DS about to start school in sept how much uniform do I buy??

[simpson]

DS is starting school full time in Sept

His school uniform consists of grey trousers, burgundy school jumper and white polo shirts and I guess I will also need a PE kit (blue T shirt & burgundy shorts)

How many items of each do I get?

Am totally clueless

I have bought 5 white polo shirts already (on special offer)

Also is it worth buying extras on uniform list like book bags etc, or is this a waste of money??

TIA

Hmm, I always go on the rule 'one clean, one on and one in the wash'. So 3 of everything.

I only ever get one PE kit though.

My dd's have got book bags and PE bags, as have all of her friends. I can't think anything else??

I would suggest 2-3 jumpers (how messy is he? Both my DSs can need a clean one daily but my DD will wear the same cardie all week)
See cat64 agrees!

2 pairs trousers (maybe a pair of shorts too for first 6 wks - get them big an dthey'll still fit in April)

5 polos

1 PE kit and PE kit bag

1 book bag

Boys easier than girls - no trousers/skirts/pinafores debate plus school skirts never fit my skinny DD.

btw beware buing trousers too early - my DS1 always seems to grow 2 inches over the summer hols.

OTOH M&S always seems to sell out of any size you could ever need by about mid-July

Maybe buy in July but leave labels on so as to return if need at end Aug?

Depends on how often you do your washing, I do it fri/sat so DS has enough uniform for a clean change every day plus a spare set in case anything gets stained/ripped.

Book bags are encouraged at our school as they fit in the childs tray so no clutter and they bring/take very little in the first years so dont need a bulky bag.

Just one PE kit and bag has been fine for DS as they dont tend to get messy in PE.

Dont forget to label everything, I used iron on tags for reception last year(keen mum lol) but used a fabric pen this year as the tags kept falling out. The waterproof ones for bags, wallets, shoes etc though I still use as they are fab.

Thanks guys

Am a SAHM so think I will try and get away with 3 jumpers...

Where do you get fabric pens from - Wilkinsons??

I have 2 ds's. Both have 5 sweatshirts and 5 trousers. Countless plain white polo shirts from Tesco, so many have to get chucked because of stains.

They are both permanently filthy and need complete changes everyday.

At our school bok bags and pe bags with the school logo are compulsory I think.

I find it easier to have 5 of everythig, 2 sets of pe clothes and he will need a book bag and pe bag plus a bottle to take water in each day.

We basically do what Plonker suggests. Get 3 of everything (plus 1 sport kit and 1 school coat and 1 blazer). Shirts and socks we get 5 of though.

Our routine is a pair of trousers/shorts plus jumper should last for two days but put a clean shirt and socks on every day.

The aim is to get to the end of a week without needing to wash and then wash everything at the weekend.

Buy books bags, PE bag etc as directed by school otherwise DS will feel left out and different from other children if you try to make your own. Anyway its a pain making your own and kids do seem to have lot to carry around nowadays so any bags you buy will definitely get used.

Label everything of course - it will get lost.

Depends on your situation, I suppose...since I started University last year , my younger 2 sons have 5 plain blue schooljumper (+ 1 with special schoollogo, for special occasion), 5 pairs of trousers and 5 Poloshirts, each...
plus Bookbag and PE Bag, oh and 1 pair of PE shorts and 1 T-shirt...

this means I wash teh Uniforms only once a week and don't have to worry about it during the week

We have 3 sweatshirts, 5 polo shirts and 3 pairs of trousers. This works well for us as I work during the week so I struggle to turn around much washing during the week and ds is v. messy. He virtually always needs a new set of uniform each day.

I would get at least 1 pair of shorts. September can be quite hot sometimes.

If you label using pens don't forget to go over the name again as soon as it washes out.

Fridayschild - do i have to do that with pen every time I wash the clothes??

Ds1 is just finishing Reception and we've had:

5 shirts (I only do 1 white wash a week and he needs a clean one very day)

4 pairs of trousers (they came in twos!)

3 pairs of shorts

3 jumpers (we started off with 2 but I couldn't get them washed/dried quickly enough so bought an extra one)

He has an indoor PE kit (T'shirt & shorts) plus trackie bottoms, sweatshirt and trainers for outside PE in the winter that goes into school at the beginning of term and comes home at half term.

