Reception - what and how much uniform?

[UbercornsGoggles]

My daughter starts reception in September and I have no idea how much uniform to buy her. Any advice from those who've been there?

I got 3 jumpers then one for each day of everything else. Reception kids get mucky

My daughter also starts in August and I have as follows:

5x polos
3x shirts
1x jumper
3x cardigans
2x summer gingham dresses
2x skirts
1x pinafore
1x trousers

She will be in 5 days a week so figured we wanted to have enough to cover the 5 days without having to rush/ wash ironing throughout the busy week & she is a messy girl so I dont doubt she will come home everyday covered in things

Half a dozen polo shirts and pinafores, and summer dresses. Started the year with two cardigans but now only one, and one PE kit. Having a week’s supply of clothes and one spare change for the school peg has worked really well for us. Cardigans/jumpers can go in the wash in the evening and dry overnight, and don’t need ironing to be wearable the next day so fewer needed.

You will find that cheap jumpers/card is will amazingly always find their way back to you, whereas the expensive badged ones mysteriously disappear. By the time dd3 started she only had supermarket ones. I suggested they lend a badged one to her if they were that fussed about school photos!

@Charleyhorses

You will find that cheap jumpers/card is will amazingly always find their way back to you, whereas the expensive badged ones mysteriously disappear. By the time dd3 started she only had supermarket ones. I suggested they lend a badged one to her if they were that fussed about school photos!

I can vouch for this as DD has only ever managed to lose clothing with the school logo on, despite them being covered in name tags.

Also if your child is comfortably in size 4-5 then consider getting size 5-6 for them instead as it’s much easier for them to get dressed in a slightly bigger size after PE or when they’ve got those clothes mucky.

We started wuth

5 polo shirts
3 gingham dresses
3 pinafore dresses
2 skirts
2 trousers

Dd hated the trousers and wasn't keen on skirts either so this year I will just get 5 of each kind of dress I think. Morrisons have a dress which looks like a separate skirt and t shirt which I think is pretty cute. I would chat with your dd about what she likes

Pinafores are more practical at this age, as everything stays tucked in. Name tape everything, including stickers in her shoes. If you are allowed a choice, knee socks are better than tights. A skinned knee heals, but tights do not.

In reception, enough for a clean outfit every day without having to was mid week.

Rule of thumb... One on, one in wash, one spare. This however involved washing on a Wednesday, so if you don't have time you need five sets plus spare (spare is for the day they fall in a puddle just outside your door, or spill toothpaste down it, or have a nosebleed etc... All the things that don't happen if you have spare uniform to hand, but will happen if you don't.)

Pinafores and polos are easiest, or trousers if they prefer. Dark socks last longer than white socks. Ive only ever bought one logo cardigan or jumper, or none if there were none of a suitable size (since we have arrived at three schools mid term or just before term)

Tights buy a size bigger.

Thanks everyone, excellent advice and very helpful

Mine is finishing reception this term. I ended up with 5 of everything. I tried starting with 3 jumpers but was constantly doing urgent washing midweek. I got a couple of logo jumpers and the rest were supermarket cheaper ones. Loads of socks. Also I avoided plain black socks after finding it impossible to tell which were his vs mine!

My DD starts in September, I've gone for:

5x polo shirts
2x skirts
2x pinafores
2x skorts
2x cardigans
2x trousers
2x jumpers
Lots of ankle & knee high socks
A couple of pairs of tights (these might be more of a pain so might not get worn much!)

DD prefers skirts/dresses but I'm assuming that the jumpers & trousers will be worn more when the weather gets colder.

Haven't bothered with summer dresses as I don't think it'll be warm enough until next spring/summer. I'll get some then.

I'm only getting 1x school logo cardigan, everything else is from Asda/Sainsbury's.

Pinafores keep their polo shirts clean.
Even if she isn't keen on trousers, they are handy if they do forest school sessions (easier under waterproofs than skirts).
You'll need a full change of clothes each day, due to covid - that's currently the rule at ours.

We always do skirt and polo shirt (top button undone) on pe day.

Definitely cheap jumpers, we bought the expensive school logo ones... never again... white board pens do not come out! I even managed to bleach one when soaking

We had
5 polos (not white!)
3 trousers
2 shorts
3 jumpers

Our school have said no uniform in sept. Though that is supposedly not what gov said in leaked documents

Definitely recommend going cheap and plentiful! ASDA, Tesco and Sainsbury’s have good ranges. I wouldn’t bother unless you have to with the official school jumper and cardigan as that will be the one article of clothing they keep loosing! I used to buy 5 of everything so I didn’t need to keep washing stuff. In terms of PE tops, buy big so it lasts a couple of years!

Your PTA is very likely to sell second hand uniform - I always gave DDs used uniform to them. Do label absolutely everything as it’s likely other DC will have identical items and will come home with someone else’s stuff. I always use printed iron on labels. Label shoes too!

Reception teacher here:

4 or 5 polos.
3 jumpers.
3 skirts or trousers.

Personally wouldn't bother with a gingham summer dress for the first half term, unless the school insists on it. They won't get much wear out of it before the weather turns, and then they'll have grown out by the time its warm enough again.

I also tell ALL parents of Reception kids to pack some spare knickers/pants and a fresh skirt/trousers in their PE bag for accidents. However long your child has been toilet trained, and "hasn't had an accident in years". Almost all of them will have at least one during their reception year, and they'll be more comfortable when its their own stuff. I also recommend a packet of those flushable wipes, if they're not very confident wiping themselves.

AND PLEASE NAME EVERYTHING, AND I MEAN EVERYTHING.