When to start buying uniform for September?

[Wowzel]

My DD is due to start reception in September, she grows very slowly.

When is the best time to start buying uniform? Is now too early?

I usually wait until August. Growth spurts have made me learn my lesson, and I just put some money aside every payday to keep for August

I have 2 DD so generally buy in June from M&S when they have 20% off

No. Come July you won’t have a choice.

Look for zips not buttons, or big buttons, Velcro not hooks.

Tights can be difficult to track down in school colors.

I’ve just ordered some for my son as I’ve learnt from past experience that ages 2-3 & 3-4 sell out quickly. If they’re too small, they will fit my youngest for nursery but I doubt it. Uniform is huge!

I’d say June as all the small sizes sell out.

First two weeks in July. My daughter is in reception and next year I’m going to buy the size she needs plus the next size up as it has been difficult to buy uniform mid year.

M and S in June when they do 20 % off. If you think dc may have a growth spurt before September buy size up.
I usually leave shoe shopping till mid August (no later) its a balancing act between there been suitable stock left and feet not going to grow before they get wear out of them.

For all those recommending M&S uniform, it wears well but it comes up HUGE. My DS is a perfectly average sized (now) 5 year old in reception. He’s wearing age 2-3 trousers and shorts from M&S - their sizing is simply enormous!

Id say end June/early July.

For the most part you wont need M and S either (unless you want to)! Supermarket uniform does the job just as well (we started with M and S and migrated across after this realisation!)

My DS is starting high school in september. At least half his uniform has to come from the school supplier. I've bought nearly everything already. Hes pretty small for his age and there is growing room even in the smallest sizes. Will get the rest (and top up DDs uniform) when M and S has their 20% sale (I hope they still have it this year!)

I’ve always found markies sizing consistent. My dc has been wearing their trousers and shorts for years. Better to get slim fit if your average size, regular fit for the bigger kids.

I bought mine in April for my DD who started reception last September. Bought uniform for all my kids for next year last week. Will get shoes in August.

Dont wait till mid aug there was none left.
I didnt buy as much this year snd my average sized neary 9yo is still squeezing into a 7-8 jumper. But then the school shop has odd sizes and might be 9-10 anyway

School trousers do come up long. I think thats the material. Maybe because they go down to shoes

Don't wait until August, it will all be sold out!

M&S do 20% off uniform soon and Sainsbury's will have 25% off at some stage, but I find Sainburys goes out of stock mega fast when it's 25% off and its cheap enough anyway.

Asda polo shirts, tights, sweatshirt cardi's are fab and bargain prices!

There's hardly anything available now, I looked for some summer bits this week and was disappointed. Hoping in 6 weeks there'll be some stock in again

I would get a bare minimum in, probably in June. Risky to leave until August! You can always get gym shoes online though so I wouldn't get those or school shoes until nearer the time.
Shops do restock and after the back to school rush, you will still be able to buy it.

Generic uniform don't worry. Even if supermarkets sell out of popular sizes, school suppliers and online won't. If it's anything from a special order place that has to be collected from the school it helps to get it before the end of term.

We gave up hunting the shops years ago.
Just order it online, try it on at home and return what you don't want to the shops.

I have found that some uniform has been out of stock all year so dont recommend leaving it until the last minute.

Asda do a 90 day refund that might have been extended during the pandemic. You could get the size that fits in July and the next size up, then take back what is outgrown.

I'm grateful I bought the next sizes up when I could , as now I can barely find any uniform anywhere.

Wow I think it's riskly buying now. They grow!

Book a clarks appointment for eaely august. So much nicer not having to queue!

July - anything after that could have limited sizes. For a DD would definitely recommend trousers - much more practical for running around and easier for getting herself dressed.

I also buy from M&S in June for the 20% off!

If you want “summer uniform” like gingham dresses for start of September, then now. They’ll be gone well before the summer holidays. Our specialist uniform supplier for logo stuff is already quoting six weeks, and this is a quiet time of year, so I’d probably order any logo stuff now too in a generous size (if logo is optional I wouldn’t bother and just buy plain, it’s much cheaper and just gets wrecked anyway). Bog standard white polo shirts type stuff I’d leave until June/July, it’s available in every supermarket and on eg Amazon as well. Consider how much uniform you need versus how much PE kit - ours go in in PE kit two full days a week now so I’m buying more joggers and fewer pinafores for next year!

Shoes I’d wait until august.

Might be a little too early now as your DD might outgrow the clothes fairy quickly. You could buy lunchbag, PE bag, book bag but I'd personally hold off on the clothes until the summer holidays.

Depends on how generic it is.

I used to buy ds's from the supermarket just after the schools had started in september because the minute thebzchool year started, they reduced it! He was also a slow grower. Obviously that won't work for the first uniform though!

Logo'd items - optional- were available only via the school so had to get them when they did an order.