Uniform questions - how much and where from?

[kwaker5]

DS is starting school in September but we need to order uniform before the end of term. It is grey trousers (from anywhere), logo'ed polo shirt and sweatshirt (from school).

I am wondering how much of each to buy? Will he get as messy as he does at pre-school? Also, I was wondering if I could get away with buying a couple of plain (cheap!) polos and sweatshirts for emergency use in the event of none being clean.

Finally, where to buy trousers from. I read an old thread on here saying that Next were good - is this still the case?

I'm quite keen on online shopping if possible - has anyone tried the Zeco brand from kids and co direct?

Thanks

I'd go and hang around the school at home time and check out how many children actually wear fully logo'ed uniform.

My DD's school has a uniform much as you describe, but most of the polo shirts actually worn don't have logos. In the cooler month's the logos are covered by the sweatshirt/cardigan (and in DDs case, her pinafore) - so it makes sense to save a few pounds by buying cheap polos and keeping the pricey stuff for special occassions (class assemblies, photos etc.).

School trousers can be bought virtually anywhere - Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda, M&S, John Lewis. Very little difference in price between them. DS's grey school shorts for this term were £3 each - can't really get any cheaper than that.

For trousers the supermarkets & M&S are very reasonable and hardwearing. Look out for the 3 for 2 offers in the summer. At dds school they had logo'd sweatshirts and poloshirts. I only ever bought 1 logo'd poloshirt because she always wore a sweatshirt on top and they didn't last as long as the supermarkets and I could get 3 or 4 from the supermarket for the same price! I usually bout the sweatshirt from the school but had another same colour from the supermarket as well. Again the supermarket one lasted longer and washed better!

Agree re polo shirts. Normally come in packs of 3 so buy at least 1 pack.

Sweatshirts I bought 2 new and 2 at the second hand sale. Does your school have a sale when you look around before your DS starts?

Trousers I suggest at least 2 but if you can stretch to 4 pairs will make life easier. Again, you may be able to get some 2nd hand as they usually stand up to washing quite well.

Next trousers wear very well and we've used them for the last few years. I get 6 jumpers and trousers and about 9 polos so that I have enough for clean everyday if needed and spare polo's as they never stay white for long.

Great. Thanks for those replies. We have a introductory parents' evening in June when you can buy/order uniform (maybe there will be second hand stuff for sale), so I will ask whether it has to be logo'd stuff. If it's a printed logo rather than embroidered, then I doubt it will last that long anyway after washing.

At least DD can have the cast offs in a couple of years!

Yep he'll get as messy as in preschool... probably more so when he discovers the joys of football and sliding tackles on the school field at lunchtime. Not to mention the infinite joy you can get from making a tiny hole in your trousers absolutely massive (added bonus points if it's a hole on your crotch) picking at it at every opportunity despite all the staff trying to spot it.

Not seen many kids actually wear the logoed school polos - seems to be a buy the sweatshirt and get your polos whereever you see fit deal in most schools - some schools don't even seem to push the school logo sweatshirt much and it's just pick up the appropriate colour one (course if you go to a school with an obscure coloured uniform like I did you're kind of snookered with Mister Tesco et al).

If you're planning on handing stuff down - might be worth just getting labels with surnames on (unless you're like me and have a surname that's a fairly common first name)... and LABEL IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The number of missing jumpers you're asked to round up that the only description you can get is "it's a size 4-5 years"... well, 99% of the class are size 4-5 years and they're all the same design and colour!