Let's talk School Uniform - Matalan would love to know what you think - £300 to be won NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

Following winning a Mumsnet Rated badge for their range of Teflon coated school uniform, the team at Matalan would love to explore further with Mumsnetters their general views on School Uniform.

Matalan say "we all know uniform can be expensive and time consuming to keep clean/ keep on top of - at Matalan you can kit your kids out for less with our school uniform range, it's packed full of new features and benefits that will mean less ironing and washing for parents - better still, shop the full range online and collect in store for free! We'd love to know your tips and views on uniform in general and how you help your child feel confident at school"

Please share on this thread your views on all or some of the below:

Your general thoughts on school uniform items - what do you want to see in a uniform? What's important to you when picking school uniform for your children? What features do you look for? What styles do your children like/ hate?

Do you think a school uniform helps your child feel confident during the school year? How?

How do you encourage your children to go back to school after school holidays with confidence? What concerns do you have - if any - about sending your children to school for the first time/back to school after the holidays?
What tips do you have for helping your child get the most out of school all year round?

At what age do your children start getting dressed themselves for school: what tips can you share for encouraging this?

And for those who do a school run - how much - if at all, do you care or think about what you wear to drop off or pick up from school?

Add your comments to this thread and you will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will win a £300 voucher to spend in Matalan (a Love2Shop voucher)

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T and Cs apply

I think school uniforms are great they avoid children competing with fashion labels etc. I look for reasonably priced and hard wearing uniform pieces.

My son changed school recently and the new school uniform was completely different apart from the trousers. I had to get new polo shirts and jerseys and was lucky to pick those up at BHS closing down sale at much reduced costs.
I used to be against the wearing of uniforms for kids , but I've changed my mind as I feel it eliminates discrimination for not having the latest designer clothes if you're all wearing the same thing.
I would get rid of things like ties and blazers which I don't think are practical items of clothing.
As he enjoys his school, he cant wait to get back to see his friends and teachers after the break.
He was dressing himself for school at age 6 and is quite confident wearing his uniform.

I don't have a problem with children having to wear school uniform, so long as girls are allowed to wear trousers and don't have to wear skirts.

My daughter attends a girls' grammar school and her uniform all has to be bought from a specialist school shop. She likes to wear it as she says it makes everyone the same but I do wish I could buy, even the blouses, cheaply!

Uniform is great, but not when the school requires you to purchase things like a blazer that can only be bought from certain shop at a high cost.

Only my DD is at school at the moment but she loves feeling grown up by putting on her uniform for school. My DS calls his nursery school but he goes in his own clothes and always comes back dirty so I can't wait for him to go to school and wear a uniform.

I think school uniform is important, but a fairly indistinctive one is better. Also there must be rules about what can be worn and what can be and these rules should be adhered to. Cant stand the complaints in the papers every September, when a child is excluded because the mother bought the incorrect uniform. If its not right, dont buy it, or accept the consequences

I am a fan of school uniforms because it makes all children equal. I look for quality and low price, as well as non-iron products. I hate it when clothes bobble quickly!

Erm, that'll be socialism that you're thinking of. In the absence of which children are definitely not all equal.

Uniforms make things so much easier, I can only imagine how much drama there would be in the morning if they had to decide what they wanted to wear and I can imagine it costing alot more in the long run!

Your general thoughts on school uniform items - what do you want to see in a uniform? What's important to you when picking school uniform for your children? What features do you look for? What styles do your children like/ hate?
I have a 6 year old with asd but she's happy to wear uniform and it definitely makes my life easier. I do hate the fact the colours are dark. She hates the fact it's blue as she doesn't like that.
I look for non iron. Pinafores that are also non iron and easy to get on and off. I hate that shiny stuff. I didn't think about this until another poster said it but big buttons on cardigans and shirts would be brilliant. Also Tesco did a lovely white poloshirt with a grey skirt attached. Genius idea for gym days as she can change easily on her own.
Do you think a school uniform helps your child feel confident during the school year? How?
Not particularly however she tolerates it.
How do you encourage your children to go back to school after school holidays with confidence? What concerns do you have - if any - about sending your children to school for the first time/back to school after the holidays?
What tips do you have for helping your child get the most out of school all year round?
My children weirdos all love school and can't wait to get back.
At what age do your children start getting dressed themselves for school: what tips can you share for encouraging this?
Straight away but I do help still or we wouldn't get out the door.
And for those who do a school run - how much - if at all, do you care or think about what you wear to drop off or pick up from school?
Rarely do it as I work. I would however worry about what I looked like. I'm a vain cow though and would be the same no matter where I am going.
*
Just bought Matalan uniform today weirdly enough. Was in the new refurbished Dundee store and they had the summer dresses in with the zip up front 2 for £10. Look great. Keen to see how they wash.*

I think uniforms are great, every child is dressed the same so no child should feel lacking in confidence through appearance etc. As long as the uniform is mainly non-specialist and can be bought from a variety of retailers then that eliminates a cost issue.