He will need a bookbag to bring home letters, etc and a PE bag with his name emblazened on the outside so he can spot it easily!

I've gone with sewn on labels because the iron-on ones fall off eventually, pen washes out but the sew on ones stay put. It's a bit of a faff sewing them on in the first place but there's no more hassle through the rest of the year.

I'm really glad I found this thread.

My DD starts in Sept too and I was wondering how many of everything to get. (DH says 5 of everything but I though that was overkill!!)

I have got 5 white polo shirts as they were on special offer and 1 pinafore. DD is reallyt skinny so I think I'll stick to dresses as trousers/skirts are a nightmare.

I'm just buying generic items as we move house at the end of June (hopefully) so haven't got a new school place guaranteed yet

dizzyday, if you get pinafores make sure she can get in/out of them by herself as it makes PE days a bit of a nightmare for the teachers if the children can't get dress and undress independently. We had a real problem with certain styles of pinafores when I taught in Reception.

And tights. Untangling 15 pairs of tights is not fun .

Also just had another thought...

What do they wear on their feet during PE?

Are they bare foot or do they wear those black plimsol things??

I agree about mucky boys, remeber too thattrouser knees rip with football so extras even more useful. I agree about M&S ridiculously out of stock but worth knowing you can buy trousers nearer the time on line.
Tshirts needs hot wash to maintain any degree of whiteness - but they shrink!
Our kids only take book bag once a week - they need another bag for water/ fruit/ lunch/ daily letters................

For PE DS had plimsols - they were easy to get on and no laces to contend with. The school actually asked for that type of pump.

They did provide a list on the open day re colours of uniform, pe kit and type of bag which was great.

I suggest 3 polo shirts (more if you can afford it but it depends how much your child is likely to wreck them, I do not know what my son does to his - we have about 6 as we have accumulated new ones in Y1); 2 pairs of shorts and 2 pairs of trousers (or skirts for girls) (3 of each if you can afford it) and 2 school jumpers (again, 3 if you can afford it). We also have the book bag. That's it, plus shorts and t-shirt for PE and a pair of plimsolls (and with the demise of Woolworths, where on earth do you get them now?)

Oh, and 5 pairs of plain pants (so they don't get the urge to show off their cool Dr Who pants to friends and ahem, end up showing more than they intended (don't laugh it actually happened)) and 5 pairs of socks. And one pair of robust shoes.

I also suggest getting a book bag tag with your child's name on. I used sew-on tags for the clothes because I have nothing better to do with my life :-)

Agree with Clary's point about sudden July growth spurts. DS does this every flipping year.

I try to have enough clothes so that I can always have a complete set in hand for emergencies. Given that I work full time in term times, that means 5 polo shirts, 4 sweat shirts and 3 pairs of trousers. He still goes to school grubby on Fridays occasionally.

One PE kit is absolutely fine at this age. He may not need a book bag, but will probably want one!

I always treat uniform lists with some scepticism, because of the ludicrously out of date confections my poor mother had to fulfill when I was at boarding school in the 1970s. To be fair, every one of DS's 3 schools have been spot on.

All the shops run offers nearer the time - 3 for 2 etc worth waiting.

The only thing I underestimated was sweatshirts - thought ds could manage with 2 a week

Then frantically struggled to find extra in Sept. Ds now in year 1 - seems a lot less messy than reception!

My DS is in Reception and tbh has to have a clean sweatshirt and trousers most days, as he gets filthy. He also has 5 polo shirts and 5 pairs of school socks. 1 set of PE kit with a PE bag. Also a book bag. I didn't bother to get the school coat or hat as I bought him coat and hat from M&S. 1 pair of school shoes also. Oh and some shorts for the warmer weather.

On the other hand DD has only 1 sweatshirt that she wears all week. 1 pair of trousers and 1 skirt that only get washed at weekends. She does have a clean shirt everyday though as she is older and getting into the realms of BO... Also has school socks/tights. 1 PE kit with bag and a school bag (reading book/homework/pencil case goes in there as she is in KS2)

IME Recpetion do not need a rucksack type bag or pencil case.

Oh and don't forget the water bottle and the packed lunch bag (if that is what they are going to have for lunch)