Girl's uniform for YR

[freetrait]

Any tips? What are the pros and cons of skirts/dresses? And as my DD spends most of the time wearing leggings at the moment maybe we'll go for trousers- although they rarely fit (that's why she wears leggings..). She has short legs for her height and is very slim. Boys uniform was so simple in contrast (badly fitting old man's trousers!).

Are cardigans ok for YR? Pros and cons, cardigan/jumper?

DD1 is in reception (and previously lived in leggings), it's amazing how much I've learnt about uniform over the last year!

Firstly, buy more shirts while they're on offer than you think you'd need and keep one or two back for instant sparkly whiteness on school photo day! I went for long sleeve but they got really painty and mucky so replaced with short sleeved. Pinafores look smarter but skirts are easier for them to dress themselves after PE etc.

We have cardigans and DD prefers them. I bought her a jumper but she won't wear it. I don't know about trousers, our school is super strict so they're not an option.

I bought my dd skirts but quickly ditched them all for pinafores and trousers. The 'fashion' (it is ridiculous there is such a thing for school uniform) at the moment is to make skirts short and I think the length is unacceptable for small girls who don't sit nicely all the time. Don't be fooled by holding them up against your DD and thinking the length is ok, pull the elastics in because that is when they get short!

Pinafores also cover up the shirt and it is easier to get stains out of pinafores than shirts.

I buy my dd boy's trousers. The fabric used on boy's trousers seems to be thicker and they are straight up and down without the nips and flares that the girl styles have that again, I think is inappropriate on a small girl. I will buy the girl styles when dd is older and cares. Do I sound like a bit of a prude

My dd also won't wear her jumper (handed down from ds) unless I make her.All the girls at her school wear the cardigan.

Pinafores over skirts - the jersey ones are really nice and easy to pull on (no zips or buttons). BHS do the smallest sizes of anywhere.

Poloshirts seem to be de rigeur round here - Sainsbury's do very nice ones that wash well and are soft and cheap. M&S ones feel like cardboard after washing and the fabric is thicker and it's harder for the little ones to get the buttons done up.

DD has cardigans - they're sweatshirt material which in my opinion is a PITA as it shows every mark and they need to go in the wash to get clean. The knitted ones you can use a wet wipe at a pinch for the odd mark. So if you need the sweatshirt type ones then buy at least 4 as you will get through them fast each week.

If you want small sizes then buy when the uniforms come out in July - if you leave it till September you can't get them.

Pinafore, polo shirts & cardigans

If they wear trousers, when they go to the loo their trousers pool round their ankles and reception toilet floors are never pretty!

Check out what the reception DCs at your school actually wear.

Our school uniform is poloshirts and school jumpers (no cardigans), we also have a second hand shop so jumpers are really reasonable. People tend to to buy 1 new jumper for the first day, and a couple of second-hand ones.

Have recently discovered M & S are good for sizes for trousers for DD, but over the years I have been just as happy with school clothes from Asda.

I always like 3 sets, one on, one off and one in the wash, but I do know people with 5 sets so they are set for the week.

Check dresses here are for summer term, most Reception girls don't wear them (unless sibling)

We go over to summer uniform (checked dresses/skirt, blouse, no tie) on 1st May and back to winter on 1st October so they start school in summer uniform.

And yes, I've stocked up on jersey pinafores and skirts for next year. They feel so much nicer.

Hi freetrait:

It's very tempting to go out with the list of uniform items from the school dress code and get in the lot but my advice is get a core wardrobe (a few gingham dresses, a pair of trousers (and by the way some do a thick cotton type that may be more similar to leggings) and a cardigan. Basics like socks, gym kit & gym bag, plimsoles, school bag, etc... also worth getting.

When you visit the school - have a good look at what children are wearing - for example, only boys wear sweatshirts at our school, the trend for girls is for plain cardigans or school logo fleeces.

Go for things that pull on - usually at YR managing buttons or zips can be tricky for little ones and teachers and TAs don't always have the time to help. For thin girls, go for adjustable waists where you can button in the elastic or if all elastic waist - just sew up bunches of fabric (left - middle - right) for a better fit.

Do invest in tights now (they disappear by autumn) & get at least 5 pairs, so you don't run out during the week.

Then wait and see what other children are wearing and what she likes. Catch the sales in October and stock up on the rest.

There are so many opportunities now to lay in school clothes (on-line BHS/ M&S/ & others) + many places like ASDA/ Sainsbury's/ etc... also stock uniforms.

The good news is that in Class R they aren't very picky about what they wear. As they go through primary, DCs definitely need consulting, because they will start to have very clear ideas about what they want to wear or find comfortable.

Often you can order logo items through the school or they arrange a stand at the Christmas Fair or similar - so there will be opportunities later in the year to add to the 'core' school wardrobe.