It makes life easier for parents in the morning, the children know what they have to wear to school and there should be no arguments.

I like the idea of a casual uniform, trousers/skirt with a polo shirt and jumper during the colder months. No ironing preferably.

In terms of uniform, I am not sure it helps my son feel confident. I do think uniform in itself is good, because it prevents any kind of bullying or isolation if other children don't like your child's clothes. However, I do think my son would be more confident wearing his own clothes. However, I do wish there were more options for what children could wear. I have to spend a fortune on logo'd t-shirts (which are under his jumper for most of the year!). I would much prefer it if he could wear a plain polo.

I must admit, my son does struggle with returning to school after holidays. He spends most of his holidays out and about with his nana, so I think he prefers that too school! He doesn't dislike school in any way, but he does love to be out and exploring. We always leave his home work until a few days before he is due back, because I think that helps him and makes him realise that it will be school time again soon! I feel like having him prepared and ready for the new term improves his confidence.

I think asking your child about the themes and what they are covering at school, helps them to get the most out of it. My son loves coming home and telling us what he did that day. He doesn't see school in a negative way and we certainly welcome him telling us everything he does and loves there!

My son started reception last September, and while it has taken time and patience for him to dress himself, he now does so [he is 4.5]. He still needs a bit of help with the tricky parts like buttons, but he can put his own socks, trousers, pants and t-shirt on without a problem. I think the only tip I can give is to let them do it in their own time. Trying to force or coerce them into it will not work. Jamie started to do it when he was ready too and that is what was best for him.

As for me on school runs, I don't care what I wear very much! although I do wear my own work uniform, but if I wasn't going to work, I wouldn't be worrying about chucking any old thing on to drop my child off. Obviously I wouldn't wear anything outrageous or that would embarrass my child though.

thanks x

My son loves wearing his uniform (in fact he would prefer to wear it on a dress up day which is slightly weird), its easier to get ready than different clothes every day and its also a great leveller, nobody has better clothing than anyone else. I look for uniform that is robust and will keep him warm/cool in the weather at the time, we buy most of ours from Matalan as they are one of the few stores locally that do Maroon jumpers/sweaters without us having to order stuff in, plus the sizing is really good and the fabric nice and thick, but comfortable with it.

I like school uniform. As long as it is:

• cheap
• practical
• sensibly enforced

It avoids arguments about the appropriateness of an Elsa dress.

DD is 6. She is perfectly capable of getting herself dressed. And, on occasion, does. But usually gets a dose of the distracted/incapable which means i have to dress her.

I hate that my DD1's jumpers and cardigans are specific from one shop and they charge a lot for them. They don't wash well as they fade and are bobbly. They do wear navy polos which are so much better than white ones.

I am a fan as both of my daughters will say I want to be pretty, I don't want to wear trousers etc. so uniform is definitely the way to go!

I have a very eager 3 yr old who will try and get dressed herself, but tights are her arch enemy she struggles every day and she gets angry. My 5 yr old is a bit lazier and will prefer for me to get her dressed, but I have a gold star system which seems to work with getting her to do things. She surprisingly got herself dressed from top to toe the other day because she wanted a gold star.

Love school uniform, makes getting ready so easy

Uniform great, wish they wore it in 6th form still, like back in my day - no competing about which brands people are wearing then, or comments about people wearing the same clothes 2 days in a row!

Our son is 14, over 6 foot tall with size 14 feet. It is near impossible to kit him out for school. In fact this year he has the biggest size available of his schools badge uniform so they have had to agree to him wearing a plain blazer & sports tops.

I like school uniform, the kids are all the same and no one is any better with designer labels etc. It's also safer when the kids are on school trips, as they are easy to spot.

I think it's unfair for schools to select a particular supplier of uniform, with a badge or whatever. These items are usually much more expensive that items bought in supermarkets and high street stores. It makes it very difficult for families on low incomes.

As for the actual items themselves, they need to be extremely durable and come in a range of sizes. Not every child of a certain age has the same leg length or waist measurement. My eldest two are skinny and my youngest is a bit plump and I always struggle with finding trousers that fit well for all of them.

I love DD being in uniform, I think it levels the playing field for kids, limits the ability to start all that brand name nonsense that starts in senior school. The kids all look smart and tidy too, and mornings are less hassle.

I always buy quite a few bits from matalan, the pinafores wash so well. Shoes have been surprisingly sturdy too!

I like the idea of school uniforms, children dont need to worry about standing out from everyone else and parents dont need to worry about spending a fortune on the latest trends. School uniforms are not expensive to buy and look smart. Cant see any downside really.

School uniforms are great but I really hate when girls have to wear ties!!

Always buy good quality uniforms as they keep for longer and are easier to clean. Not a great fan of uniforms in general but having had a child go to a school with no uniform you realise it makes things a little easier in the morning getting ready.

I always buy generic school uniforms as they are cheaper and easier to replace when they get damaged or lost. Also I look out for adjustable waistbands which come in handy as they grow.