Becoming a school mum

[Ding3kids]

Hi had a look but couldn't see any similar posts. My eldest of 3 has just been given his primary school place. This is all new territory! Since become a mum I've lost all my spontaneity and like to be prepared or at least have a plan.
When should I be buying uniform? How much uniform does a 4 year old need? What else? Labelling everything even each sock? Tips for general school mum?

I got my DC's uniform in the summer holidays. Check delivery times but he could grow a bit between now and September.

Mine has three polo shirts / two sweatshirts / four trousers. She doesn't tend to chuck food down her so I didn't feel she heeded a change for each day.

I labelled everything except socks.

I waited to buy uniform until the summer holidays for dd1 & ds1 when they went up & will do this year for dd2 too (she'll only need shirts though as her sisters bits are still in great condition). 3 cardis/ jumpers, 3 skirts/ trousers/ 6 shirts (3x 2 packs, our school have white polos so it's useful to have spares)/ 1 pack each of grey tights & socks & 1 pack of white socks. Shoes we usually leave as late as possible & have never had issues with stock levels etc. I find M&S & Asda the lonest lasting for the unbranded items for my dc but I've heard others rate Tesco, Sainsbury, Aldi & Matalan too.

The shops normally bring out the new uniform lines just as they break up in July. Don't wait until September because they will have run out!

School should give you a uniform list, which will also include PE kit. You will need a PE bag and plimsolls. Most schools also sell their own bookbags.

How much uniform depends on your child/ how often you do the washing/ how easy it is for you to get stuff dry in the winter. My DD is really hard on clothes and has clean everything every day. We live in the SW where it rains a lot so she has probably 6 polo shirts (sold in packs of 2 at supermarket), 5 skirts/trousers, and 5 supermarket cardigans.

Supermarket uniform is really really cheap, and decent quality.

You will need to label everything, including shoes.

While dropping my 2 boys off at school my 4yo daughter pushed another child over... accidentally because she lost her balance on her new wheely shoes! First thing she done was say sorry to the other child.... the parent of the child felt it necessary to shout at my daughter and tell her off! What are people's thoughts on this

I've always written names on everything with a pilot laundry marker. Used labels on shoes/bottles.

If i can't write on the material i write on the laundry label

It's worth getting some summer uniform (shorts or dresses) as it can still be hot at the start of September. I got caught out by this when DD started and she was stuck in pinafores and polos when all the other girls were in gingham dresses.

Buy uniform at the start of the summer holidays/end of July. I bought uniform that had room to grow into as they generally wear winter uniform up until the Easter break.
I used iron on labels which I ordered online. They have a pink butterfly as well as DD's name so that it can be spotted as hers with a quick glance.
I bought 4 t-shirts, 2 skirts, 2 pinafores and 2 school jumpers for my DD. I had to buy genuine school jumpers as DD's school aren't a standard colour but as long as you buy big and wash carefully they will last.
Also you'll catch onto things pretty quickly and you'll be fine :-)

Thanks. It was MAIL that was convinced I needed to buy straight away as the small sizes run out. FiL is a governor to a tiny village school so they know everything!

I buy ours in July-August and write names right into the tags. Jumpers I write their names on the inside of the bottom band as I got fed up of them going missing and knowing that other parents were just cutting the labels out and keeping them! 😡
We tend to have a rule of one in the wash, one to wear, one spare. So at least 3 of everything but by the end of the first term we've always got a couple more spare!

Label everything. Quite big. It is quite amazing how stuff can go missing. Some parents are less honest than others, even in the naicest schools.