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

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 hate uniform and it is irrelevant what I or the kids like because the school rules are so strict.
So most important is...is it acceptable to the school?
So, plain as possible, proper short-sleeved shirts with a collar for their tie.
V-necked jumpers and cardigans.
Plain, no adornments or embellishments like pretty charms, or cargo pockets on shorts.
Plain coloured coats, no trims or zips in other colours because that wouldn't be allowed.
Same with hats and gloves, single colour.
We need elasticated waists, but not slim fit as we have fat tights and thin waists in this family.
It has to go in washing machine and on a radiator. It also will be going in a general load of washing, so no silly care instructions like no fabric softener.
Shorts, we like them knee length in this family.
The kids also prefer 'soft' clothes and fabrics.

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

No, it makes them feel worried that they are going to get into trouble for getting it wrong.

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

As soon as possible. Lay out all clothes the night before and make sure they know where that place is.

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?
I really don't care

Non iron is my number one priority

Mehfruittea
I feel your pain.

Same at our school

I love uniforms! No fights about what they are wearing and whether it's cool or not.
Unform musts: hardwearing but comfortable fabric and something that withstands constant washing and drying without fading or bobbling.
I'd also love if I didn't have to iron it!

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?

Natural fibres - polyester and nylon are now creeping into so many things and a lot of the uniform I look at. One thing you do learn after years of buying uniform from many shops - supermarkets to John Lewis is you can usually tell what is going to wash well and keep its shape!

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

Creates less stress in the mornings and deciding what to wear. Also prevents kids worrying about keeping up with peers in the fashion stakes!

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 dd is an absolute nightmare about going back to school after any break. She has huge anxiety issues around school and needs lots of reassurance and support from us and her teachers.

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

This depends very much on the child.... I have a disabled child so she still needs help with this as buttons are fiddly and tights are especially hard to pull up. Other kids are very independent and can manage this for themselves at a young age.

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?

I just need to be warm and dry or cool in the summer - really couldn't care otherwise!

what do you want to see in a uniform?
good quality!
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?
good , long lasting. things like crese resistant are a bonus. scuff resistant. easy to do trousers...so things like clips and velcro are a hit

Do you think a school uniform helps your child feel confident during the school year? How?
i think having a good unifirm which makes the child feel relaxed and happy helps the childs overall performance. nothing like wearing an irritable cardi in school all day

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?
none really. theyre all usually ok with returning- so long as all homework is done lol

What tips do you have for helping your child get the most out of school all year round?
take part in all activites that are possible. speak out!

At what age do your children start getting dressed themselves for school: what tips can you share for encouraging this?
from around age they start ...so that would be age 4 plus

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?
not really bothered- so long as its clen. wearing PJs is a no no from me. although easch to their own

I dont' like uniform - seems like they'd be comfier in their own clothes, plus then they could dress better for the weather.

In terms of uniform clothing, my two like the jersey versions of pinafores and trousers, and don't like the stiff, stain-resistant ones. School is very hot, so they like wearing short sleeved polo shirts and usually don't wear the school cardigan in the classroom. I like anything that doesn't need ironing, and I think ties and formal shirts on primary aged children are ridiculous and are about parents wanting them to look smart rather than anyone caring about how the kids feel wearing them.

If someone could invent a white sock that stays white, they'd be onto a winner - I am by no means picky about clothes, but socks in varying shades of mucky grey just stop matching (in pairs) by the end of the year.

I think that the gingham summer dresses should have built in belts (not separate ones they can lose playing horsies) and they should have full skirts - some of them are so narrow they have to hoik them up to climb / run properly. They should also avoid cute-shaped buttons that just make them really hard to do up / undo (hearts, flowers etc). Or the zip ones should have full skirts - at the moment I choose hard buttons rather than narrow skirts, but I'd rather have a full skirt plus zip.

Jumpers I get from school with logo on £7.
I like the stain away polo shirts from M&S especially as they do them as a skinny version.
Trousers I just buy black cotton chinos from Next or M&S. the teflon ones give him a rash behind the knees. I like the skinny fit of the chinos too. I don't think he's that arsed about what he wears though.

Fortunately our school hasn't a shoes policy which is great as I hate black school shoes. He's worn Clarks brown gortex leather boots all winter. They are knackered now but looked good and kept his feet dry.

