To buy school shoes now

[Sevendaysinaweek]

We've got to go to Clarks today as DD has outgrown her trainers and she needs something to wear the rest of the holidays.

Given it's still a month until she starts back at school, would it be silly to get her school shoes now? I like the idea of not having to go back there again in the manic end of holiday rush. How fast do a five year old's feet grow?

Watching with interest.

You can look for deals. Just buy the next size up. Marks and Spencer do 20% offers and their school shoes are better than clarks IMO.

But what if they arent in the next size up within a month?

I was thinking of going maybe half a size up. Clarks do a specific rubber toe shoe which I like as DD scuffs her shoes badly.

She'll wreck her school shoes wearing them in the hols.

Measure her feet properly today.

She didn't say she'd be wearing the school shoes in the holidays, she is buying trainers too

We have less than 2 weeks of holiday left! Time has flown past this year. Got dds shoes yesterday but her feet have stayed the same size from last year

I think if you buy half a size up, she will be fine. Polish them up before the start of term

Yes she won't be allowed to wear them until school starts!

I've already bought dd her school shoes for Sept and she'd predictably only grown half a size since last August so I'm fairly confident they'll be fine. Ds had new ones at Easter and hasn't outgrown them yet so will be going back in them.

Do children really grow half a size in a few weeks?

I got my DD's Clarks shoes last week - it was bliss; no queues. She is 5 and her foot hadn't grown from last school year so on the advice of the employee I just went up half a size.

In our local shoe shop they recommend you buy school shoes early on in August as there is more choice. As long as they aren't worn (they measure them with an extra half size if they think it might be needed), but will exchange them if they are too small. Clarks should do similar if you ask.

You get 28 days for a refund or swap so as long as she doesn't wear them before school starts it shouldn't be an issue.

Keep the receipt, don't wear them and take back within 28 days. Simple!

I used to work in Clarks and did many back to school periods, I would say get them now keep them un worn with your receipt and put them on her at the end of August. If they look or feel tight at all (check this as new shoes can often feel tight) check this by pressing on the toe and feeling where her toe is (we leave a thumbs space for growing room). If they feel a bit snug go in and exchange them. You can even ring up and book an appointment for a certain day and you will be served straight away. That was the advice I gave to customers when they had to come in for trainers and such earlier in the holidays

We have a week and a half left of the holidays here. There has been no manic queues anywhere, in fact the shops and school sections have been really quiet this year. Maybe everyone is waiting until next week to panic!

Clarks let you swap them for a bigger size if needed within 28 days, just don't wear them outside. I fit childrens shoes for a living and 3-4 weeks before school starts is fine, its rare they grow that much in a short time.

Thanks all, keeping the receipt is a good idea!

I got my DD's school shoes a fortnight ago, it's a fortnight til she goes back. I've always bought them about a month in advance because there's no way her feel will grow so much in that time. That said- and this is probably an important caveat- she probably only wears her school shoes until October and then she's in boots until march so I only expect about 2 months wear from her shoes, I usually buy a new pair in the spring.

Also it's hard to say how much their feet grow at certain ages but generally for 5-7 we were told about 3-5 months. That's why shoes are fit with a thumbs growing room and your receipt is eligible for 3 months if you need an exchange if they get wrecked etc because generally 3 months is the expected. However some children grow quickly and some slowly!

Why don't you book an appointment at Clark's just in case?

Given it's still a month until she starts back at school, would it be silly to get her school shoes now? I like the idea of not having to go back there again in the manic end of holiday rush. How fast do a five year old's feet grow?

I have 2 experiences which are relevant here:

1. Bought shoes in early August. DS had growth spurt, ended up buying new shoes a month into the autumn term;

2. Bought DS1 & DS2 fancy-pants Geox school shoes in early August. Shoes were looking shabby quite early in but started to gradually drop to bits in earnest after October half term. Took them back to John Lewis in early Nov to complain. JL have a 3 month grace period for kids' school shoes, so early purchase meant we were just outside the 3 months limit - despite them only having 2 months' wear (first month boxed in wardrobe). Fortunately, the JL dept manager exercised her discretion and agreed to replacement shoes. Something to consider, though.

^ I should add that we bought DS1 Geox regularly when he was younger & they wore very well. The school shoes were obviously a bad batch/design as the soles were wearing through & coming away from the upper - both kids. We haven't bought Geox since - my feeling is that the quality has dropped.