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

[justanotherneighinparadise]

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?

I feel sorry for photographers who are struggling for work I guess but that is £570 per class. It just feels a lot. I don't know why schools don't ask a governor and do a £5 fundraising photo. Anyway I am derailing the thread!

I named my charges uniform as her big sister and brother grew out of them she was six months old.Really does not matter so long as they look smart

I spent €300 on books and stationery alone...never mind uniform!!! That's for a 4yr old and a 7yr old!

On point 4, probably better to build self worth by giving them confidence that their worth is not based on what they wear.

Big supporter of second hand uniform here! When DD1 started at primary she had skirts, shorts and pinnies from a big second hand clothes shop, then she had jumpers and cardis from her cousin who was in year 2 at the time. Only her shirts were new. DD2 got all of DD1's old cast-off uniform apart from some more shirts and shoes. DS got DD1's old v-neck sweatshirts that she didn't want to wear and the rest came from a charity shop. DD3 is starting this year and will have all of DD2's outgrown uniform that is in good condition. She will also have DD1's book bag as DD1 is off to secondary this year.

I think it's fine! I have always bought my DD as much 2nd hand as I can, and quite a bit of what she started school with was 2nd hand (and she's an only child, it wasn't hand me down).

I miss those days... she's now in age 15 -16 school skirts, thankfully left over from last year albeit a little short, and she's going in to y6. There's not a lot of 2nd hand available in her size!

Your DC will neither know nor care, nor will friends at that age. And you'll mind a lot less when it gets trashed, which it will.

I have just spent vast sums on new pants and socks for DD (she and DS are now in the same size socks so I've got her all the same, and different to anything of his, to ease washing, and she's still having toilet accidents so needs loads of pants, at least he wears boxers and she doesn't!)

Second hand uniform is fine in my book (primary school teacher). Clean is more important to me than new!

It's fine, eco friendly and thrifty:).

My younger daughter was 3 academic years behind her sister and I don't think she ever had any new uniform, either at primary or secondary school. She once lost her blazer and that was replaced by a second hand one.

She always had new shoes and trainers though, because her sister's never fit properly.

There is no way I would send my kids for their first day if school in faded, bubbly uniform .

Would they care? No
Would any other parent care? No
So it's for you.
In one sense it's your money. But it's your children's planet.

I doubt there will be any school photos this academic year anyway given the current situation.

I get hand me downs are good for the planet and I am all for anything that helps the planet but I also know how much I hated it as a child when I rarely got anything new and all toys and clothes had belonged to others first. Children do notice and it’s often picked up by others or seen in photos etc the difference.

I use a mix of new and second hand clothes for my children, always have since they were newborns even though I had enough money to go and buy it all new if I desperately wanted to. For me, I like the greater mix and variety of items you can have if second hand as well and the added environmental benefit is a bonus. However, I am surprised how many people have commented here that children don’t notice, because in my experience they do, particularly once school age, but not when very good condition second hand. I have friends and relatives that use second hand clothes that are very worn out and those are noticeable and would question why use them when children will notice, could (unfairly) result in bullying and I’m not sure it says much for setting standards and self pride etc, you couldn’t get away with it in the workplace etc.

A lot of school uniform can be in good condition second hand so I’m pro a mix (and is why we have this year) - but some items like polos and non logo jumpers just don’t and are so so cheap to replace

The lack of school photos is a bit sad. My son missed out in his graduation preschool photos I found out today. Rubbish.

I once taught in a posh (like, landed country gent type posh) private boarding school. The second hand uniform shop ran all year round, everyone used it. It sounds to me that you have the perfect mix - something that looks smart for the first day photo and plenty of stuff for day to day. Better for the environmental and your wallet: win win.

Ours had school photos last year (summer term). we did doorstep photos, and the photographer combined them to a class photo

@Newdaynewname1

Ours had school photos last year (summer term). we did doorstep photos, and the photographer combined them to a class photo

I think something like this did happen ie. doorstep lockdown photos but they weren’t combined into a class photo. Let’s see. Right now I’m not even convinced they’ll be back at school for long as my children’s school closes at the drop of a hat.

I don't think most very young children would notice normal wear tbh - in a few weeks their new uniform will also be fading! I'd be saving money/saving environment by getting some extra use. Save the money for when they're older and want more flash stuff!

I think a PP who suggested getting a new jumper suggested a great compromise - it doesn't cost much, an extra jumper is always handy, and it will be smart enough for even the first day.

I was an older sibling, btw, and I think younger siblings get other advantages - it all evens out.

Second hand in good "as new" condition - best of all worlds
Second hand that is damaged (faded/ripped/stained/marked/bobbly) - you have extracted all the 'wear' out of this item already, time to put it in the bin.
When a child marks their own uniform and the stain can't be removed I'd tend to let them carry on wearing it (but not on photo/trip days etc) if it is a small mark that could have been made that day (a line of pen on a sleeve) but not if it is large or obvious (big blob of faded paint centre front).

(addition to above: blood is also a "straight in the bin" stain if it can't be 100% washed out)

If he were going into secondary school this might be worth worrying about but reception children don't care about these things, and at that age it will likely all look "well loved" within a few weeks anyway

I'd just get a new jumper or one that looks new for the first day and photos. School trousers look the same until the knees go.

God no, it’s fine. We used to have a second hand uniform shop at school and I used to buy DC all their school badged jumpers and cardigans for two quid each. I love a bargain.

Shirts were always new as ours wore white proper buttoned shirts and the second hand ones were a bit grey.

I've found that as well as being cheaper and better for the environment, second hand logo uniform is better quality and looks better after a term than new supermarket uniform.