Starting school in September, how much uniform do kids need?

[Wonderwalk]

Hi, it’s admission day for primary school today. It got me wondering when looking at the uniform, how much will I need to buy? I’m happy to buy supermarket trousers nad shorts but would like to buy the branded jumper and t shirts. I only tend to do washing at the weekend but could do one midweek wash, how many of everything do you think I would need? Thanks

Sorry, meant to quote @Twizbe

@MaryBoBary

But I wouldn't over-but with a full set every day. It is wasteful, uniform is expensive and they will last the school year OF YOU ARE LUCKY!

Everything, except trousers in sizes 4 to 8, lasted DS two years, I bought the 5, 8, and 10 in everything else. Average sized child.

DS starts reception in September, but gose to the schools nursery, which also wear uniform. We have:

3x jumper (logo)
6x trousers (1 a day pluse stair in bag)
11x polo (2 weeks to make white wash load, plus spare)
School shoes
Plimsolls (in bag with spare clothes)
Wellies (left at school)
Coat
Book bag (logo)
Back pack (logo option, DS's isn't)

For next year it will be the same but with a pe kit added. The trousers will need replacing but the polo's might still fit. The jumpers will probably do another year, but I'll get 2 more in the next size as well so he has one a day. For a less messy kid 3 would probably do, buy I'm anticipating dinner been spilt down it daily once he's eating at school.

DS1 needed a full set of clean everything every day. Nursery had managed to keep him far cleaner so I was caught out and had to buy more pronto.

So that makes x5 jumpers per week (1x per day) plus another 4 to randomly leave around the school site/ swap with friends etc If you work FT and don't get on to the school site, it's best to play safe and buy 40 to cover an 8 week term

The other items should be x1 per day and come home on the child or at least swapped over during PE.
They don't swim until juniors although that still throws up some interesting wardrobe malfunctions

Thanks for the tips about plain polos instead of branded, will have to check the uniform policy and see if that’s ok seems that would definitely work in winter when they have their jumpers on.

5 polo shorts
5 jumpers - 1 branded and 4 plain
3 trousers
5 dark socks
School shoes
Plimsoles
PE kit and PE bag
Book bag
Water bottle
Wellies - When my DC were in Yr R there was a lot of all weather outdoor play and I had to provide wellies for them to keep in school so might be worth checking with school.

I bought 6 pairs of trousers, it might just be my boy but he goes through the knees even if they’re reinforced. The more trousers, the less he wears each pair, the more likely they are to last until he grows out of them.

DC’s have 5 polo shirts ( mix of logo & m&s own brand).
3 sweatshirts/cardigan (daughter prefers cardigan).
Dc1 has 3/4 pairs of trousers.
Dc2 has 2 skirts & 2dresses.
5x tights.
Pe kit ( bought twin packs so two of each item).
Just purchased 2x shirts for Dc1 and 4 dresses for Dc2.

Plenty of socks.
I have 2 other dc, and dc3 starts in September so they get a mix of siblings uniform and some newer pieces. Most is in good condition as little wear with lockdown.
Dc1 is quite messy with yoghurt at lunchtime and Dc2 is a rarely dirty. One of DC’s friends has little uniform and they wash it most evenings. (not a financial thing just there preference, couldn’t cope with washing that regularly).

DS needed enough for fresh clothes almost every day for most of primary, he would come home filthy! The logo jumpers were pricey so we usually had three on the go (so actually two, because most of the time one was missing/ left on the school field/ taken home by another child/ on his peg the whole time but somehow he couldn't find it) and I'd have to make sure they were washed and ready to wear again. The rest was just supermarket stuff.

DD wasn't as mucky so didn't need as much uniform.

Controversial, but I didn't want to have any midweek panics so I bought...
5x t-shirts
5x jumpers/cardis
5x trousers
Plus two pairs of shorts.
All the identical grey socks.

I originally had one PE kit but this year they wear it all day twice a week so I had to buy a second kit, but it's simple and cheap so it's not a biggie.

My kids always seem to be filthy so I’ve got loads of uniform, but I only wash and iron it at weekends. Ds has shorts x6 (come in packs of 2), x6 polo tops, x5 school branded sweatshirts (not allowed plain ones). Dd has x5 pinafores/summer dresses, x6 polo tops, x5 school branded cardigans. I know some people will probably find this excessive but they need clean uniform each day and this makes my life easier.

The branded stuff is really not expensive (unless it's a private school). Jumper would be about £8 and t-shirts around £5.

7 sets 1 at school for accidents, 1 for spare at home and 5 for each day of the week. One summer shoes, one trainers, one plimsoles or just trainers again, winter ankle boots.
Cardi or school blazerd x3

Most schools sell second hard uniform - ours is all 50p a piece (PTA sell it - it's a bit like a loaning library, to give them what your kids grow out of and pick up the next size). That's for the logo's stuff - the rest is Amazon, supermarket, eBay.

We used to get away with 2-3 complete sets of uniform a week but with covid it was suggested fresh every day if possible, and two days is pe kits anyway...

Branded polo here is £8. Jumper £15. Standard state primary school. I consider that expensive though I understand why it costs more. Unsurprisingly most parents buy plain ones from supermarkets - I can get a two pack of polos from Asda for £2.50 and two jumpers for £4 and it’s actually better quality and washes better than the logo stuff.

I think 3 polo shirts and 2 jumpers or cardigans is enough.

And then 3 trousers or skirts/pinafores.

But no way are mine getting a clean set every day! I don’t find they get too filthy, nothing that can’t be sorted with a wipe with a damp cloth in the morning. But mine do go to a school with a relaxed uniform policy and relaxed parents.

Six sets. One for every day, plus a spare for if we are away at the weekend and can’t do a wash.

Mine are a little older now so have various sets depending on what has been grown out of etc. Says six minimum though - we both work full time and even working at home can’t guarantee being on top of the washing.

Definitely a set for every day if you don’t want to be doing a midweek wash. Also teach your child to fold their clothes nicely when changing for PE. We’re always seeing WhatsApp messages from mums saying they’ve got another child’s uniform.

Check your school’s policy re PE kit. We take ours in and it stays there all term. Also see if you can check what they actually do for PE as to whether to buy plimsoles or trainers. I got trainers instead and although they’re much more expensive, I feel happier with trainers as they’re much more supportive and they do a lot of running outside.