Realistic primary school purchases (UK)

[Bllake]

Hi, son is starting reception on September and obviously there is a list of what to buy such as clothes and equipment.

Question is how much do I realistically need to buy Vs how much they want you to get.

We're just about to finish FS2 (reception) with DC1

List

• decent school schools go leather if you can
• uniform at least one clean of everything a day so 5 x tops trousers shorts jumper etc. then I had two sets of spare. Jumpers to be replaced at the rate they are lost
• PE kit x 2
• school coat waterproof (bright colours to be seen in winter)
• school bag to contain set of spare clothes, lunch if taking and water bottle
• robust leakproof water bottle (buy 100 of these at the rate they are lost!) I recommend the Nuby ones
• book bag 1 to start then replace around 5

Label EVERYTHING! Including pants and shoes water bottles. We use mynametag labels

Get a shared calendar with anyone else doing pick up drop off childcare. The events are mental.

It depends on the school. My reception child need to be in PE kit 3 times a week and waterproof trousers and welliea left in school are an essential.

agree with @oustedbymymate

The minimum is:
5 x shirts
3 x skirts/trousers
3 x jumpers
5 pairs socks
decent leather shoes
trainers
pe kit
rucksack, water bottle, pencil case.

Before winter - warm waterproof coat
wellies
scarf, hat, gloves for very cold days.

Label absolutely everything.

For reception age they really do need a clean outfit every day, they get filthy! But check with your school, as a lot have them wear PE kit on PE days. Also good to have a spare set or clothes in the bag.

Check the school. At my DD’s they have PE twice a week and go in in the kit (plus school jumper depending on weather), so they only need three sets of uniform plus the PE kit.
They also need outdoor learning stuff including waterproof trainers, and the school ask that a pair of wellies get left at the school as well.

Don’t just label everything but deface in someway too so permanent marker on the back of a collar or a name, squiggle or the like somewhere on the expensive items. Do not underestimate the parents who rip out name tags on ‘found’ items. One of my son’s jumpers was returned three years after he started - he only wore it once! Name tag ripped off.

I really want to say I can't believe people would do this but honestly... I spent years in girl guiding and nothing came home the way it left

Don’t buy a book bag, many schools have logo Ed ones and some schools give them for free!

And most schools won’t want reception children bringing a pencil case.

If the jumpers are a light enough colur (works extremely well on red ones!)... Black permanent marker on inside of the collar is a great way of marking name. Added bonus... easy for an adult to see who it belongs to instead of searching for a label!

If they are still a bit unreliable on reading their name, a picture sticker as well as a name can help them find their belongings.