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 bought in July for my son starting in August (Scotland) and it was too late! He's really skinny so trying to get the skinny fit trousers and shorts in the right colour was murder.

He's mainly in Tesco and it's worn absolutely fine, although with lockdown he hasn't been wearing it as much. I went for m&s for knitwear though because it was a nicer shade of grey!

Wait for Aldi to sell school uniform. I've bought uniform from Aldi, M&S and John Lewis and TBH there's not much in it in terms of quality but Aldi is way cheaper. You can check out on their website when it is coming out. It gets snapped up quickly because its cheap.

Ask the school if they will have 2nd hand uniform sales towards the end of this term.

And now is the time to get good quality stuff second hand on eBay too.

I have a slow growing DD now in year 2, she's still in the same uniform I bought in June 2018 ready for her September 18 start, we're in age 1-2 jumpers from the uniform shop who had to order them in and that took about 6 weeks so do bare that in mind as well if buying logoed stuff.

Day before in asda supemarket. Genuinely, that teeny tiny child will grow like a weed and fill out...

M&S generally have a 20% off all school uniform around about now, i've got my basket loaded and ready to go so I can checkout as soon as it starts as everything goes out of stock really quickly!

@DingDongThongs

Day before in asda supemarket. Genuinely, that teeny tiny child will grow like a weed and fill out...

Mine grew slowly and steadily until his 14th birthday. Three sizes of uniform in primary (except for trousers which were yearly until age 8), 5, 8 and 10.

I used to do it around this time. I hated scrambling around for uniform in July/August - you wouldn’t believe how difficult it can be to find sufficient stock of everything you need - and only got caught out like that once!

I’d buy it now, one size up from where she is now.

From experience I'd say as early as possible. Our local outfitters always have a discount weekend in mid July to tempt people then. When DD started, I couldn't get her a skirt as they were all sold out, and we had a last minute panic with getting one in time, so I wish I had done it earlier.

We had to get logo'd blazer, PE top and house tie and house rugby top. It is so much harder than getting it for primary if it has to be a certain type of skirt or trousers etc.

I bought everything a size too big as well due to the cost of it.

I've normally done the first of a couple of click and collect orders for September by now to spread it over a couple of months for 2 kids - however this year there is so much stuff that got barely any wear (normally it would be utterly knackered by now) that I'm hanging fire a bit and just buying limited stuff - but I did have to do a big "oh fuck they've grown" shop when they reopened the schools again.

I'm also waiting on word from the school if they're reinstating ties and going back to keeping PE kit in school rather than coming in in tracksuits to give me some idea of amount needed as this year they've only been in uniform 3 days a week!

there may be another lockdown?

Watching with interest. Didn't even consider the shoes running out.

Any fellow parents of new starters this year, it might be worth posting on your local Facebook group to ask for any uniform advice. I just did this and discovered which school logo cardigan washes the best, how true to size they are, that non logo cardigans are actually allowed too. Also that no one actually wears “long sports socks” for outdoor PE and that the specified “non fashion trainers” are just basically any trainers. So it might be worth a check before you drop ££ on uniform items that turn out not to be needed!

My little girl also starts in September and I've started buying things now but in a size up. The only thing we will leave nearer the time is shoes.

I've learnt my lesson from her older brother. By August there's rarely the sizes/colours we need left.

Don't leave it late. M&S sell out of boys popular trousers very quickly. I suggest June, no later than July.

@Robostripes

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!

Really? We all found the opposite my perfectly average 5 year old is wearing a M&S dress in size 8-9 as the 5-6 was showing her knickers!

Asda’s 6-7 is almost an inch wider in the same style dress, a size up when I compared it with the M&S one.

wait until the week before school starts. especially for shoes.
imo and ime it's ridiculous to buy now when you only need it in 3 month's time.

I buy it when M&S have 20% off around June but keep the receipt in case I need to change sizes just before going back.

Does anyone know if the M&S 20% off event is coming? I keep checking but nothing so far. Insider info?

they may not ...usually is June time.

The M&S 25% off uniform starts 6th July

Ooh thanks for the M&S tip.
Does anyone know when Aldi or Lidl are going to do uniform?

I've bought everything other than a PE t-shirt as we don't know which colour to buy yet. I generally just make sure I always have the next size up of everything as kids don't know they are only supposed to grow in August and getting uniform mid-year can be a pain.

For a new starter I would buy early but buy big. Supermarket uniform is very good but don't buy from Sainsburys if you are unsure on sizing for September as you have to return within 30 days now. M&S is good for shoes, better than Clarks for boys shoes. Most places will have sold out of most uniform by mid-July, especially unusual colours or sizes.

For some reason the uniforms will be on the shops in the next few weeks. If you don't but when it appears come August there will be non

Stupid situation I know