Girl's school shoes

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DD1 is hopefully starting school in September. I never wore any kind of uniform and so have no experience of it at all.

First of all is beyond me why the schools don't let kids were trainers even black

So she's 4 and it seems that the more sturdy looking shoes have either laces or buckle instead of velcro. Is a buckle too difficult for a small child? Laces just seem like a no-no at this age. What is your experience?

Thanks!

Key stage one teacher here.

Definitely get Velcro and try to get shoes that cover as much of the foot as possible! The amount of girls that have soaking wet feet because they have shoes with great big open tops!!

My daughter is going into Year 1 and I get Bobux school shoes for her.

Buckles could be ok depending on your daughter. You definitely want sturdy shoes, not Mary Jane style.

Depending on brand you might have better luck looking at shoes marketed for boys.

I never had any problem finding velcro school shoes for DS. School shoes come in different widths so you can look at the 'boys' shoes too. You don't have the issue like with men's and women's trainers where the men's might be too wide.

My son’s school allow any safe footwear and trainers are so much better I agree. I just had a look on Startrite shoes and if you click ‘girls’ they’re exactly as you described.

How about something like these

www.ricosta.co.uk/girls-school/Ricosta-Grace-8626100-090-Black-Leather-Girls-Rip-Tape-School-Shoes

My DS going into year one also has Bobux. The port ones could be unisex

Sainsbury's have chunky solid Velcro girls school shoes, we've got DD these ones this year tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Black-Patent-T-Bar-School-Shoes-%284-12-Infant%29/136950718-Black?searchTerm=:newArrivals:type:Shoes:type:School%20Shoes&searchProduct=

My girls have always had Velcro fastenings, and this is in a prep school, so all schools should surely be fine with that. I’ve never been brave enough to put them in lace-ups!

I’ve just been to John Lewis this afternoon having made an appointment for their fitting service, and they had a few options available for each girl. In previous years I have left it later than this and been scrabbling around as literally no shoes left in the right size! So my top tip would be to go now and not wait until the weekend before school starts.

Velcro all the way for a four year old. Find a good independent children’s shoe shop and you’ll see there’s loads of Velcro shoes to choose from.

In nursery DD’s feet were so wide none of the Mary Jane style shoes would fit her. She had some black Velcro ones from the ‘boys’ section and they were just fine.

My DD has always had black patent Kickers with Velcro. We get them lightly used from eBay.

Bobux do some lovely school shoes and all have Velcro. Have a look at this one - Mary Jane style but still nice and sturdy for the playground action!! www.bobux.co.uk/piper-black-836601

Thanks for the help!!

But do take a look at the picture the school sends! We'll be buying boys' shoes anyways... much better options!

I guess girls aren't supposed to go out in the rain then.

Eurgh I hate that girls shoes are completely impractical. Can you just get boys ones? They don't care at that age

"Fun" addition to this post.

Showed MIL the options for the shoes. Did warn her that they were a little boring. She absolutely hated them!! Even after explaining that in english weather open shoes were not a good idea, she still insisted she wore Mary Janes when she was at school and they were fine

At least DH agrees with me well, with you!

Thanks for your help!

It doesn't matter if they get wet feet. Infant schools are approximately 35° inside due to lots of small children charging around so their feet dry out in about 3 minutes

Had the same issue and particularly after reading the school letter which advised to take into consideration more outdoor learning this year when buying shoes, have gone with boys. DD doesn't particularly like them and I am a little worried about teasing but I'd rather she be comfortable when playing with water, forest school etc! I know of at least one other parent in her class who has made the same decision.

It's crazy that you can't buy "girls'" shoes that are covered.

You can get some covered girls shoes. But it's also true the majority wear Mary Jane or T bar styles and they don't stop them running/climbing etc etc. And wet feet seems to be an equal problem for girls and boys ime when it's really pouring.

Do you not all have to send wellies in?

DDs school they have a pair of school wellies that you take in at the beginning of the year with name written on and then they stay there for any wet days or until the size needs changing.

My girls would not wear practical boys shoes, they wanted the ones with little dolls in the sole (Clark's, your fault!!!) but they were fine in their Mary Jane style to be honest, dd2 would change into trainers (allowed) at lunch to play football when she got to 6 or so, she plays even now as an adult)

My DDs have been wearing brogues for years, sick of the girly style which get their feet wet!
My youngest has these style laces which makes life a thousand times easier.

My daughter didn’t want boys ones (except the spider man trainers which weren’t smart enough for school specification) so I’ve gone for t-bar Velcro - as sturdy as I could find not patent as I find it looks grubby easily and then some Chelsea boots to for very wet days. I feel like it’s a good compromise and will try the ‘boys’ shoes again when she needs the next size.

Happy compromise!! DD actually chose them

@GroupSects that's a brilliant thing!

My dd had those exact ones for 2 years running. Great shoes!