School uniform help please!!

[rainydaysarebad]

My Dd starts school in september and I have no clue about where I can buy good quality uniforms. I'm veering towards M&S as they have a 20% sale on.

SO, how many polo shirts should I buy? I want to buy her a pinafore dress, but should I get a pair of trousers too to change during the week? Should I buy her summer dress this year or wait until next year?

Shoes - clarks? Or would M&S shoes be ok? Are they good quality? I'm figuring if I'm getting a discount I should get everything from one place.

PE clothes - where do I buy PE shorts? I've seen some unisex ones in M&S and they look like baggy boys shorts. Should I get her cycling shorts instead? And also where would I get a blue tshirt from?

That's it really, the school will provide the jumper and I will wait until August for the coat.

Thanks for any help.

at growing 3 inches, my DS doesn't grow that in a year i don't think

M&S offer ends 20th July

I have bought uniform already tho this will be our 1st year so I am no expert. Have bought from school outfitter and M n S. 5 logoed polos to have one clean each day and wash at weekend. M n S do lined trousers (this is for DS) so have 2 of those and 1 bargain £4 pair, will see how we go with those, also 2x bargain shorts and 1 xskinkind shorts. If we have a problem with dirty trousers and for any reason couldn't get them washed in time, he can go in shorts and vice versa. If this doesn't work in the first term, we can always go and get another pair or 2 of trousers before the weather gets really cold, I figure.

I liked that in the M and S grey boys socks we got there is a white space where you can write a name.

Our school outfitter does ages 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8. So I was happy getting age5/6, it is pretty big on him, though wearable, and I don't see him outgrowing it by Sept.

However, I am reluctantly postponing the shoe buying so we can get a better fit nearer the time - we may well be visiting a Clarks outlet on the way to or from holiday

Yes, yes, yes to labelling EVERYTHING including shoes (as they all turn up in the same Clarks shoes at the start of term) and a request please, not the one's with toys in the heels!!!

As one who has to sort out the Lost Property area - I could outfit a whole class with the amount of unlabelled uniform in there at the moment. And some of this is expensive stuff.

If possible label clothes twice, first at the neck and also on the label at the side. Coats/jackets without labels you can write on the inside of pockets.

Also remember that these children will have to get changed for PE and even though you try to ask them to fold their clothes in a pile ... there are normally socks/tights flying in all directions, so if they don't have to wear uniform socks, make sure yours are brightly coloured and/or easily recognisable to your DC.

Most reception children need a change of clothes each day - especially if they have school meals or have any form of yoghurt in their lunchboxes

I use sew in labels for DD clothes and fabric pen on the label. Her outgrown clothes can go in the charity shop.

DS outgrown clothes are only fit for the bin . I use sew in labels on his coat/blazer/PE kit (school rugby shirt and trackie trousers).

I write his name with the fabtic pen on the label and on the inside of the hem.

Make sure your DC knows where the labelling is, especially if you label twice. Labels can come off or writing gets faded.

Oldsilver I know the feeling! Some of the kids say they know their clothes by smell in our school!! I hope they mean fabric softener because the alternative is not a pleasant thought to say the least! Some parents just will not label and then expect you to find lost property in an instant!! So Label label label and write over the biro when it fades or risk losing it !!

Next is v good for slim fit trousers.

Buy the cheapest polo shirts you can as they go grey so quickly that you will probably throw them away before she grows out of them. Everything else seems to last forever these days.

I have a mix of summer dresses, a few skirts and a few pinafores as her tastes change through the year depending on what the other girls are wearing. Got cardigans (only 2) from John Lewis this year as I could nto find any burgundy ones in M&S, Next etc. And although they were £14 each (ouch!) they are really nice quality

I personally think the girls school shoes in Clarkes are not v good. We had a pair with a very thin sole and DD complained everyday that her feet were sore (not rubbing or anything just sore soles. Now have a much sturdier pair from Start Rite that have been much better (no complaints)

I buy uniform at end of July for DD and DS. Shoes are always Clarks or Startrite.
I buy polo shirts, sweatshirts and cardigans through school suppliers.They have 5 polo shirts each. DD has 2 cardigans and a sweatshirt.
I used to buy M&S uniform but last year bought Sainsburys which has been just as good and was cheaper. DD has 2 summer dresses which she will wear into the autumn with cardigan and tights. She also has 1 pinafore and 2 skirts.
John Lewis has a good selection for PE bags.

