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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Is it terrible that 90% of DC2s Reception school uniform is second hand?

134 replies

justanotherneighinparadise · 17/08/2020 14:32

I’m sorting everything out and feel bad about it. Most of it is hand me downs from DC1 and the jumpers and trousers are faded/bobbly. I think I might have left it too late go order a logoed jumper now anyway if the majority opinion was this was considered bad form. I could get new trousers though.

What do we think?

OP posts:

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SunnySomer · 17/08/2020 15:05

No, it’s not terrible at all. 4 year olds genuinely don’t look at each other and wonder how old a jumper is. Pre-loved means the clothes will be softer and less scratchy and will mean you’ll be less stressed about paint damage.
I think it’s scandalous how much cheap uniform we buy and bin in this country.

justoverthehorizon · 17/08/2020 15:05

It's brilliant! so eco friendly and cost effective!

RemyHadley · 17/08/2020 15:10

It’s good. You are saving the planet! You are an eco warrior! If you feel like anybody is judging (more fool them) then you can proudly boast about how eco conscious you are :)

Original poster

justanotherneighinparadise · 17/08/2020 15:12

I know my friend has a jumper she’s passing my way which may be in decent nick, so I might get lucky with the jumper. The trousers aren’t great so I may try and source some new ones online. His shoes will be new and his coat is pretty new.

OP posts:

Sandytoes86 · 17/08/2020 15:12

Not at all terrible! I plan on dressing my ds2 in all of current ds1s reception uniform in a few years!

JudgeRindersMinder · 17/08/2020 15:13

Just make sure you label it with his name-that’s all anyone at school cares about!!

LondonGirl83 · 17/08/2020 15:52

Depends on the condition. I wouldn’t put my kids in shabby clothing but am fine with second hand if it looks good still.

Dinosforall · 17/08/2020 16:20

They had a rail of clothes out at the reception starters meetings and I would have happily bought/taken a few items were it not for the fact that we will be at the wealthier end of the demographic because of the school's location, so it didn't seem right. Though the people who might have needed it most probably spent money they can ill-afford on new stuff
But we also have a younger child so will hopefully get lots of wear from it.

itsgettingweird · 17/08/2020 16:22

@justanotherneighinparadise

What do we think?

Do you not remember how lovely dc1 looked on day 1 as you took the photo.

And never looked like that again?

If your that worried buy 1 jumper new in a good size and save for first day, school photos, special assemblies etc.

chubbyhotchoc · 17/08/2020 16:28

Lidl have trousers for like £2 and two shirts for £1.75. I'd at least have him in a fresh set of clothes for his first day at school pics.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 17/08/2020 16:32

My parents always bought everything brand new for September, new uniform, bags, pencil cases the lot. I think it was because we weren't very well off and mum didn't want us looking poor, we didn't have the FSM we were eligible for either, they just loaded up the credit card in August with school stuff.

I can't think of anything worse, as long as its clean and fits what does it matter? DD refuses to have new stationery or school bags "I've got loads of these already mum" because she's aware of the environmental impact. Just because they start off the year in 2nd hand clothes doesn't mean you can't replace things as the year goes on. When you think about it why does it matter to us that they are all in brand new stuff when it's just going to get covered in paint and pen anyway and they are all going to look the same after a couple of washes. For the bobbles you can use a bic razor and carefully get rid of them.

As a caveat though, if your child is aware they are in 2nd hand clothes and hates it I would make sure they had some things that were just theirs.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 17/08/2020 16:32

Second hand is the way to go! Ds1 got a bunch of second hand from someone though I had to buy some jumpers. Dd's cardigans all go to a neighbour who has never had to buy any for her dds and ds2 is wearing all the hand me downs from ds1. He's going into year 4 and I don't reckon I will need to buy any more school jumpers.

Trousers sadly are different, the knees always wear out and the white polo shirts end these year grey.

FeltCarrot · 17/08/2020 16:33

I’m a reception TA and would say it’s absolutely fine. The children don’t care what they look like, jumpers usually end up in lost property anyway!

wewillmeetagain · 17/08/2020 16:41

It's perfectly fine. They are to young to know any different anyway, also why would you waste money on a new uniform if you already have one?

finditajoke · 17/08/2020 16:44

Three children and even for first one lots was bought sec hand

Newdaynewname1 · 17/08/2020 19:06

Trousers, yes if you can get some - keep the handme downs as backup though.
jumpers- who cares!

Newdaynewname1 · 17/08/2020 19:08

We are in the same boat - i got 2 new pairs of trousers for photo day, and a new to us jumper (from second hand uniform sale) that looks new. everything else is hand me downs, including book bag

EtonianMother · 17/08/2020 19:10

OP, it's fine. My DC have been right the way through the independent sector from Reception onwards, and I have only very rarely bought anything new. The only children who get brand new uniform are, in my experience, PFBs. Everyone else gets stuff from the second hand shop or passed on by friends/other parents whose DC have outgrown them. By the time they've worn it for a week, it all looks old, anyway.

Hooleywhipper · 17/08/2020 19:11

I feel it doesn’t matter, I used second hand a lot for my two in primary school.

Findahouse21 · 17/08/2020 19:17

Second hand is fine, tatty second hand not so much

SpringSunshineandTulips · 17/08/2020 19:21

My daughter is going into year 4 and the only things I’ve ever brought new for her are shoes and tights and a couple of shirts. Everything else has been handed down to her. She doesn’t care and still looks fine. So long as it fits it really doesn’t matter.

Invisimamma · 17/08/2020 19:21

One set of new stuff at least, hand me downs are fine if they're good condition.

Shoes always new.

Original poster

justanotherneighinparadise · 17/08/2020 19:22

I think I’ve cobbled something together now. The jumper heading my way is in fab condition and I’m going to get one pair of trousers that are new plus some Aldi school shirts or similar.

OP posts:

Daftodil · 17/08/2020 21:13

It's fine! Better for the environment and less stressful when they lose it or ruin it with paint/mud etc.

There's plenty of time ahead when they will compare their clothes to those of their peers, but at reception age this is nowhere near being on their radar so please don't put it there.

ilovesushi · 18/08/2020 09:43

It's fine but if you can get one smart school jumper that might be nice. Not essential though!

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