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.

The thing that caught me out was DS1 growing significantly at Xmas and nobody had uniform available (even online it was a three week wait). So now I buy the next size up as part of my summer uniform order, name it all and put it away. Then when they shoot up at the least convenient moment I have uniform available!

5 shirts is a good idea, polo shirts are cheap anyway. A couple of pairs of trousers, pack of socks and a couple of school jumpers should be sufficient. Primary school is the cheapest time for uniform, I really do miss it! My eldest is at secondary now and everything has to have a logo so his uniform sets me back £300 every year.

Keep one white polo back as they have school photos in November. That way he can wear a new white one on photo day then it just gets added into the drawer.

Mine is in reception now and they need a full clean set of uniform every day (I just wash it on a weekend, no time midweek). We wouldn't get by with 2 or 3 sets as they come home filthy most days. Don't buy expensive stuff as it quickly gets stained. Sainsburys and Asda have really good and cheap school uniform available.

Great advice! Our school photos weren’t til January (right after half the class had chickenpox) and white board marker will not come off white polo shirts

I get more jumpers than shirts. They have to wear the jumper so the shirt stays clean but the jumper gets messy. Just depends how often you do a wash during the week

We had 5 of all, I work and just didn't have the time to spot clean or do a mid-week wash. You may want to get more socks than just 5 pairs, somehow DD always lost a pair.

Other practical requirements you will get from school in a couple of weeks.

Your child should be able to sit quitely for a story. He should be able to ask an adult for help and be able to go to the toilet independently. Get him easy to put on shoes. If he will have packed lunch see that you get boxes he can open himself. Same with a water bottle.

Recognising his name is vital in a sea of 30 identical bags and clothes. If they aren't strict on coats, then get one from an outdoor shop, ideally not in dark and one which has velcro in addition to zips as they can be tricky in the beginning.

I'm a primary school teacher. I would say the most important things for him, in terms of getting him ready for school...

Confidence in using the toilet independently.
Using cutlery.
Simple dressing amd undressing - can he use zips? Buttons? Put his own socks on?
Can he sit and listen to a story?
Do you talk about the stories? Who did what? How does he think they feel?
Does he know how to listen?
Can he follow simple instructions?
Does he know to follow an adult's instructions?
Do you talk to him? Can he speak in full sentences? Children have to be able to think and speak in sentences before they can write them.
What are his gross and fine motor skills like? Get him outside drawing in the mud with sticks to strengthen his arm/shoulder muscles as these help with pencil control and writing.
Can he open his water bottle? The contents of his lunch box?
Does he know to ask adults for help if he is struggling with something?

Lone parent here too.
In reception and year 1, we had 5 jumpers, 6 shirts and 6 trousers. In year 2, I think that due to lockdowns etc, we got by with 3 sets of jumpers and trousers, but 6 shirts (was cheaper to buy 6), . I'm year 3 we're just about managing with 2 pairs of trousers and 4 jumpers, 6 shirts.

6 sets meant that if we had a busy weekend I usually had a spare set ready for the next week.