School coat for reception starter - any ideas?

[ActonBell]

DS is a late spring baby and so will be one of the younger ones in the coming year. He has a coat with poppers for nursery that he can do up and undo himself. He struggles with zips.

I’m looking for 2 coats for the coming year because he’s nearly grown out of his current one - a lighter weight (but not too flimsy) waterproof and a winter coat. Can’t find one that does up with poppers. Does he just need to practice zips more?

Any recommendations for a not-too-expensive coat good for starting school? No restrictions on colour but obviously needs to be something hard wearing.

Really grateful for any recommendations.

Regatta Dover.
Waterproof outer, fleece inner.
Red and navy
Chunky zip and poppers and Velcro. Elastic sleeves.
Roll out hood is easy to get out for little fingers though harder to put away.

Try a duffel coat for winter. My 5 and 4 year olds love theirs and can both handle the toggles

Charity shop.

My DC always had polarn o pyret coats at that age, the quality is next to none. Definitely needs to practise zips.

I found half the reception boys had very similar coats and they often ended up in each others! So go for a nice distinctive colour or pattern.

We bought a duffel coat for our DS, for the winter. It was similar to this one from GAP.

Look out for ones with nice chunky zips, they are much easier for small fingers to link together and do up.
Some good brands to look at are JoJo Maman Bebe, Hatley, Lands End and Frugi.

DD is only 2 but like a PP we have found Polarn o pyret coats really hard wearing- she’s had 2 now that were both secondhand and have worn really well- properly waterproof too. There’s usually quite a few on eBay. They do waterproofs which can popper-in a fleece or puffa jacket, and thicker insulated ski/winter coats.

I think the most important thing is to get a coat that he recognises as definitely his when it ends up in the lost property pile!

We've always had mountain warehouse coats, good quality and reasonably priced

Can i just add , please buy a bright coat with reflective strips, so much easier for them to be seen

M and a do a lovely 3 in 1 coat

@Bimblybomeyelash

I think the most important thing is to get a coat that he recognises as definitely his when it ends up in the lost property pile!

Having had children, I can promise you that it's perfectly possible for a kid to insist their coat isn't in there and 'isn't anywhere' when it's the only bright red one in a sea of pink and mauve. And their name tape is an inch thick and sewn into the lining.

Another reception teacher here - I'd be overjoyed aslong as he can put it on and off and put the sleeves the right way out when he's taken it off inside out!

I do my zips as I go along the line and count them when they're lining up, so I have it down to an art

Spend your time teaching him how to put gloves on as putting 30 sets of tiny gloves on makes me a bit stabby

Another vote here for mountain warehouse. Have used them since nursery. DD is 9 & I think next year we’ll need to get her a size 6/8 ladies version (she’s very tall). Still mountain warehouse though.

I brought my 3 Yr old a zip one. Always had had zip ones. Didn't think about pre school. Within a day she managed to my suprise to master the zip. So that was a bonus.sje now likes to do all our zips

My DS was young for his year too, and I got him a duffel coat so it was easy for him to manage.

Another recommendation for Mountain Warehouse. I've bought their waterproof coats for the DCs all through primary and now into high school. Really good value reductions/sales as well. Postage/returns can put the price up a bit though. The reviews and size guides usually give me a reasonable idea of which size/age to order though.

I'd just get him to practise zips. Make sure the fabric is thick enough to not get caught in the zip. DS wore zipped sweatshirts for school at four (overseas, no coat) and children would just help each other if they were struggling.

Duffle coats are lovely, DD had two, but they aren’t practical when they are out in the playground in all weather or you walk to school in the rain.

Unless it was pouring down DD’s school always let them out to run of steam in the breaks.

Depending on how the school is set up, your will also have some forest school thrown in and for that a duffle coat is absolutely wrong.

I find a big or chunky zip is easier for little hands so I'd look for that.

And reflective panels.