And am not aware that school uniform makes him feel confident in any way.

No concerns about going back to school after the holidays just joy that they are over!

Don't give a monkeys what I wear for the school run, it's whatever I wear to work that day. Seriously?

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?

• school uniform needs to be hard wearing and practical. Zips that young children can do themselves are great. Fiddly buttons are not. My children like pockets to collect "treasures"they find in - but that might just be my children and not everyone! I like a small amount of decoration like a heart shape on a zip, but not lots as our school wouldn't like it.

Having had one child fuss and change their mind multiple times choosing what to wear for a non uniform day today, I am very glad they usually wear uniform and don't have many decisions to make.

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

• I think school uniform creates unity and a sense of being part of a community. It us a great levelled as no one has the best or most expensive uniform. They are all the same.

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?

• My children like school so are usually happy to go back. Getting uniform ready helps prepare them.

What tips do you have for helping your child get the most out of school all year round?
-support at home as well as in school.

At what age do your children start getting dressed themselves for school: what tips can you share for encouraging this? My children have been able to get dressed themselves from age 5. However, so that we actually get to school on time I still tend to help them (age 6 and 8). I could leave them to it but I'd rather not have the stress!

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?

• so long as I'm not a complete mess I don't really care what I do the school run in, Practical is fine for me. I'm not a competitive dresser!

I don't want new features and benefits, thank you, and definitely not Teflon - I want natural fibres. (If you hang them up straight away they never need ironing.)

Asda used to do a 100% cotton school sweatshirt but have discontinued it now, so I'm on the lookout for a new supplier of those - take note, Matalan.

I'd abolish uniform tomorrow if I could, though. I think it's very depressing to see little children all dressed the same, often in clothes that don't suit them.

As a mum of fashion-conscious teen girls I have the battle of finding uniform they will wear, that also meets the requirements of the school.
Finding uniform for my tall, slim 14 year old is a nightmare, skirts that fit her waist are too short and I struggle to find anything to fit my petite 15 year old. Someone needs to design a teen range that they are actually allowed to wear. The 7 year olds are comparatively easy to please.

I love school uniform. I work fulltime so buy cheap supermarket trousers x5, pack of plain polo tops and 2 jumpers, 3 school embellished sweatshirts. All washed / ironed ready for Mon am.
My teenage DD wears short sleeve white shirts, tie, black skirt and blazer.
I do like the matalan V neck jumpers for DS but echo what another poster said in Scotland there's always loads of age 3-4 but struggle to get age 7.
DS could dress himself but as I need to leave on time so I dress him give him a hand.

Neither of my kids are bothered wearing a uniform. DD was harder to buy for, DS happy with pull on or fastening trousers.
Does anyone really think about what they wear on a school run. I'm in work clothes anyway and don't get out the car so nobody sees me at school.

I think school uniforms should be comfortable and easy to clean - I don't like things that have to be dry cleaned or feel scratchy. I don't mind paying a bit more for something that washes well and doesn't crease too much. My ds has spd so he needs labels cutting out and some of them are difficult to remove completely.

I think my dc would be more confident in their own clothes to be honest but uniform makes it simpler as at least we don't have to think about what to wear each day.

I like to maintain enthusiasm for learning through the holidays by taking them out to museums and galleries, and places like the zoo. It helps them return to school with confidence.

Bedtimes tend to be a bit unstructured through the holidays though and it's always annoying to have to get back into the school run routine.
DCs have been getting themselves ready for school mostly since they started reception, I've always chosen easy outfits to make life easier, like elasticated waists so no need for buttons, and shoes without laces.

I'm not bothered about getting dressed up for the school run - I feel lucky for being able to work in an environment where appearances aren't an issue and there are more things to worry about.

I am very much pro uniform I think my two boys look very smart
For me a uniform has to be

easy to clean as I wash them every day (2 boys + school dinners + paint/pen etc)

It needs to be correctly sized the number of times I've bought my child's actual age be found it wouldn't fit a child 2 years younger then my child. Trousers def need elasticated waists I have a 9 year old who currently wears 13-14 trousers as he's so tall

Price is an issue however if it is good quality I don't mind paying a higher price. I currently buy all my school uniform at m&s as it lasts well. It's definitely not the cheapest but is the most cost efficient. I found this with school shoes too. I will always put quality above price.

