Primary School Coat?!

[Toomuchtooyoung01]

Am looking for a school coat for DD who starts primary school in September, was obviously wanting to get her one that’s warm and at least showerproof, and have found a really pretty one but it’s quite expensive (for me anyway) at £60. A friend who I was chatting to about this told me not to get a “nice” school coat as most children’s school coats get ruined or lost/stolen. I obviously get that young children can get their clothes muddy etc, but if it is very clearly labelled, will her clothes really get lost? And stolen?!
Is this a thing?!
So my question is basically, do other people buy cheap school coats for these reasons and am I being ridiculous to be thinking of buying a pricier one?
Thanks!

[badg3r]

I think it very much depends on the child and how responsible they are with their things. I buy good quality second hand, where we are they can literally be out in the rain for three hours so it has to be properly waterproof!

[QueenCuntyFlippers]

Crikey! We've never had a coat lost or stolen and I'm a teacher and that's never really happened in our school (some end up in lost property but never stolen!)

They do get chucked around, trodden on, left outside, etc. And they grow out of them quickly!

I like Next for coats, they're usually reasonable, warm and showerproof at least.

[Lockdownbear]

So far not had issue with stuff been lost or stolen but my DS wrecks coats. But he never takes it off.

Hoods get pulled, arms must get pulled too given where stitching has gone, I also suspect he runs his hand along walls resulting in holes in the sleeves.

They need two coats, one on, one in wash.
So school and weekend coats work for me.

My LO will be a different case, he feels the heat so is likely to take his off and dump it.

But bottom line, I wouldn't send either of them to school in a £60 coat. If it's really nice get a size big so you'll get two winters out it and use it for weekends.

[sallywinter]

Turn the sleeves inside out and write their name in sharpie down both of them.

Check when you wash that it hasn’t faded.

Labels can be snipped, I’ve also seen just a hole cut in one where the name had been written.

[Yubaba]

We used to buy Boden coats or Trespass ones,
Over 3 different kids at primary we only lost one coat, it was ‘replaced’ on ds peg with the same coat in a smaller size and grotty as fuck. I was raging as it was only a week old anyway we replaced it and we never lost another one.
I only have 1 left at primary and he never wears a coat, no matter how wet or cold it is, and the 2 at high school prefer fashion over practicality!

[PumpkinKlNG]

But mind you people steal anything that isn’t nailed down round here

[PumpkinKlNG]

I use to check the post property in my kids school regularly hoping his coat would turn up as I don’t have money to burn, they never did show up. People definitely do steal coats I think you are very naive if you don’t think people steal.

[Nat6999]

I always used to buy the next winter's coat in the Next January sales, never paid more than £15, ds had some lovely anoraks & parkas, all very warm & at least showerproof, I always bought the next size or two up as well to allow for growth.

[ChockysChild]

None of ours ever got lost or stolen or even trashed, and DC2 is pretty full on with clothes. They were fairly distinctive Boden ones (not so common in our area), which may have helped - second hand/hand me downs or bought in sales, I would never have paid full Boden prices.

[LadyMonicaBaddingham]

When term finished at my school there were THIRTEEN different coats on the lost property rail. None with names in, and several expensive brands. They were out in the playground at drop-off and pick-up for the final week of term, plus details were on the parent email newsletters and yet, nothing.

I wonder how many of those have been 'stolen'

[SuperCaliFragalistic]

My DD has lost a few coats. She hates wearing a coat (its a sensory thing - she would rather be cold and wet) but she has to take one or I get lectured by the teachers. So it gets kicked around the classroom a lot and discarded in the playground. She's also lost numerous cardigans, lunch boxes, PE items - you name it. My much more sensible DS though has never lost anything at school.

[LegoCaltrops]

Mountain Warehouse. Especially if you can get one in the sale. DD has pretty much only had their coats since she was out of the buggy. Very waterproof, they've got a couple of different styles, fleece jackets that fit inside if you want to go for one of those, different colours. Reasonable price. Machine washable (you might need to buy the stuff to re-waterproof them).

[StripyHorse]

My DCs never lost a coat, but they get dirty.
Even if your child is careful, they can get knocked off pegs and trodden on etc.

Usually got a supermarket coat or one in the sale.

I once left it too late to have much choice (child outgrew the coat part way through winter) and ended up with a white coat. That WAS a mistake!!

[DoucheCanoe]

I buy Trespass waterproof coats from eBay as they're good quality and stand up to the weekly washing after a day in the mud!

Just bought 8yo a wind/waterproof lightweight and a fleece lined winter one for less than £18 :)

Neither of my DC have lost jackets but sweatshirts/cardigans go wandering sometimes.

[Thadhiya]

Lost, damaged and yes - stolen. Some parents go through the lost property box and cut any nametags out.

Kids are rubbish at hanging them up so don't be surprised if it comes home covered in dirty footprints.

[VestaTilley]

My DS is too young, but I know my DNephew has got through quite a few coats at school - losing them and not being able to find them again seems more usual than theft, but it’s certainly not unheard of.

When we were growing up DM always got us good quality ones from M&S or Debenhams etc, as she wanted to ensure we’d be warm and dry, but they didn’t cost loads as we didn’t have much money. Nowadays it’d probably be Next or the supermarkets, but supermarkets barely did clothes back then.

It’s something I’ll bear in mind for when DS starts school - make sure all clothes are labelled with lasting ink or name tapes too.

[Porcupineintherough]

Mine always had warm, waterproof school coats. Not top of the range but not cheap and cheerful either. I labelled them with a sharpie and we never had one lost or stolen.

[BakewellGin1]

I always bought my oldest warm, waterproof coats from Asda for primary school and he would often have a second for out of school. I did try Next but DS said Asda ones were warmer.

Never had any lost or stolen despite being used as goal posts regularly and they washed well.

Second the name label AND permenant inked name inside somewhere.

Only thing DS ever lost was bloody lunch boxes or water bottles. Every day he was sent back in to find it.

[AfternoonToffee]

Is it too expensive if it got lost or ruined? Chances are it won't, but things happen.

[Whitewolf2]

We’ve only had one year of primary but nothing has been lost or taken, not even a cardi, can’t imagine a coat! Got a nice warm M&S coat which could be washed if needed (but only actually needed the odd wipe down) and we used for school and weekends so certainly worth the cost (think it was £30ish)

[Shesellsseashellsontheseashore]

My daughter has had Trespass Tiffy before and we've bought it again in bigger sizes, it's a good length to the knee, warm and most importantly for us, waterproof for walking to school.

It's available on various sites in different colours and often on offer. Currently on m&m direct for £14.99

[Rainallnight]

My DD had just finished Reception and nothing bad happened to her coat.

[NotFrozen]

I agree with pp- if they are sent out of the class with no coat, I would send them back in to get it. But the teachers have always been good at making sure they’re sent out with their coats on.

[NotFrozen]

Mine have never had a lost or stolen coat (year 1, reception and pre school). I bought Boden coats as they are weatherproof and warm, and I love the bright colours.

[sunshineandshowers40]

Make sure it is labelled and if the hood can come off label that too (we lost a hood for a few weeks but it turned up). Mine often came home in a coat identical to theirs but in the wrong size! I wouldn't spend £60 on a child's coat but I know people that do. We have had a few from next which were reasonable. 2 of mine are older now and never wear a coat 🤷🏽‍♀️