DS is about to start reception, how much uniform do I ACTUALLY need?

[NotSayingImBatman]

My mind is boggled. Embroidered jumpers, obviously, but how many? I want to say 3 because then there's one in the wash, one in the drawer and one being worn and that seems right but I could be thinking of moses basket sheets.

Embroidered polo shirts. Any point from September when it starts to get chilly and he'll be wearing the school jumper over it anyway? Plus he's skinny as fuck and all but slim fit polo shirts swamp him.

PE kit? Really? I mean, he'd look cute, I guess... And I'd only need one, right?

Having read the AIBU thread I will not be buying the bookbag, so that saved us a fiver. School ties are mandatory from KS2 but only 'advised' for KS1. Unnecessary faff. However, I return your attention to the 'will look cute' aspect above.

School coat? Fleece? Jacket? Or one from M&S? PE bag? Gah.

Help me!

[Slummamumma]

My DS is year 1 and we have:
3 trousers/3 shorts
loads of white polo shirts (supermarket)
4 jumpers
(he is v grubby and needs a clean shirt and jumper daily!)
1 coat (just in the school colour)
1 set PE kit - just comes home 1/2 and end of term for a wash
Book bags are mandatory for us
label everything and buy some vanish white wash!

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

Two trousers two jumpers as many polos as you like (just get generic from a supermarket). One pe kit.

Use a baby wipe to mop up small dribbles rather than washing everything too much, small kids don't get sweaty but they get grubby.

Make sure you try the jumpers - our school did age 3-4 then age 5-6 - of course the kids were between sizes so ended up with jumpers that swamped them!

[MiniCooperLover]

Just finishing reception here. We've had 2 official school jumpers with the crest on, 5 trousers and 5 polo shirts. One set of PE kit that comes back every half term for washing. He hasn't grown out of anything but his trousers are getting short and the polo's aren't too discoloured as I always used some Vanish Gold with them. The jumpers regularly got a soak every day but because of their quality (or lack of) came out of the machine quite dry anyway. One decent coat got him through winter and spring and everything was labelled inc shoes.

[ginnybag]

Just finishing Yr 1, having been with the school since Nursery. I'd go with cheap but lots for Reception and KS1. They need to be comfortable and able to get messy without it being a stress.

DD has 1 Fleece, 1 Cardigan, 1 Jumper - logo'd and from school but they wash and wear very well so no complaints. We get multiple years out of hers unless she grows and then I've given the too-small to the school for them to hand out.

And then from George at Asda, I've just done on online 'basket' for next year.

6 polos - (and I replace mid-year because they get trashed) £7.50
2 pairs pants, 1 skirt, 2 pinafores - £17.00
1 pair plimsolls, 2 polos, 1 skort - £9.50

For the sake of the money, it really isn't worth having to be constantly stressing about having enough stuff clean, at least for me. That said, I work full time, so don't have huge amounts of time to be laundering!

As for other stuff - School gave us the book bag, but we'll be replacing this year because it broke, and I agree not the school coat.

I definitely second the sharpie written directly onto the hem thing for naming, but even so, stuff will get lost/mixed up/put on by the wrong kid, which is another reason why I stick to Asda and have a fair bit.

[BalloonSlayer]

My advice - Get some shorts!

It is sometimes very hot in the first couple of weeks in September and he may find that all the other boys are in shorts and want to wear them too.

Needless to say, you won't find any in the shops in September.

I felt sad for my DS when he wanted to wear shots like the other boys but I couldn't get any. He got over it though.

[Flumplet]

I advise about a gazillion polo shirts, same jumpers if you want it to look nice every day, 3/4 trousers/skirts or whatever.

DS comes home completely bloody covered in pen every day. ALL of his white polo shirts are ruined. I would advise keeping one for special occasions like school photos or assemblies or whatever.

[applesandpears33]

I get six of everything. Something will inevitably get trashed at some point during the year and it means that I still have enough to get through a week.

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

Where are all these primary schools which don't mind if you don't wear logo stuff? I know that technically they can't make you but at both the ones I know EVERYONE wears logo jumpers. A few get away with non logo polo shirts, pinafores can be useful here. One HT is particularly particular and based assemblies around the need to wear the correct smart uniform. Also inspects children each week awarding class which is smartest. I know that you could send in non-uniform but if everyone else is in uniform then they will feel singled out. On the plus side there is a strong trade in secondhand clothing. Do enquire, often pta will have secondhand sale after settling in session. I would go with one set of new and then supplement with some secondhand stuff. If the school seem fairly relaxed then start adding in non-logo stuff.