I want:

• uniform that washes well and doesn't need ironing
• uniform that looks comfortable and warm, especially cheap but good quality jumpers
• buttons which fasten easily

I would prefer shirts that aren't white if they were allowed as they go grubby and yellowy so quickly

Love Matalan's girls uniform shorts. They do need to be a bit tougher on fading but not too much manmade fabric.

Oh one tip would be different trouser leg lengths. My dses are v slim and m + s do a longer length trouser which I buy for them in the age group below theirs as even adjustable waists are too big in many styles of trousers.

And how about vouchers to get free stkin name tags? If I pay a bit more I like to put a good name tag on it so it hopefully doesn't get lost.

I think that a uniform helps eliminate bullying. I do think that trainers that look like shoes are a good idea, as it's more comfortable for growing trend. My son's school does not allow any football t shirts for PE, but they are allowed to wear their "school shoes" if they are all black trainers that look similar to school shoes. Matalan, Tesco and asda do a good range of these.
And No, I would never do the school run in my pjs, but I do not have a full face of make up either.
My son likes the trousers that have the inner button that works like a belt, and the trousers have to be deep enough to fit his phone. Unfortunately, only John Lewis seem to do these type for his age (13).

I'm in my first year with a uniform wearing child but have been a teacher for over a decade. My pet hates on uniform are teenage boys with undone top buttons. It's not always their fault- secondary shirts don't seem to take into account the range of sizes of real teenagers! I'd also like to be able to find non leather school shoes more easily on ethical grounds.

I like non iron shirts, ironing tiny shirts is a headache. I'd love to see some stain protection, DS always used to come home covered in paint which no amount of soaking removes the stain.

I really dislike polo shirts as uniform especially when they have to be logo'd, the logos are often huge and so rub on their chests. That's without the cost difference.

DS has been getting himself dressed in the am for school since he started school. Although he'd often get himself dressed in the morning for nursery, his nursery were teaching self care from the moment he left the baby room.

If I'm on the way to work it's whatever I'll be wearing to work other wise jeans and a t shirt.

I like the fact that my kids have to wear a school uniform especially now that they are older (10 and 12) because it means they don't feel pressure to keep up with fashions. Buying school uniform is always a nightmare though. Both my kids are long and thin....we struggle to find trousers to fit in a charcoal grey. I like school socks that have sizes written in them too. I always found school tights a pain - they always seem a size too small and I frequently see girls walking up to school honking them back up. Matalan, if you could solve this problem, then I reckon you'd be onto a winner.

We have always encouraged my children to dress themselves from days 1. They're always ready to go back to school after the holidays - maybe I make things too boring at home.

Your general thoughts on school uniform items - what do you want to see in a uniform?
I like school uniform. It's a leveller. I want easy care, easy iron. Low cost and long lasting.

What's important to you when picking school uniform for your children?
That it follows the school rules, that it fits, that it will last and that it won't fade/shrink /bobble in the wash.

What features do you look for?
Adjustable waists, longer legs, pockets, belts.

What styles do your children like/ hate?
DD hates 'fussy' and 'girlie' (why on earth do you insist on putting love hearts and flowers on girls trousers?). I hate the 'skin tight show the knicker line' but boot cut trousers. I hate the girls trousers which may as well be leggings (and the school hates them too so we can buy trousers from Matalan). I hate the skirts that are 5 inches about the knee and the fact that you assume a longer length MUST mean a wider waist.
So I shopped in Sainsbury's instead.

Oh and finally, why on earth do you insist on gendering children's sports clothes. DD has needed plain black shorts for PE through 2 primaries and now one secondary school. The only plain black shorts to be found are always in the 'boys' section. Girls get skin tight cycling shorts or skorts (neither of which were allowed). So I'd buy the boys, and then she'd get upset because the bloody tag inside said 'boys shorts'.
So I stopped. And went to Sports Direct.

In ten years of sending DC to non uniform schools I have never once had a fight about what they wear, nor has there ever been any bullying. Is London different to the rest of the place, or have people got weird ideas about the non uninformed?? BIzarre.

Uninformed! Uniformed.