How many of each item of uniform?

[MrsFogi]

I have no doubt this has been asked elsewhere but I cannot find a thread. I am about to buy dd's uniform for reception. When I was at school I had one pinafore and two shirts for the week. Dh tells me this is verging on neglect and dd will need 2 pinafores and 5 shirts. The uniform is expensive and I don't want to buy more than necessary. So, those with experience of these things (as I am a first-timer with uniform) - how many shirts and pinafores?
Also, do I need to buy anything other than a pencil case and a few pencils for reception?

My Dc's have five of everything but they are dirt magnets and would never get two wears out of uniform.

If state school then she won't even need pens etc for reception.

DD's have 2 pairs of trousers and a few pinafores or skirts plus 4 polo shirts. (Ended up with extra because i found some in a charity shop!)

Don't need pencil cases etc until secondary school here.

They also have a lunch box even though they have free school meals because they might need it if they go on a trip. And a ruck sack because they like to carry their own book bags etc.

Oh and 3 jumpers or cardigans.

It sort of depends really - how messy is your child, and how often do you want to have to wash things?

DS needed a clean shirt every day, but his trousers and sweatshirt would usually make it through the week. So, he had 2 pairs of trousers and 2 sweatshirts plus 6 shirts, and I only had to wash them once a week.

If you don't mind running a wash more often you can get away with less shirts/blouses.

MrsFogi, here's a recent-ish thread, hope it's helpful.

For reception kids I found the school's smallest size (for jumpers etc) was pretty massive on them, so I'm looking at getting another year's wear out of them for ds, who starts Year 1 shortly. But as mentioned on the other thread, the logo'd polo shirts didn't last nearly as well as the M&S stainguard shirts so I'll be going for them again.

I've gone for:

5 polo shirts
3 sweatshirts
3 pairs trousers
1 pair PE shorts
1 pair tracksuit bottoms
2 PE t shirts
1 pair school shoes
1 pair school wellies (rural school, lots of nature walks)
1 pair plimsolls (indoor PE)
1 pair trainers (outdoor PE)
1 pair waterproof trousers
10 pairs school type socks

Mine is only doing half days for the first few weeks and I can always add to it if need be.

dd has:

5 polo shirts
3 skirts
3 pairs trousers
2 pairs PE shorts (from last year-bought near end of term)
1 pair school shoes
1 pair indoor shoes (trainers-they change in and out of them to go for playtime, lunch, etc)
9 pairs socks
some tights from last year
1 school logo jacket

p.s. only bought 1 logo jumper as she tends to remove it when she gets to class and then it gets stuffed in her schoolbag (or under her chair!!)

She has 2 cardigans from last year too that barely got worn.

DS has 4 polos

Aha my mother was clearly washing during the week or I was an exceptionally clean child then . I don't want to be washing during the week so it sounds like I'm going to have to admit that dh (on this occasion only) may have been on the right lines.

3 School uniform polo's
2 " " sweatshirts
1 p.e white school polo
1 pe white school t shirt
2 trousers
1 skirt
1 tracksuit
1 trainers
1 shoes
1 school coat (from last year)

Our school has 1 day a week when they all go swimming or do pe so all wear a tracksuit all day and so only wear full uniform 4 days a week.

6 plain white polos
2 trousers
1 skirt
2 pinafores
2 cardigans with logo
3 sweatshirts with logo (warmer than cardigan)
1 fleece jacket with logo
1 thin breathable rain jacket
1 warm waterproof winter jacket (they are taught at least 50% outside whatever the weather)
wellies
school sandals (from this Spring, but still fit)
closed school shoes for when colder
4 pair of tights
10 pair of socks
book bag with logo
PE bag with logo
bag for spare clothes
2 pairs of PE shorts
2 PE T-shirts with logo
jogging pants
plimsolls
gloves
scarf
hat
water bottle
lunch bag with bottle

I intend to make two pairs of extra trousers during first week when she is at school. I like her to have one complete outfit in her spare clothes bag at school just in case as she is only 4.

DD has 2 summer dresses and one cardi for her summer uniform. She has 2 skirts, 4 shirts, 2 ties, one cardi and several pairs of tights for winter. hen smaller she had two pinafores rather than skirts.

Don't forget that children do things that we would never dream of...dd uses the elbow of her cardigans to make a pattern in the play doh! So I always buy one extra now.

Y1 DD has five summer dresses and three cardis for summer. She has a big brother, though, so gets very, very muddy and grass-stained. She has five white shirts, three cardis and two kilts (yes, kilts) for winter. I will not wash kilts on a daily basis regardless of how much mud they accumulate (a fair bit, as she bikes to school in the rain).

Plus there's all the PE/swimming/football stuff, plus blazer, coat, bags, and endless other stuff. I don't buy optional accessories (gloves, hats, sunhats etc) as they are so ridiculously expensive.

Y3 DS has five shirts, three pairs of trousers, three jumpers, two ties and all the PE/swimming stuff. Plus blazer, coat etc. He has to have a pencil case with fountain pen, pencils, gel pens, etc in it.

I get most uniform second hand. Blazers alone are £100 new!

I think your DH is right, OP.

OK my DS has just finished his reception year and having done that year my recommendations would be -
5 shirts/polo shirts/whatever is acceptable in the school
2 pairs trousers
2 jumpers/cardigans/sweatshirts (depending on school).
Because unless your child is unnaturally neat and clean, s/he will need a clean shirt every day and will make a diabolical mess of either trousers/skirt or jumper, or both, at least once a week.

I went for 3 of everything for day to day wear - shirts, sweatshirt, shorts and one of everything else plus 6 pairs of school socks (they come in packs of three pairs). I do one midweek wash on Tuesdays which seems to work well.

Oh goodness I have loads, but then he can never wear anything more than once, plus I keep a full set in his bag for 'mistakes'

I bought all the trousers from the school 50p box after he out grew every single pair by Christmas (darn child!)

I think I have 7 polo shirts, 8 trousers, 3 jumpers - the jumpers mostly come off as he walks in so they are easier