[MerryMarigold]

In our school less than 50% wear the logo. Admittedly more in Reception! (But will they really notice at that age). By Y6 hardly anyone does.

[validusername]

DS is about to finish year 1 but when he started reflection I made the mistake of only buying 3 sets of uniform. He came home everyday covered in pen, paint, food, mud etc. I used to get home from work around 6ish and would frantically be washing and ironing.

So I went and bought spares, a clean set for every day. And never looked back.

Luckily I can get logo'd sweatshirts from Tesco and quite often they have a 20% off clothes offer during the holidays. They are about £6 each.

[Sarahplane]

3 jumpers, 5 plain polo shirts (cheapy supermarket ones), 5 trousers and 1 pe kit. I wouldn't bother with the tie personally unless you want a tie and proper shirt for school photos.

[KatherineMumsnet]

We're just going to move this over to Primary Education so that it doesn't disappear - OP, please do get in touch if you have any problems at all.

[DiggersRest]

Dd1 has 2 jumpers, 2 polos, 1 skirt and 1 pinafore dress and I've just bought her a summer dress. People really have 2 WEEKS worth??

[MarklahMarklah]

Branded/logo stuff is expensive!

Firstly, I'd say check the school policy. The school DD attends say that you can wear un-logo jumpers/cardigans/polo shirts as long as they are in the correct colours.

Secondly, check for second-hand/nearly new sales of school clothes. DD's school has an informal group which is buy/sell/exchange. Uniform items often crop up in the local charity shops.

Thirdly - it depends how messy your child is! DD has 4 polo shirts (all second hand, three with logos), two jumpers (no logo), three cardigans (all second hand with log), two long-sleeved shirts, two dresses, four skirts, three pairs of trousers and a pinafore dress.

Coat can be logo'd if you want them to wear, but not mandatory, so we haven't invested in it.

I know we've a lot of uniform but it does meant that if the washing doesn't get done for a few days, there is still wearable stuff in the wardrobe.

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

I guess it depends on the culture in the school, so don't go overboard and look closely at children when on taster days. Even in yr 6 I can't think of one child who doesn't wear correct uniform or at least all visible uniform. The HT has a paddy if the non-logo PE leggings are wrong shade and if hair bands aren't in school colours. Although it is her problem, I wouldn't want to put a reception child in a place where they stand out. By yr 3/4 they would be up for some rebellion .

[MarklahMarklah]

I also have 2 PE kits - they do PE twice a week, so if there is some disaster whereby DD is covered in mud, she still has something to wear if I don't have time to do washing.

I did find out that by buying nearly new/non-logo I saved about £100 compared to what other parents spent.

[JimmyGreavesMoustache]

you basically need more than you think is reasonable
mine are forever falling in the playground and shredding tights/trousers, and throwing custard down themselves at lunch
i am a WOHM with no tumble drier, and so I'd rather be over-stocked and under-stressed than be forever worrying over what's clean and dry.

I agree with checking local custom and practice as well. At our school hardly anyone bothers with logoed polo shirts, but conversely pretty much everyone wears a logoed jumper or cardie.

[Wanderingraspberry]

Whilst our uniform was polos and Jersey jumpers I've had x2 everything and washed and tumbled every night. Uniform has changed to proper shirts and ties and jumpers that can't be tumbled so now have X4 of everything. You might find book bag is wanted by the child when everyone else has one.

[lostscot]

If you don't need to have white polo shirts then don't, I work in school and honestly they end up shades of grey with stains. We can have red so mine now do that. Unless you need a school coat then get something distinctive that's easy to find in a cloakroom or black or navy!

[bangingmyheadoffabrickwall]

I keep visiting supermarkets, Next, M&S to look at uniform with the intention of buying a few bits here and there.

I walk out. my son is NOT going to school!!! My son is NOT going to school!!

Not even been into the school shop for school logo jumpers and t'shirts yet.

Aiming to buy:
2 x shorts
2 x trousers
3 x logo t'shirts
3 x logo jumpers
10 x socks
1 x shoes
1 x school coat
1 x book bag
1 x rucksack
1 x lunch bag
1 x PE kit
1 x cheap trainers