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Original poster

School uniform... How many?

44 replies

YouAndMeAndThem · 10/05/2023 19:47

My daughter is starting school after the summer holidays. We have been sent a form to order school uniform, and I'm just wondering how many of each item to order?

We can use generic trousers, skirts, pinafores and polo shirts, but the school logo needs to be on a sweatshirt or cardi. Would you have a full set per day? Or rely on keeping up with washing and drying in the week? The cardigans are £13 each!!

OP posts:
BillyNoM8s · 10/05/2023 19:50

I'd do two of each i think, maybe 3. You shouldn't need to wash cardi/jumper every day unless she's a real grot Grin

BillyNoM8s · 10/05/2023 19:51

Shirts I always get from Asda. They can withstand the teens and they're cheap.

frostyfeb · 10/05/2023 19:53

Do you have a tumble drier ? I have 3 tops & two skirts / cardigans but I have a tumble drier and can easily wash & dry

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prawnring · 10/05/2023 19:53

We have two jumpers each kid. One in the wash and one on the child.

TheIsleOfTheLost · 10/05/2023 19:54

Endless clothes! Mine came home filthy and with lunch all down them every day in reception. Plus when it is warmer, the jumpers often don't make it home. No idea where they all end up. I don't understand how anyone manages with just a couple.

Original poster
YouAndMeAndThem · 10/05/2023 19:54

Yeah I'll definitely get polo shirts and pinafores from a supermarket!

See I have a full set of clothes per day for her at nursery but she's forever scrabbling around in the mud, sand, paint etc... Not sure how different Primary 1 will be 🙈

OP posts:
nurseynursery · 10/05/2023 19:55

I have a weeks worth so I don't have to be washing every night. 4 should do though. 3 isn't enough for me if one gets left at school or at the childminders or in the car.

Original poster
YouAndMeAndThem · 10/05/2023 19:56

frostyfeb · 10/05/2023 19:53

Do you have a tumble drier ? I have 3 tops & two skirts / cardigans but I have a tumble drier and can easily wash & dry

I do but not many supermarket clothes do well in a tumbler drier and definitely not cardigans

OP posts:
marriednotdead · 10/05/2023 19:56

Two cardigans, maybe a third in the next size up if you can stretch to it in the New Year or they haven't lost one

Nursemumma92 · 10/05/2023 19:56

I bought 2 branded for £14 each when my DD started reception last September and 2 from George at Asda in the uniform colour as spares. They will need a bag of a full set of uniform left at school so that's one just in there. They can't enforce the brands anymore so the unbranded are great for when I haven't got enough laundry to put a wash on just for her school cardi. She comes home every day with some of her lunch down the front or paint etc!

Original poster
YouAndMeAndThem · 10/05/2023 19:57

nurseynursery · 10/05/2023 19:55

I have a weeks worth so I don't have to be washing every night. 4 should do though. 3 isn't enough for me if one gets left at school or at the childminders or in the car.

This is my worry! And the school ask that P1s and 2s have a full set of spare clothes in their bags too! 6 sets!!!!

OP posts:
Skyeheather · 10/05/2023 20:02

How messy is your child? How often are you willing to do the laundry?

My DS comes home with his dinner down his school jumper and/or snot on the sleeves daily so I have 8 school jumpers with the logo on so I don't have to be doing a colours wash every other day.

Everything else I have 10 of each item as it just comes from the supermarket and it's cheap enough to have a pile of polo shirts. I have a younger DS who will wear them next so I'll get my money's worth.

LittleOwl153 · 10/05/2023 20:05

Do your spare set need to be uniform...if they do then I'd definately do plain jumper for that.

I had 5 full sets for mine when they started as they were both muck merchants. But then we didn't have to have badged uniform.

I'd do 5 full sets of the rest and risk 3 jumpers/cardigans. Especially if the jumpers can go in the dryer. 1 wash/dry/iron in the week is plenty to HAVE to do especially if you work full time and that is your current routine.

Tbh we still have 5 tops/trousers but cut down on jumpers in secondary... but I'm still not sure that works but I think it is more dependant on the child by then.

Sainsburys uniform has always worked well here - and dries well. However you can't beat John Lewis for tights. They are more expensive but the last so much longer!

WellTidy · 10/05/2023 20:05

I’ve always had five full sets per child. But my two could be really grotty. The odd jumper went missing occasionally, so I factored that in too. When I was working I would do a uniform wash once a week, but now that I’m not, I think I could get away with three full sets per child.

Skyeheather · 10/05/2023 20:07

You can always buy extra later on by ordering additional items yourself?

At DS school they send parents an order form once a year in May, you get quite a big discount because the school will be ordering a lot collectively and it's all delivered to the school to distribute so no postage costs either. We can also visit the school uniform shop in person anytime we like and they have a website where they often have offers. They usually do a big sale in October.

pinksummer · 10/05/2023 20:10

I'd be surprised if there wasn't a 2nd hand option. I'd have 2 new cardigans and 3 2nd hand. Mine always left them at school and would come home one night with 3 in a bag.

YerAWizardHarry · 10/05/2023 20:12

Just saw you saw P1, are you sure the jumper needs to be logo’d? I’ve never worked in or known a Scottish school to enforce this out with the private sector

Attictroll · 10/05/2023 20:14

I go for one 2 pack of trousers/ skirt. A 5 pack of polos/ shirts from supermarket and 2x logo jumpers. I always feel that if jumper gets mucky one can be quickly rinsed or they go without for a day. I look out for Sainsbury's offers on generic bits

icelollycraving · 10/05/2023 20:15

I always had many many sets for Ds. Probably minimum 10 of each. He was a bugger for losing everything and also had a lot accidents (medical issue) so my washing pile has always been immense.

marshmallowsforbreakfast · 10/05/2023 20:17

Reception I found messy with paint etc so I had 4 jumpers as they always loose then despite having name labels.

Wavingnotdrown1ng · 10/05/2023 20:17

You should be able to get good quality second hand / usually at the summer/ Christmas fairs or sometimes run after school by the PTA. I only paid for the first set of cardigans and jumpers new for infants and juniors - after that, I paid £1 for extra sets second hand.

Highfivemum · 10/05/2023 20:19

I have three of each. I can usually wash and dry in between if needed during the week. None of mine are get down in the mud DC so it does help.
I love what they do in France. One of my friends lives in northern France and says her DC have a large napkin each that they put on them round their neck at meal times. This is usually for the DC up until around 6 ish. This then comes home with them to wash when needed. Saved so much on lunch spillage on clothes.

voxnihili · 10/05/2023 20:19

We have a set for every day (plus a spare for the PE bag). I work full time and my daughter is a real grot bag.

alpacamaraca · 10/05/2023 20:21

I've found 3 jumpers/cardigans per child, 2 I struggled with.

2 skirts or pinafores (or shorts for boys)

1 trousers (boys and girls)

4 t shirts as they normally come in packs of 2

5 pairs of socks plus 3 tights for girls.

Invisimamma · 10/05/2023 20:21

I have always had six sets of everything. That way I have a set for everyday plus a spare and i get all the uniform washed and ironed at the weekend. Things usually come in a pack of 2 so hence the extra set.

Our school allows plain supermarket uniform though so it is really cheap to buy multiples. If the logo cardigans are quite expensive you would probably get away with having 3.

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