When should I start buying uniform?

[bangingmyheadoffabrickwall]

Total novice!

I am a teacher but my DS is starting school in September. I have browsed the uniforms at various shops but I am yet to make it to the local shop for logo jumpers and t'shirts.

I think I am in denial!! I keep wanting to take a look, but keep putting it off.

When is the 'right' time to go uniform shopping? Especially shoe shopping! In the past I have seen endless queues outside Clarks for shoe fitting!

I am finding it all a mind-field!

I got mine from M&S so all done except shoes here..

A couple of things..I have a drainpipe child..I buy the slim fit he really looks so much better in those.

Also do bear in mind...Despite your reluctance..Lots of reception parents are quite enthusiastic about buying uniform..I was once told Reception size runs out first.

Wow! Thanks everyone!

Will do the M&S trip asap. Pity I didn't do this thread earlier as I could have gone today. Never mind!

Never knew about longer length trousers at M&S, which I admit, it my favoured choice of shop. And I thought Clarks did an online appointment system but wasn't sure.

I am assuming M&S longer length are in stock in most major stores?

Second john lewis for tights.

I avoid clarks completely by buying a foot measure and doing a you-tube tutorial on measuring feet.

I have bought uniform for next year in the M&S sale too.

I've bought pretty much everything already except for shoes.
This is for both dd and ds!

John Lewis for tights here as well. I tried several options in the last 4 years and found them the best.

Agree re jl for tights!!

I bought my sons before the summer holidays but held off on the shoes until the beginning of the school holidays. He is reception and still wearing all of it, including the shoes. There is quite a jump between sizes so usually it takes a long time to move up to the next age. I also bought fairly skinny fitting trousers, where it was fine for them to be a little longer.

i used to do it early, then one year two of ours had a massive growth spurt over the summer and I had 200 quids worth of uniform that was useless. So now I leave it until the last minute and do it all in one panicked rush.

I've already bought all of the clothing, also in Scotland and mine break up today. I will buy shoes about halfway through the holidays. I can do this as no one of my children ever have huge feet growth spurts.

I bought all mine yesterday, except for shoes (normal and for games).

You could order online for m&s to pick up in store tomorrow sometime if you don't want to face the shop choices. Get a range of things and take back what you don't want next week.

I like Sainsburys polo's so I just grab a couple of packs whenever they have a 25% sale on.

Shoes - you don't have to go to Clarkes. If you know an old fashioned independent shoe shop it pays to go early one morning in August when it's quiet and avoid the Clarkes scrum. We did it with ds1 last year. 9am one Saturday, first in, no queue, properly fitted shoes by an experienced lady not a 19yr old student with an hours training on an ipad measuring system.

I would.order any logo stuff now and get it out of the way.