Primary School- Uniform/anything else.

[Disco2022]

DS starting Reception in September,
Having just had the place confirmed I'm just making a mental list of all the things to do. In terms of uniform I see lots of people saying "You don't need 5 shirts". I currently would reuse a t shirt if it got through the day clean, but I can barely remember a day that has happened in 4 years! Obviously a couple of pairs of trousers and jumpers should be sufficient, but surely you need a plethora of white shirts to get through the week? Can't see myself doing much midweek washing as single parent working full time. Most people must have at least 5 shirts surely?
Also is there anything else I need to make sure he can do before September? Toileting is pretty good. I'd say he's mostly average on speaking/counting etc.

5 shirts is definitely worth it to make life easier.

Can he use cutlery effectively? If he's having school lunches that will help him hugely.

Does he recognise his name when it's written down? For his peg, but also many EYFS classes use visual lists and boards for children to add their own name label to.

I did 5 polo shirts- just easier as I only do 1 white wash a week anyway.

He just needs to be practically ready- can he recognise and write his name. toileting yes, get dressed and undressed (pe) independently, put on shoes and coat, feed himself (open packets etc).

Ask for help if needed
Do up and undo his own coat
Put on shoes independently
Recognise name
Listen and take turns (most of the time)

We used proper nametapes and got them with a picture on, so DD could check the label had a cat and knew it was hers.
Proper nametapes in jumpers and coats really help things not to get permanently lost/stolen.

Definitely 5 polo shirts, and I'd say at least 3 jumpers and trousers/shorts. 5 year olds are bloody messy.

Work on independence in general, dressing and undressing for PE. Toileting alone. Easily changing shoes.

I’ve never reused a shirt. However, at that ages it’s common for them to go in sports kit rather than change at school on sports day. So you might find they’re not in the full school uniform everyday and you don’t need 5 shirts for that reason.

I agree that nametapes with a picture can really help. There are great companies that have stick on ones that really don't come off.

As I have 3 children and handed down school sweatshirts I only added our surname, luckily it's not common.

5 shirts
Both trainers and plimsolls for PE
winter coat
summer jacket
wellies
water bottle
school bag / book bag
Lunch bag

I always pack a full outfit in school bags in case of toileting accidents, including socks!

I'd hold off buying anything until you've heard from school. Turns out ours do PE twice a week, and the children wear PE kits all day on those days. So only 3 white tops needed!

I have a set of uniform for everyday for my children. The amount of dirt they come home with! Makes life easy for me as a working parent.

Is he in nursery? My daughter is also starting reception in September but has been doing the same school hours in the school nursery since last September so seems like she has been in school forever. She gets the 30 hours funding.
Basically, they have taught her all the skills needed for reception for e.g. shoes, socks, coats, circle time, toileting, washing hands, sharing, waiting for turns, having lunch in the hall etc. and I feel like she is really prepared for reception.

My son wasn't prepared at all for reception as he went to a childminder which was a very different setting than the school nursery but totally suitable for his needs at the time. Reception was a complete change for him and took him a long time to settle down.

Mine is in reception now, I bought 6 polo shirts (one per day plus one so if we’re away one weekend there’s already a clean one for the Monday). We don’t have much other white stuff so only do one light load a week.
We usually get through the week fine with 3 skirts/pinafores and 2 school cardigans. Occasionally I have to wash a cardi mid-week.

Having a good grip on his pencil will also help. As will knowing how to use a pencil sharpener. Recommend getting 5 -6 shirts at least - we do one wash at end of week to do all school uniform. Also meant had spare in case of loss/ damage. Had 2 jumpers and 2 pairs trousers - although 1 of each would usually last the week now, in reception they can be a little messier with food / snot on the sleeves etc. No way did I have time to try and do a mid week wash.At reception, think we only used to have book bag with a water bottle in (make sure he can use one/open it easily and that it doesn't leak when closed and in the bag). Sunhat if sunny (still can be warm in sep). And name label everything. I like stickins as they can go in shoes and on water bottles/ lunch boxes too. maybf practice getting changed for pe speedily. Some schools now have the reception kids wear pe kit all day for those days (but not all do).
And remember the obligatory photo of first day at school. Ours also did staggered start, so shorter days for first few weeks. Morning only, afternoon only, over lunchtime (10-2) for example. See if you can get details ASAP as may need to amend work hours to fit around it. Ours only did 2 weeks, but some schools stagger all way up to end of first term.

