When should I buy school uniform?

[Lemonsherbets78]

First time parent, DD starts school in September. The only logoed uniform she has to wear is a cardigan or jumper. When do people usually get the other things; shoes, dresses, skirts, polo shirts etc? How many of each do I realistically need? The school website doesn't have any info on this. Sorry if this is a silly question!

Uniform is so cheap, I get 5 of everything (although we are able to have generic jumpers, not school logo ones)
I but late August as my children seem to grow like weeds in the summer sun.
Be prepared fir spending a bit more once they start, mine came home first week with a request for wellies that will be left at school permanently, and plimsolls.

i usually buy around 1 month- 3 weeks before they start school, from matalan, as then I can work out sizes and they won't have grown so much that the uniform no longer fits. I get 3 shirts, 1 pair of trousers for PE days (much easier for them to put on than a skirt), 2 skirts, and I buy summer dresses closer to the time (they wear trousers/skirt and a polo shirt in winter so doesn't make sense to buy now when I know they will grow). I get 2 jumpers as well, as things will inevitably get spilled down them. I buy school shoes at the same time as the winter clothes. I get the name labels here, and sew them onto the collar of the shirts and onto the waistband of the trousers/skirt. They are big so easy for the dc to see.

all the best x

I got:
1 trousers
1 skirt
1 logo cardigan
1 logo jumper
3 polo shirts

But it depends on whether you like to be all clean every day or whether you are happy for things to be reworn.

I'd start with less and increase as needed. You might find she prefers one style over another. You can buy spares in the next size up if they will only be worn occasionally. PTAs often sell pre-loved clothes. At our old school there was always loads in age 4, 5, & 6 and then way less as they got older. Much of it good as new.

Shoes you don't want to get until August really.

I wouldn't bother with summer dresses to start reception, just go straight to skirt/pinafore and socks. Especially this year when quite possibly other girls won't have needed to have one for the summer term anyway so won't have them.

Main thing is label properly. The amount of unlabelled/unreadable jumpers that end up in lost property would make your eyes water.

I’d wait til July, but before schools finish (if they go back 😂) as logoed uniform is often delivered to school. There will also be offers on supermarket uniform then.

Get a pack of 5 supermarket polo shirts. If there’s a chance of any other colour except white get that as white goes grey very quickly. If you need red though, shop early as they’re hard to find!

Buy at least 3 skirts/ trousers/ shorts.

Tons of socks if the school are fussy about colour.

Leave shoes til the last minute and buy decent quality.

Don’t be tempted by the school coat, hat etc as kids hate them 😂

M&S is good for uniform

I always buy is July or you risk things getting picked over & not being available in the sizes you need. Shoes I always buy from schuh & get the size I think plus the one above as you have 365 days to return so if they do need the bigger size by the time the holidays are over you're covered.

I do normally get 2 jumpers & 3 cardigans. 5+ polo shirts. 3 skirts & 2 pinafore dresses. Then tights, PE kit, plimsolls etc.

August. I got most of ours from next, about 3 days worth. We wash about every other day so never need to have more than that.

Mark's and Spencer's 20% off in June as I can comfortably estimate her size as she doesn't grow quickly. Easy iron permanent pleat skirts (wide pleats as easier to iron) last really well. Skirts start below the knee and usually just above knee by the time outgrown more flexible that trousers. For reception she had pinafores from same place. Were still in perfect condition at the end of the year.

5 shirts, 2 cardigans and 2 skirts or pinafores. Is plenty as skirt/cardigan can be worn twice and washed within the week.

Grey or black socks (prefer white but grubby quickly) and black patent shoes from Clark's. Someone told me patent doesn't scuff as badly and so far so good (very sporty/active girl)

We have about 3 days worth of everything. We buy earlyish (as soon as stuff appears, or for boys shorts which are like gold dust round here... The year before!) because the younger sizes seem to sell out pretty quickly.
We've only ever got cheaper supermarket stuff as everything seems to end up with bloody whiteboard marker on it immediately anyway.