So we have a school place. Now what do we need for school?

[Kyrptonite]

What do reception children need? Thinking 2 jumpers, 5 polo shirts, 5 pairs of trousers and PE kit. But do they need a backpack, pencil case etc? Do I order name labels or get a pen and write them in?

It's a minefield.

It does depend on the school, who will give guidance on pe bags etc, ours sells the book bags & pe bags at an intro meeting. I'd just hang fire on those till you hear from the school. Uniform wise, I have grubby dc so 3 jumpers, 4 pairs trousers and about 10 polo tops as they're cheap as chips. You can easily get away with less if dc don't get grubby or you wash more often. Never needed pencils etc for my dc. Buy labels, whether sew on or iron on or just a labelling pen. Things get lost in an instant! Shoe labels useful as if your dc needs plimsolls there will be dozens of identical pairs. I'd buy closer to Sept, they grow over the summer!

I found that getting 5 of everything was easier for clothes, as jumpers were never clean enough to get a second wear. I am very disoprganised so I put a full days clothes on each hanger in the wardrobe - a top, dress/trousers and cardi/jumper. So only socks and finding the shoes each morning.

You might want some summer uniform if they have one, if it's warm in Sept but may vary by school 'rules'

Buy big.

YY to name labels, get on the mailing lists for any offers/discount codes. No pencil case needed, just bag for PE kit, bookbag (ours was provided) Lunchbox if packed lunches. Velcro shoes unless competent with buckles/laces.

Practice changing into PE kit and putting clothes in bag, unpacking lunchboxes/opening yoghurts etc if needed.

5 pairs of trousers probably a bit OTT. May be 2 pairs of shorts (it WILL still be hot in September) and 3 pairs of trousers. You can probably make do with 3 polo shirts too - then add to them if you need to throughout the year. They will inevitably come home stained and it's nice to have a new one later! Check whether they need plimsolls - often they don't do outdoor sport until the summer and have bare feet indoors.

School probably have bookbags and a reception child will generally not need anything to go in it. No pencil cases needed til year 3 or 4 in my experience.

I like name labels, but I'm old fashioned (eldest DD has black ones with pink writing to match blazer!). Many friends use Sharpie permanent markers.

Start with the minimum and add as needed would be my advice. And accept any hand-me-downs even if only for emergency use!

We have polo shirts with logos at 10 quid each, hence my frugality with them. DD at secondary has 10 shirts because they were 3 for 8 quid in the supermarket

We have to have a lot of trousers I think as DS suffers from accidents regularly. Have GP appointment next week to try and get it cleared up before September but otherwise I may find 5 pairs aren't enough!

The school website says that it is not a compulsory uniform. I'm hazarding a guess that most will wear it though!

I found I have been ok with 3 pairs of trousers, 5 polo shirts and 2 school jumpers. There have been occasions when a third school jumper would have been useful though. Also 6 pairs of school socks. For PE we had to provide outdoor and indoor kit all year round- yes they do go out in the winter. Indoor PE kit is t-shirt (from school) shorts and plimsolls, outdoor you have to provide a track suit and outdoor trainers (they can't wear plimsolls outside.) Then book bag from the school, PE bag and lunch bag if taking packed lunches. You also need a water bottle for the classroom on top of whatever they take their lunchtime drink in. You need labels of some description for everything. They don't need pencil cases etc in reception.
I found the prices for things like PE bag/ kit, school jumpers and book bag very reasonable direct from the school.

Don't buy anything yet. He will grow. If you have a washing machine then 5 pairs is enough. The school will probably have "spares" anyway, as lots of reception children have accidents.
You should get a kit list from the school as part of the induction system.

He will probably not need pens, pencils, pencil case, bag (except maybe a book bag and pe kit bag); for at least the first term, and quite possibly pretty much the whole of reception. He probably won't even get changed for PE for the first few weeks.
Label everything, including shoes.

You need a sharpie for labeling. They're great.

I think you'll find that the school will provide a list of what you need, regarding bags and staionery.

Does the school have a second hand uniform sale? If so, buy from it. Little children often grow out of clothing before wearing it out, so you may well find some really good bargains.

Also, don't buy anything yet. Children often have a growth spurt just when it's most inconvenient. Particularly with feet, I've found. Get shoes in August, but not the last week of the holiday, unless you fancy spending an hour in a busy noisy shoe shop!

our school's lists came out in June I think it was. They then have 2 settling in sessions in July and there is a uniform sale during each session (the kids go without the parents to the classroom, parents go to a meeting for one and the other is a PTA coffee session to meet other parents). All school requirements are different so you will have to wait I think and see what they say. also bear in mind it is possible that whilst uniform is optional at the moment, that could change for september.

I have girls and eldest started last year, youngest starting this year. we had 1 cardigan, 1 skirt, 5 blouses, 1 tie, 1 book bag, 1 PE bag, 1 PE tshirt, 1 pair PE short, 1 pair school shoes, 1 pair plimsoles (also some school say black ones some say trainers so don't buy any 'til you know). think thats it. no stationary or anything, they get given stuff to use. lunchbox and a drinking bottle to have in the classroom.

oh and they need a pair of wellies to keep at school and a sunhat.

but all schools are different so wait for the info to come through

I got DD:

5 x pinafores
6 x polos
4 x cardigan
1 x bookbag
1 x wellies
1 x coat
1 x schoolshoes

I started off with 2 cardigans and realised I needed more very quickly.

sew-in name tapes - ebay supplier is identical to Cash's in quality and a fraction of the price.

