Its do much more.

DS is going up to reception, needs logoed sweatshirt, a tie , and pe top in house colours, and a book bag. I was thinking of buying 3 sweatshirts as he still regularly gets food down himself

On the plus side he has very skinny feet that asda shoes fit perfectly so I save money there (Clarks shoes are all too wide on him)

I’m just waiting. Uniform is expensive and I’m
Not shelling out if there is a chance they won’t need it

@onemouseplace

All I know is if the schools do want them back in uniform in September, I dread to think how far the socially distanced queue for the uniform supplier will end up stretching the day before term starts!

Our school shop moved to online only. I just sent an email to the school yesterday asking for their thoughts but knowing their love of their strict uniform code it will be "Back to normal, full uniform".

DD definitely grew a lot so I will need new blazer, skirt and jumpers. Another £300 gone.

My son had new uniform in February, so he got a lot of wear out of that! There is no way the trousers/sleeves will be long enough so he’ll need new again for September.

They have a specific jumper and tie, the tie is £5 and the jumper £15, so they’re not at all expensive. The rest can be bought from the supermarket, M&S etc. As he is in reception and yr1 in September he has fresh uniform everyday anyway as he comes home looking like he has been in a tough mudder. I’m always quite impressed seeing as the school doesn’t have any grass or actual mud!