Being able to recognise his name and be responsible for his own things will make a big difference. Get him to practice putting things in and out of his book bag, and make sure he can open any food pots you use.

Its a good idea to teach how to get coat sleeves and other clothes the right way round, and they often get turned inside out vendors if they don’t have to change at school for PE.

Draw a face in his shoes to help him know which feet they go on and name absolutely everything!

5 tops mix of polo's and shirts depending on PE and the school.

5/6 pairs of trousers unless they are a shorts wearer. My oldest went through 10 pairs of trousers the year he started school 😳

School shoes and indoor shoes (plimsolls or trainers)

My oldest wears his big jacket so couple of jumpers does him. LO tends to wear his jumpers more which actually keeps his tops cleaner.

You know your own kid.
I'd start with
5 tops
5 bottoms mix of shorts / trousers
3 jumpers
1 jacket.

Once you are into the term you can see what you need. The big shops stock uniform all year round you can always pick up more.

Labels for water bottles and every other thing possibly nameable.
(and some nit lotion..)

I normally had 4, and then kept one for "best" (eg school picture day). I was washing at least 3 times a week, so 3 worked well changing every day.
2 pinafores for the girls and 4 summer dresses, 3 pairs of shorts for ds.
3 jumpers/cardies.

I’ve got five of everything - makes life a lot easier because it means no midweek washing. Never ever has either of my children got through a whole day with clean clothes!

You’ll probably need a little bag with spares - even if no wee accidents there can be water play etc. I tend to stick non-uniform clothes in the spares bag - just plain joggers or leggings and a top.

you’ve had lots of advice on other skills etc. I’d only add wiping their own bum - going to focus on that particular joy with my youngest this summer.

Also, you can ask the school if they keep any second hand stuff or if the PTA organised swaps or anything. Our school has a huge amount of handmedown stuff and could kit some people out pretty much free.

After 3 kids and much trial and tribulations we're massive converts tonstamptastic name stamps, plus a black and white laundry marker (found Artline to be the best). Stamp collars, every tag you can find. Marker inside of coats and jumpers. Anywhere you can stick their name get it in.

Oh yeah the staggered start is 3 weeks! I'm a teacher so nightmare today get time off, but luckily I have a few friends in the same situation and an understanding headteacher.
Yeah he's in nursery 3 days a week at the moment and they are great in making sure most of the independent things are practiced, just want to make sure I'm supporting too!
Weirdly, he's been refusing to put on his own shoes at home and I went in to pick him up from nursery the other day and he witnessed him doing it all himself!

Thanks for all the ideas, I imagine I will come back to this over the next few months!

Didn't think of cutlery, definitely doing school dinners for ease, Will start working on that! Currently a bit worried about how long he takes to eat (sometimes still daydreaming his way through dinner after 45 mins) but I think he probably eats faster in a group setting, nursery haven't said anything.

You could get away with a couple of uniforms if you never give them yoghurt in their packed lunch in my experience

Oh stamptastic stamps look great. He has an annoyingly long surname which almost doesn't fit! I have some old school ones to sew on, but I got bored doing that for nursery and just sharpie everything now!

In reception we pretty much needed a full clean set of uniform everyday, they are playing in sand/mud/gloop god knows what else... and they seem to have beans for school dinners every other day as well!
We've needed much less in Y1, but I still do a clean tshirt and tights every day for my DD and just change pinnie/skirt and cardi/swearshirt when she's got it grubby! I bought the same amount of school uniform as last year and wish I hadn't... they're at their desks a lot more in Y1 and (much to DD's constination) only have two playtimes, so not much chance to get too filthy!

Is it an unusual surname? We have a double barrelled surname that nobody else will ever have, so I just got the surname on the stamp, that way I can use it for both children - and anything decent enough to hand down will already be pre-labelled for the little one!