School shoes - shops closed

[CoRhona]

Is it just me who didn't realise Clarks and Sports Direct are both temporarily closed?? Had to order online and pay next day delivery (shoes falling apart, only told this morning ) but obviously hoping size is correct.

AIBU to think actually school shoes should be on the essentials list?!

This was us last week with walking boots. (Not for going walking, just for 1 school lesson a week) sports direct to the rescue, I also got myself a much needed pair of trainers for work and am now the proud owner of a free sports direct bucket mug.

Lol at the posters desperately picking fault with the OP.

How did you not notice during your daily shoe cleaning and maintenance rituals!? Why is there not enough pairs to see your DC through to adulthood?

I have been grabbing them from eBay. My daughter went from a size 2 to a 4 over the summer (she's 9). At least if they don't first well they are cheap and you can just get another pair.

Fit well, I meant.

Clarke's outlet is online and much cheaper than Clarke's shops. They have school shoes on there for sale.

@tigger001

If they are old enough to clean their own shoes, surely they still don't need their feet measuring ?

It was widely know about this lockdown and yes, I did expect the shops you name to be closed, as they were in the last lockdown but you had enough notice to go and buy some.

What nonsense, I cleaned my shoes when at primary school and so did my DCs.

I said this at the weekend whilst walking past a shut shoe shop. Absolutely essential especially when you have dc and strict uniform rules.

Oh and I also have a dc who likes to tell me in the morning that his shoes/clothes need replacing.

Last month he got really stroppy five minutes before he had to leave for school as apparently his coat felt tight...it looked fine. I apologized that there wasn't a sports direct at the end of the garden and he would have to wait a whole day for a new one!

My mum would have struggled to buy shoes for me during this lockdown. I had very difficult feet when I was a child and always dreaded shoe shopping, often we had to go multiple stores and try on more than 10 pairs. Buying shoes in advance was not really an option.

YANBU. Shoes are essentials.

@formerbabe I don't understand why British schools can't relax their uniform rules a bit when so many parents and children are struggling.

@mooncakes

I have my own gauge and buy online. Their feet haven't dropped off yet. To be honest I reckon I'm just as competent as the Clarks Saturday girl.

I would agree with this. I dont know how much training the Clark's shoe fitters get, but it doesnt seem to be much. I've taken my daughter in and had her measured but they didnt have a style I liked, so I took her to a different shop (also clarks) later the same day and they were measured as a different size. More recently she was measured as an 8.5 which sounded huge to me. I bought her some size 8s from the Clark's outlet. Took them in for a "fit check" and was told they had plenty of growing room. An 8.5 would have been far too big.

Do you not regularly clean their shoes?
Judging by the responses on here I'm a sucker as I use old fashioned shoe polish on my kids' shoes every night!

DS hasn’t had his feet measured in a shop since he was 11. He can tell if shoes fit/feel comfortable and I checked round the ankles/toes.

If not sure of size I would order two or three pairs snd return the ones that don’t fit. I usually buy DS his trainers online now. We don’t have a uniform so they are his every day footwear. He is 14 and size 11!

Sorry but yabu to think the rules shouldn’t apply to shoe shops!

Our M&S non food area is open - including school clothes. And supermarkets, as has been suggested.
My kids feet stopped growing around 13/14.

Sorry but what a panic over nothing. Log on, but 2 different sizes and send back the ones you don't want. No need for a drama and certainly not need to pay so much for next day delivery. Surely you would have noticed before if the shoes were so bad.

Choose same style as current pair and buy next size up online. That's what we did. No stress.

In reply to the pp asking about the training for fitting shoes.

When I was a Saturday girl, and summer holiday worker through 6th Form and Uni, I used to work in Brantano. They used to sell both Clarks and Hush Puppies fitted children's shoes, and I had to be trained on measuring and fitting both brands (Clarks regularly come up about half a size smaller than most other brands).

Each training course was 6 hours, including practices, and we then had to have the first 50 pairs of shoes we fitted double checked. We then got our certificates, and could wear pin badges to show that we were 'qualified fitters'.

Now, this was back in the early 2000's, but my younger sister had to to the same, when she went to work there in the 2010's.

All the people saying 'buy from supermarket'
In our supermarket they've barricaded off the upstairs where all clothes & shoes are. (We're not in Wales)

Haven't all supermarkets done that?

clarks have a virtual fitting service via zoom
they also have several less expensive delivery options rather than "next day"
If you use their click and collect service, there is the option of booking a fitting for children's shoes.

• supermarket options.

Apparently supermarkets are expected to close access to non essential goods where it's a separate floor, but not if integrated into the main shopping area.

All the posters saying "just order online", "just buy from a supermarket" etc clearly have no idea what it is like to have a DC with non-standard feet. Children's shoe shops are definitely essential ime. Even Clark's don't make shoes mine can wear (they told me so when we went to get measured), let alone Asda. The local independent with trained fitters and a range of specialist fits (and no website) is the only place we can go. It was a bloody nightmare when they were closed during the first lockdown.

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay

Apparently supermarkets are expected to close access to non essential goods where it's a separate floor, but not if integrated into the main shopping area.

Our local supermarket has a separate upstairs where clothes and electrical items are sold (i.e. non essentials). This week they have 25% off clothes i.e. the opposite of what you suggest - actively encouraging people to go up there! So they clearly missed the memo.

I just don't get it. Who decided children's clothes are not essential? In winter. Children grow! They don't decide to hang on and grow later after lockdown.

Completely agree that kids clothing and shoe shops are essential - much more so than take out coffee or off licenses. Some independent children’s shoe shops in our area have been providing support with fitting via telephone etc.

I've found myself in a similar situation. DD is in reception so was told they wouldn't need pumps for pe until the new year in January.
Last week her teacher let me know she needs pumps but I've been unable to get her size in Asda and our local shoe store ( wynsors) is closed due to lockdown.
I've now ordered a few different sizes online and will just return the others once stores open. She's been wearing Clarks shoes and I've found shoe sizes vary store to store hence the different sizes.
Our nearest Asda very rarely have all the sizes in their George department ( clothing and shoes) so I do think shoe shops should be classed as essential

Not just school shoes, I am 70, and have rheumatoid arthritis, which in spite of ferocious medication, has deformed my ankle joint, I wear down the outside of any shoes within 6 months, meaning .I cannot walk as they do not support my foot enough. Because of bulky corrective insoles and painful feet, I really need to try shoes on, I have bought various trainers on line recently, which have been unsuitable. Shoes are a necessity. I need to be able to walk to ensure I do not lose what limited mobility I have!