If you want small sizes then buy them as soon as they come out in July/August. If you wait till September there will be none left.

BHS do age 3 - smallest of anyone, and Mothercare do age 1-2 tights in navy, grey and black. (In case anyone else has a tiny child like mine).

Unless you love sewing in name labels, get a Sharpie laundry pen. Much easier and they actually stay on.

Label everything. I was really pleased that I'd labelled DS's shoes as another boy managed to go home with one of DS's one day! It came back the next day.

I bought plimsolls for DS but they weren't needed for indoor PE (which is all they do in Reception) I also bought him a pack-a-mac to keep at school but that wasn't really needed either as we walk to school so if it's raining, he's already wearing a waterproof coat. Wellies to keep at school have proved to be useful though.

He has a book bag (from school) but not really needed as they handed out strong plastic bags for books but nice to have to stick letters/pictures etc in. He also has a PE bag and lunchbag and bottle. He didn't need another water bottle in the classroom as they have a snack table in Reception which has fruit/veg, milk cartons and a jug of water and cups so he can help himself if he gets thirsty.

Random things that you may need:

• keyrings to attach to bookbags to help your DC recognise which is theirs
• a supply of small envelopes, very useful for money for trips/breakfast club/random school dinners/charity donations etc etc.

Do wait a bit before buying anything though. As well as the inevitable growth spurt, lots of places will do offers over the summer. I bought lots for DS in the M&S 3 for 2 deal last year, which was July I think.

DS is just about fitting in 3-4 trousers if they have elasticated waist! May get a couple of cheap asda pairs now in case there's a mad rush for tiny school clothes closer to September.

Thank you everyone for the replies. They have been very helpful.

M&S usually do a uniform offer early??? may/june- they do one style of trousers in lengths which are great for small & tall slim kids ds lanky was in 5/6 long and his bf was in 3 L - I swear by those trousers they are dearer but last...have tried others to save cash but the m&s better.
I didnt get shorts as then didn't need to suncream legs and ds clumsy so needed the protection!

re polo tops I got plain as they much cheaper plus a couple of logo ones for photos/trips - ds school happy with this - me too as he was always grubby in reception so 2x3pack polo +2 logo

again less logo sweatshirts- prob 2 then 2 fleece/jumpers in correct colour..

loads and loads socks

Mine easily wears a jumper a day - the polo shirts can be recycled under a jumper but whatever is the top layer gets covered in mud, lunch, paint or chalk without fail.

It depends how often you expect to do laundry. I do two "empty basket" washes a week so we can just about get by on 3 pairs of trousers (mud), 3 jumpers, etc.

No to pencil case. Yes to water bottle.

I am obviously really tight with buying uniform then. I haven't had to midweek wash a cardigan yet though, did have to take a babywipe to it once after an accident with a fruit smoothie tube but that is all. she only has 2 summer dresses too. I can't afford to buy more than that at £9 a dress.

We have three full sets of uniform, DS has a clean set each day, while he's wearing the 3rd set on a wednesday I wash the other two sets which then become thursday and friday's. At the weekend I wash everything.

1. Of everything.

Shoes , wellies. Lunchbox Water bottles Bag, school will tell you Winter coat Name labels

You need to get the toilet issue resolved, for frequent soilers school can ask the parent to come in and deal with it.

Don't leave it too late to buy though.

Supermarkets are useless at having things on the shelves in the second half of August (they bring them out earlier and earlier as they care more about being a few days ahead of rivals - even in July before the schools have actually broken up! - than they care about little things term days and growth spurts).

John Lewis shops are stuffed to the gunnels with shoppers in the last 2 weeks of August - demand really is that high, and it's one of the few places that will have stock left, so be ready to be patient. They also stock uniform all year round, and usually have the right colours for the local schools.

hmm perhaps my children are just dirty then :o(

Nursery suspect the toilet issue is encopresis. Have so far been fobbed off by the dr so seeing a different one next week and stamping my foot until they investigate! Pretty sure it's not down to me being crap at toilet training as DD was clean and dry at 26 months. Just hoping it gets resolved as I'm worried he will be the smelly kid

Gosh yes they need to help you get it sorted. Also if you work it could be tricky to get to school quick every time he has an accident

Not all schools require you to go in everytime there is an accident. My DCs never did, you just got presented with a carried bag of wet clothes at the end of the day.

I started with a set of 3 each but very fast upgraded to 5 items. I work and don't want to do a wash every night as DD comes home covered in mud, food, paint or all things together.

We got the PE bag and waterbottles at the welcome-meeting and the bookbags when they invited the parents to a reading-evening three weeks after they started school. Bookbag is compulsory, PE bag and water bottle isn't but honestly they like the children to have the same and they weren't more expensive than anything I would have bought on the high street. Water bottles need to be see-through in our school.

No need for any kind of stationery.

Try to find a couple of unusual keyrings for you child to identify his own bag.

Labels - DD finds it easier having a very visible label instead of some writing inside. I get sticker ones and put them on the wash label and DD can easily see them. I had the iron-on in the beginning but it was a nightmare as the item needs to lay totally flat otherwise the iron won't do it properly. The sticker ones I use are the same as for her water bottle and lunch box and all survived the washing machine and the dishwasher without problems.

With both Dc I have got away with buying
2 jumpers
3 shirts
2 ties
2 trousers
One 5 pack socks
A PE bag with kit, a book bag and a lunch box with bottle

Also need shoes and a coat, but found it better to buy less initially as they usually go up a size by Spring term! I order stick on labels from easy2name and slap them on everything. Survive the wash too.