School uniform. How much to buy??

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My son starts school in September. I have no idea how much uniform to buy. He's a particularly messy child and I would think his clothes would get dirty every day. Would 8 school jumpers/ 8 tops and 5 trousers be excessive? Or not enough? 🤣

Much depends on how often you put your washer on. If you only do the washing at weekends, that's rather different to if there's a load going on every day.

Oh, and whilst you might need to wash the top that has lunch all down it, or the muddy trousers, don't bother with the pen marks - they're just an inevitability and not unhygienic.

One tip: if you're debating whether you need one pack of polo shirts or two, buy the second pack in the next size up. You'll need them next year, and they'll do for the odd day when you've run out. Some people also recommend keeping one shirt out of use until the day they do the school photos, so you're sure of having one without paint stains for then!

I only ever bought two of each jumper, polo shirt and trousers - two days in one set, then washed, two days in the other set and washed etc - and that was definitely enough for them. Does the school sell second hand uniform? My primary school always had piles and piles of barely worn uniform in sales throughout the year at the summer fayre, Christmas fayre. You can always pick up a couple of spares if you think you'll need them. I personally think people buy far too much, just overestimating how much they realistically need.

Yes definitely check PE/Sports. In reception mine only wore the full uniform twice a week and they wore the sports kit 3 days, twice for actual sports and again for swimming as it was easiest for changing independently. Once you’ve figured that out get what you need for 1 week so you’re set if you don’t get round to doing a wash midweek. Plus maybe 1 extra set of bottoms to stay in school if DC is prone to toilet accidents. You definitely do not need 8 jumpers!

I work full time and don't have time for lots of washing so we have 5 sets of T-shirts, sweatshirts and trousers/shorts.

I just throw it all in the wash on Saturday!