When do we need to start thinking about school uniform?

[MrsNouveauRichards]

DD starts reception in September. I am terrible at getting things done on time and I am determined not to be shopping the week she starts at school!

Are there any times when shops do deals on uniform? Where is best and where to avoid?

How much uniform do they really need? Please help a poor newbie school mum get it right :o

IIRC M&S had 3 for 2 sort of deals on from June ish last year. If you leave it til Aug/Sept, M&S will still have stock, but not all sizes and not all lines. So best to do it earlier. Careful re August shoe shopping as well - nightmare! Best thing to do is to go at opening time and be waiting outside shop as they lift the shutters. Otherwise coudl queue for an hour.

My DS is already in school and my DD is starting reception this sept. I have a few of DS's old jumpers and polos for DD but I have also picked up a couple of things for DD already.

Be careful though - 4 or 5 months of growth can make a lot of difference!

Amount of uniform needed really depends on your washing habits. If you have a washer and a dryer and generally wash everyday then you can get away with just 2 sets (this is what I do). If you only wash at weekends or drying takes ages, you will need 4 or 5 sets IMO. You may have jumpers with food on every day!

Oh and allow time to sew her name into everything - order some name tapes.

get it all asap while the deals are still on. M&S stuff is good as is Sainsburys. There are usually deals on from June.

We usually aim for 5 polo shirts/blouses, 3 jumpers and 2 bottoms.

Buy it all bigger than you need it.

I bought beginning of July at M&S. I found that the smaller sizes like 4-5 were nearly impossible to get and I ended up with three different pinoforte styles and tights were another nightmare.

M&S did a deals end of July/August but I didn't want to wait so long.

When DD started I worked three days and I bought three full sets. But I found that I had to do a wash on Tuesday evening to get her clean clothes for Thursday and started buying more. Either crayons or food remains meant she needed a new set each day.

She know has a set for each day. The clothes dry quickly and I only have to iron the cardigan sometimes if I don't take it out of the washing machine quick enough.

I bought only two Summer dresses as I didn't expect autumn to be warm enough for it. Some of the pupils wore Summer uniform until the autumn half-term but I found that DD was more comfortable in the Winter one.

You may also want to check with your allocated school if they have a second hand shop and stock some items as an emergency back-up.

Thank you!

Some mums are already talking about booking a shoe shopping time slot!

Wrt name tapes, is it best to get sew in ones? (take me for bloody ever!)

write it in with a pen

Girls need less than boys.

2x pinafores/skirts
5 poloshirts or shirts
2x jumpers
2x summer dresses
5x tights

1 pair of pe shorts
1 pair of tracksuit bottoms
1 pe top

For my son i will be going to john lewis mid way through the summer holidays for all the clothes and then his shoes 2 weeks before the start of school (will still be quiet as most leave it till the last week).

Sew in name tapes are best or write it with a pen as the iron on ones fall off.

I write on everything with pen.

I buy everything in advance when its on offer and store it in the back of the wardrobe. As soon as they grow into the next size I start looking out for sainsbury 3 for 2 offer and stock up in the next size.

I have always managed with 3 of everything.

I sew the name labels in. Much easier to read and I think between them, my kids have only ever lost one sock and nothing else.

Buy in July but allow a bit for growth. Shoes, depends if your DD has just had a spurt or not, actually where we are it's not so bad and I left it really last minute, well August, probably week before some time and it was fine. I just went to a Clarks on an out of town shopping place rather than on the high street. Also you can book online or something if you are really keen? Sure someone will tell you!

We have been fine on 3 jumpers, 5 polo shirts and err I think it was originally 3 pairs of trousers but now we have some bigger ones so probably have 5 ish. The jumpers were the only expensive bit and I figured I would rather have more polo shirts and trousers to avoid washing so much. We did iron on labels which have been fine, but I tend to write things on in permanent marker as well/instead, is easier. Don't forget the extras like PE kit, indoor shoes, water bottle etc.

I bought attach-a-tags and they seem to have worked really well and only take seconds once you get the knack of putting them on. ds seems to come home with everything.

Thanks for all the replies (I feel less clueless now!)

We have a double barrelled surname, does DD need her first name/initial as well on the nametapes?

Are a pair of school shoes enough or will she need some boots (other than wellies) also, are plimsolls ok for pe shoes or will she need actual trainers?

I left it until August, and I had no trouble getting what DS needed. Kids have a habit of growing :) especially when they're running around in the sunshine. As it was, I still had to buy more polo shirts at Easter because his tummy was showing! She shouldn't need additional boots but she will need wellies as Reception children play outside a lot, even when it's wet. DS started off with plimsolls but after two terms was mithering for trainers as that was what all his friends had.

With regards to shoes. This is what I do - buy from Clarks.

I make an appointment for shoe fitting and then another a week later. So I get measure the first week, then go home and order the shoes my DC like in their size. Then go back a week later to get them fitted. If you order 3 or 4 styles then you are bound to fit something to fit. Or maybe it is just my DC with awkward feet. Plus it guarantees they have something they like in stock.

Oh and should add the only thing you need to look out for now is school dress es if your school does a more unusual colour... DD used to have to wear yellow ones and it was a nightmare to get hold of them - would sell out straight away!

I buy mine from ASDA and I've started now. DD1 is slim and petite so I've bought the next size up which she's almost in in tops and the next size up in skirts, pinafores and trousers. I'll hem them if needed in August. Since nursery uniform is pretty much the same, if she's still in size 3-4 I have trousers, skirts and dresses that she will get by with. We have to order jumpers/cardigans with the school logo directly from the school so I'll get three of those at the end of May/early June before they all leave the offices for summer.

I was wondering about going to a Clarks outlet shop. I have no experience of these, just that they seem like a good idea :o

Re the nametapes, we're double barrelled, I ordered a lifetime quantity for each girl with Christian and full surname. Which I hardly ever remember to sew in and end up scrawling their names in biro on the washing tags at two minutes to out the door time.
In reception assume they will befoul themselves every day and be prepared.

sharpie laundry pen

all you need to know

If you need to buy anything from the school, you need to do it before the end of the summer term. :)

Labels - Easy2Name iron-on ones DO stay in, and their shoe labels are fab. I do a combination of sew-in, iron-on, and writing on labels - sewn ones for stuff that I'm likely to hand or sell on, and iron-on or biro on the label for other stuff.

Shoes come from an independent shop that doesn't ever seem to get absolutely heaving, we just go on a random day in mid-August when we're not doing anything else.

I have seen some name tapes with little pictures on, so cute! Or are they designed for first time school attendees? :o

Has anyone tried shoesforkids.com?

Plimsoles are fine for pe when they are little e.g till year 2. Just school shoes and wellies will be fine. Definitely put her first hame and surname on name tapes so your child finds it easier to recognise/write their name.

Check your jumpers,do they have a logo on? Sometimes you can only get them from specific shops. My ds2 and now ds3 in Sep have to get their logo jumpers from an online place who take an absolute age to deliver.

NB They don't have to have logo jumpers, I just like to get 2 of them!