AIBU or Does this sound about right for first year of school uniform

[userchanger]

Does this list sound about the right amount for first year of school uniform for a child?

1 school bag
1 lunch box
1 pencil case
1 water bottle
1 school book bag
1 school gym bag
2 pairs of gym shorts
2 school polos for gym
1 hoodie for gym
1 pair gym shoes
1 pair of school shoes
1 school waterproof fleece lined jacket
1 school blazer
1 school tie
6 school shirts
4 school pinafores
1 school skirt
5 cardigans
5 pack knee high socks
5 pack white frill socks
3 pairs of tights

I think it depends how often you laundry...i usually do a dark load every day for example, so jumpers and trousers can easily be washed as needed. I do whites maybe once a week so will be buying 5x shirts to make sure there is one for each day

1x PE kit, lunch box and book bag etc

I can’t imagine anything worse than kids trotting around with a pencil case in all the areas of continuous provision! Surely they just lose everything whilst they’re playing. It’s enough of a pain in year 2 and 3 when they’re sat at tables most of the day!

Maybe it’s a budget thing if they give you a list. I’ve never worked in an English school that didn’t provide equipment.

We need a pair of wellies for forest school too.

I'd not buy everything all in one go, as 3 weeks in their best friend will wear trousers with a heart on the pocket or some nonsense and they'll want to wear the same! Quite disheartening when you have a wardrobe full of M&S pinnys

You only need a book bag not a school bag as well. At my DD's school they all have book bags in Infants and backpacks in Juniors. You won't need a pencil case in Primary - all stationery is supplied. You might not need the PE bag as since Covid they just wear their P.E kit all day. They wear trainers rather than plimsolls as all P.E is outside. You might want joggers for colder days. I personally would not get a school coat as easier to lose as they all look the same! I also think blazers and ties are ridiculous for small DC. Hardly suitable for lots of outdoor play, messy play etc that happens in Infants! 5 shirts should be enough with 3 or 4 pinafores/skirts. 3 cardigans is enough. In September my DD always goes back in a Summer dress. I would get more socks and tights if anything like my DD's they vanish. I'd get 10 pairs of each. Just the knee-high and tights for Autumn term. Get the short socks for Summer term.

Oh and what about swimming kit?

Swimming isn’t till year 4 in our school

'I can’t imagine anything worse than kids trotting around with a pencil case in all the areas of continuous provision!'

They have lockers so I assume the pencil cases stay there, in school bags, until needed.

The older ones (where they have chairs, so from year 1 I think?) have a special bag that hangs on the back of their chair for them to keep all their crap in and keep the tables clear.

I imagine it is 100% budget related, yes.

'You won't need a pencil case in Primary - all stationery is supplied.'

This is not true for all schools. I'm sure the OP's school will provide a list of things they need....maybe pencil case was on that list. It is at my DC's school.

Sounds like a very different school to any of the ones I’ve worked in. Lockers are even stranger for Reception kids. When I’ve taught reception they couldn’t even keep track of their coat on a peg! They’ve occasionally had a tray but not even that where I work currently.

We have provision until middle of year 2 though, so not formal at all. I guess it just shows all schools are different and reading the website is a must.

1 school bag -yes

1 lunch box - yes ,school lunches are free at that age so you might want to try that

1 pencil case - did your school ask for one? Most school don't want them on the premises.

1 water bottle - yes

1 school book bag - one bag is enough

1 school gym bag- yes

2 pairs of gym shorts - one pair is enough, better off getting a pair of tracksuit bottoms for winter

2 school polos for gym - one top is enough

1 hoodie for gym- yes

1 pair gym shoes - yes

1 pair of school shoes -yes

1 school waterproof fleece lined jacket - do they have to be school ones? Otherwise just her own winter coat is enough

1 school blazer - is that necessary if they also wear cardigans?

1 school tie- yes

6 school shirts - depends on the kid , mucky ones might need 3/4 . 6 is a bit much.

4 school pinafores - same as shirts.

1 school skirt - yes

5 cardigans -too many , and there's a blazer too? 2 should suffice.

5 pack knee high socks
5 pack white frill socks
3 pairs of tights - you need more tights, especially in winter

Although they wear P.E kit twice a week to school so only school uniform 3x per week so could probably manage with 3 school shirts.

@PumpkinKlNG - really? They do it from reception here.

My little one is just finishing reception. I went for 6 full sets of uniform (5 for the week and 1 for spare bag at school - which has been on the peg all year and never worn!). I couldn't get more than 1 day out of a jumper, they are always covered in something.... I got 2 pe kits which I didn't need as she didn't start pe until summer term and only once a week then! I do wash quite often through the week so could probably have got away with a set less.
She doesn't need a tie or blazer until next year but I still think I'll need min 2 as I'm expecting spillage !
We haven't used the rucksack in reception, book bag has been adequate.

Yes only year 4 in our school for 6 weeks UndertheCedartree

Also, of okay to gatecrash - any recommendations for non-iron shirts? I HATE ironing!
Have found m and s and John Lewis non-iron skirts are genuine non-iron!

'Lockers are even stranger for Reception kids. When I’ve taught reception they couldn’t even keep track of their coat on a peg!'

I think that's why they were introduced! It used to be pegs in the infants, lockers for the juniors, but the corridor was too messy with coats/jumpers/bags/pencil cases/PE kits/lunch boxes everywhere so now everyone has a locker and all their stuff goes in there, corridor is tidy and less stuff gets lost (ime anyway!).

'I guess it just shows all schools are different and reading the website is a must'.

This is the moral of this thread!

Way too much

They don't need a bag and a book bag, 2-3 sets is fine, 5 shirts though. Guessing private and they might have additional requirements

@Dishwashersaurous

I’m really intrigued why anyone would think that they need more school shirts than days of the week

Because they came in a pack of six, and wouldn’t accept me returning one on its own?

Also it’s handy to keep one ‘packet white’ for picture day, a spare to go into rotation when they get Bolognaise/whiteboard pen down the front of one.

@Peppallama - at my DD's school pencil cases are specifically banned due to Covid. They have their own school pencil case in their class provided by school. Interesting how differently schools do it.

Assuming it's a state primary - won't require a pencil case.

White socks are the work of the devil - Recommend black or grey. That or invest weekly in vanish for colours. They come back a really yukky colour.

Have you not had a supplies list?

'Assuming it's a state primary - won't require a pencil case.'

This is not always true. My DC are at a state primary that requires them to bring a pencil case.

You need a name label for the bottle. Ditto shoe labels. Buy a sharpie multipack - they're your best friend.

Order woven name labels and label everything - even the child
hehe

Guarantee stuff will walk irregardless.

@NuffSaidSam - Covid 19 guidelines have stated they mustn't be in school - they aren't easily disinfected. Our Head of Public health for the county stated this as did the NEU

@NuffSaidSam - I didn't realise that. I know our school would never ask for this as they are very inclusive and wouldn't want DC disadvantage d because their parents couldn't afford the stationery. My DD's school provides each pupil with their own pencil case and stationery since Covid - before it was in a shared pencil pot per table.

www.thesun.co.uk/news/11639255/kids-lunchbox-school-pencil-case/