Oh and a word to the wise, because I have been caught out, wait to buy shoes the week before school starts. There may be less choice, but if you buy them now there is a chance she'll outgrow them over the summer.

HTH

Thanks all!
The girls seem to wear a real mix in our school. As DD doesn't normally where any of it it's hard to know what to go for. She wears the occassional skirt/dress but it's very occasional!

Ok, so pinafores sound like a good bet. I guess we will try a range though. Any tips for good styles that fit a tall, slim (and narrow shoulders) girl? She's about 110cm and weighs 16-17kg .

I like the M&S dresses and Sainsbury ones. But Sainsbury had a side-zip last year and DD just didn't manage so we went back to M&S. I find that the dresses either look too big or too small, there is just a handful of days in the school year she looks ok.

DD has a couple of skirts as the fall-back solution but it looks awful as her poloshirt comes out every time she wears it for one hour.

She has one school jumper for winter as ours are really thick. Otherwise she wears cardigans.

Pinafores, polo shirts and cardigans, and lots of pairs of tights. Get her to try the pinafores on and take them back if she can't manage them herself - we ended up with the cheapest M&S ones as they were the only ones she could manage herself.

I also bought skirts and jumpers which were a waste of money - DD has never worn the skirts and I ended up giving the jumpers away to another mum (apparently boys wear jumpers and girls wear cardigans).

I also bought a couple of summer dresses which she wore through September and which I have just brought out of storage for the summer term (although it was warmer when she was wearing them in September!)

Gosh, she seems very skinny! Pinafores will be easier than trousers than, fit wise. My school uniform from ages 5-10 was a pinafore, no other options, P.E. uniform for P.E. only, and we still managed tree climbing and playing. I would recommend short leggings or bike shorts if she can wear them under her pinafore.

Buy lots and lots of socks and tights. Children fall over and get holes in the knees with tights, so I would say at the very minimum five pairs, preferably 8-10. Socks, about 7 pairs is good.

Sash, I come from Germany and survived without uniform but it has its advantages. No issues about suitable and unsuitable items in the morning or that the favourite shirt is in the wash. I had that for 2 years at nursery.

I personally hate leggings, DD either wears socks or tights when she wears a dress or a pair of trousers. Leggings are for sport classes.

Unless you go to a public school uniform at primary is normally a dress plus shirt plus cardigan. all comfy and fairly plain. Mini-versions of blazer and skirt are mostly seen at public schools. One in our area even forces the girls to wear very silly hats.

My dd wears a skirt, polo shirt and cardigan. She hates pinafores, she says she's really restricted and can't run properly.
Some of the Muslim girls wear leggings under their skirts instead of tights, could that be an option at your school?

Yes, I agree... re primary schools and uniforms, although I have to say at least it takes the effort out of deciding what to wear. I thought I was pro uniforms until my son started at school in YR and I thought how ridiculous he looked.

Yes, she is skinny, probably more so at the moment as she's just been poorly- just a bad cough/temp virus but meant not eating properly for a week=clothes start hanging off her . She's back to her normal appetite now so won't take her long to look normal skinny again rather than bird like!

Well I'm 41 and all the state schools around us including mine had strict uniform. It's not new.

My DD is similar and skinny, Sainsbury polo and pinnies are best, they have lots of length in the body. The pinnies have pleats front AND back (M&S don't) and this helps on the modesty side when sitting on the floor, there is more skirt to pool around their knees. My DD managed the side zip in reception.

My top tip is to buy 2 of everything one size up. So if you get age 5 then buy 2 cardies pinnies and polos in a 6. They always have a growth spur t in Feb and there is no uniform In the shops at all. If no spurt, you have half of next years uniform.
And lots of tights. John Lewis are good.

I think BHS is huge.

Go for rights with shaped feet. Next do them, M&S don't.

Thanks Shattered, v helpful. Haven't got as far as what size yet. I'm guessing 4-5 as 5-6 will probably swamp her, but she is tall so will probably get some of each. DS wore age 4-5 trousers for half a term....good job I hadn't bought many of those....then the 5-6 lasted for over a year (still wears them now although very short, perhaps I should bin/give to charity shop although I think they are very worn so probably only good for recycling ).

Oh yes, and are John Lewis girls' uniform huge like boys? Made mistake of buying DS a pair of JL trousers and they are about 2 sizes too big, despite being apparently the same size as his Tescos and Next ones (you can see I don't have much brand loyalty, it's where I am normal, and still trying to find the best fit for DS who is tall and skinny too).

JL tights are long in leg and good elasticity. I sew a tuck in the waistband but have to do that do all my two's clothes. Skinny Minnie's. with DD at least she lives in dresses. DS is horrendous for trousers, dreading him starting school, he is so skinny.

JL tights also have feet. Agree with that!