Reception School Uniform

[ReadyToRoll321]

DS is starting Reception in September and I’m just trying to get organised. How many of each uniform item should I purchase? I know I can get more later but don’t want to get caught out if it’s in the wash/lost/ruined. I was thinking
2 school jumpers
3 trousers
4 polo shirts
Does that sound about right?

Find out how much PE they do, and if they go in their PE kit. It's much, much easier that way!

We have two days of PE kit, so I bought this and it's worked well:

Three school jumpers
Four white polo shirts (just because they come in packs of two)
Three school trousers
Two school shorts
Two PE joggers
Two PE shorts
Two PE t-shirts
One PE hoody (and we have a spare in a slightly different colour which will do if the other is dirty).

I have a little pile of dirty school uniform on the floor next to the laundry basket to remind me, and put the whites on to wash on Friday night. Jumpers dry really quickly so can be washed in the evening and dry by morning (they leak dye like crazy at first). Joggers/trousers get washed along with other clothes thoughout the week.

Once I knew how things fitted etc I bought back-ups in the next size up on Vinted. Also definitely agree you need more than one water bottle! My DC leaves his at school more often than he brings it home.

I used a laundry pen off Amazon to mark everything with his name. Hasn't faded at all in a year.

You need at least 3 of everything, they spill all sorts down it at that age so usually need clean every day. So one to wear, one to wash, one spare.
Not sure if they're allowed in your school but if they are get jogging trousers so they're easier to wash and tumble dry.
Also if budget is a concern and you're allowed plain items without a school logo get 2 jumpers/polos with logos then a few cheap plain supermarket ones as spares.

My ‘rule’ (for the main bits), was one being worn, one in the wash, one in the drawer.

Go for 5 polo shirts. You won't want to be washing all the time. Also they will need replacing regularly (5 year olds have a real talent for getting dirty/covered in paint).

Our school have said they used to do pe kit days for pe after COVID but are stopping it as of this year as it was stopping the kids from getting practice in dressing/undressing so now all years will be back to getting changed for pe again.

I did a clean set for each day and a wash went on Friday evening.
Once they are older I bought less jumpers and trousers. Still had a clean shirt every day.

Depends on the child.

One needed a clean set every day cause came home covered in mud, food and paint. Plus frequently lost items.

The other managed with 2 of everything.

So is yours a mucky puppy or more tame?

My son is in nursery school and has a uniform, starts reception in sept too.

I plan on having the same amount as now, he has 5 polo shirts, 4 jumpers and at the mo I think we have 4 trousers and maybe 3 shorts. We usually do a mid week wash which is why we um have 4 jumpers.

His jumpers always come back covered. Not sure what he's doing but holes in trousers seems to be a thing at the moment.

2 pairs of shorts , it was hot when he started school and they still fit him now as I bought adjustable waist ones.

3 pairs of trousers, I'd recommend M&S. They do the ones that have a dropped hem, so you can make them longer when you need to! They have also lasted much better than the Sainsbury's ones we bought.

X 5 white polo shirts as they get filthy, and you can pick them up pretty cheap.

X 2 pairs of PE joggers , PE day is twice a week at our school and they wear kit all day

1 PE hoodie, 1 fleece and 1 jumper. I ended up buying an extra fleece and jumper not long after he started as he was just filthy and full of mud every day!

Essentially he has a pair of trousers, polo top and jumper/fleece for everyday , you could manage with less but I just found it easier that way, and to wash it all at the end of the week.

We are doing 1 full set a day plus a spare set that lives at school. But DD is a minger, and some of the logo items are secondhand.

We don’t have the capacity for reliable weekday laundry.

Our school doesn’t do a PE kit wearing day-PE kit lives at school all term and they do it ad hoc.

I would get five polos and another jumper.

It was class photo day in the nursery I am teaching in at the moment. We went first, straight after registration.

Then we had to go again after lunch because some children only come in the afternoons.

Honestly, the ones that were here all day looked like completely different children. They were filthy. One had a mud encrusted collar like a Victorian street urchin. One had purple cornflour on his head. Everyone had orange from snack all over them and most had some dinner somewhere on their clothes.

We have 4 of everything for normal uniform then 2 of everything for PE.

How often can you wash. Dd1 wears her pe kit for two of her days in school so she has two pe tops and I can get away with two polo tops but probably need 3 to be safe. She has two skirts, 2 cardis, 1 pe hoodie and then in the summer 2 summer dresses. This might sound not many but honestly when she was in reception I bought too much and with washing regular she had stuff she didn't need and it's a waste of money. Also shops now sell school uniform all year round so no need to panic buy for just in case. Save your cash and replace if needed 😁

3 jumpers
5 shirts (supermarkets usually sell them in packs of 5)
3 pairs of trousers/shorts
2 PE tops
1 pair of PE shorts/jogging bottoms

This means you can wash on a Wednesday and keep clothes going all week 👍

My youngest is also starting reception this year. I will be getting her 5 of everything so that it is all washed once a week. I don’t want to be washing and drying mid-week. If you have 5 of everything it also lasts longer.