For DS1 i bought a mixture of non-school "branded" clothes from M&S (mostly), Asda and Sainbos. 5 shirts plus a spare, 4 pairs of trousers and 2 jumpers - one of everything else.
Am a SAHM but still don't want to have a ton of school uniform to wash in the week. Bought Start rite (or Clarkes - i can't remember whichi !) shoes in August last year. I always buy a good pair of leather shoes (they wear them every day after all) which are scuffed to bits now no matter how much they're polished but he'll get a new pair in the summer.

Wow thanks for all this information. I forgot about getting a PE bag! Where do I get sew in labels from and fabric pens?

Schools sometimes have a supplier of embroidered/printed name tapes (sometimes 72 in a pack!)- so if you have more DC's to follow you could just get the surname on them so you can use them for them! If you have a popular surname you could have *** family on them!

Fabric pens- you can get in loads of places. WHSmith, Ryeman, Mothercare

I buy labels from Identity Direct - they are dishwasher safe. But they take ages to deliver, so order early.

I bought Cash's sew in labels for my DC's clothes. I snip out the labels and re-sew.
I'm using the same labels that I sewed in DS nursery clothes (I bought him 12 pairs of pants when he was 2 yo for nursery) We are still using the same labels and he is 12.6yo

I've never had to label dd's clothes - her nursery have been really good with not losing clothes over the past 4 years... Don't think it will be the same in school! Thanks for that 70isalimit - very (stupidly) excited about ordering those name labels and sewing them in

Most supermarket uniform has a space on the label to write a name. I used to iron in labels, now I just write on the space provided with biro!

You can get washable laundry pens in Sainsbos (on the end of aisles where they have needles/threads etc) - biro washes out too quickly. Hopefully school should have a label supplier - and cheaper (or the school gets a small return) than if you order independently. DS nursery did iron on and stick on ones - stick on ones invaluable for shoes/drinks bottles for classroom/pack lunch equipment or a new coat you haven't had time to sew new label in

Putting the labels in the collar/neck area is a good idea (sew in ones not so likely to rub) as teacher or child will invariable pick up clothing by that and you can see the name without having to rummage around looking for labels. Also helps when your DC has accidently brought someone elses home and you can see straight away it's not yours - yes, this does happen all the time

Where is best to buy Girl's tights which are good quality and long in the leg? Have done boys and trousers for years so no problems with boys for me but DTs go to school in Sept so am having to think about their uniforms [ smile]

Millie1 - I tend to buy tights from M&S - they always wear well for DD. I guess their school tights are probably just as good. I've never bought tights from Next, but have bought outfits that had tights included and they've also fitted DD really well too, and last well. Primark are the worse - they rip in the crotch after the first wear and are generally crap.

A word of caution on expensive logoed sweatshirts, cardigans.

It's better to survive on two that fit, than buy three that are too big.

If the sleeves are too long they will trash the cuffs. Not only do they wear badly getting the way, but they stick their thumbs through them or chew them.

By the time they fit they look a mess.

Tights, buy loads and teach your DD to love trousers, it's cheaper!

And enjoy the next few years they go all to fast.
I don't have to buy primary uniform this year

M&S tights are nice, but small.
I've always found you need a size bigger or they find changing difficult.

Thanks for the tights advice!

Hi there, I haven't read all the replies, but I can HIGHLY recommend the M&S wool rich jumpers. Nice and warm over winter and have machine washed brilliantly. They look as good today as they did when I bought them last Sept. I have availed of the 20% offer and got the wool rich cardigans for my DD starting this Sept.

I have the M&S trousers too. They are fine. Washed reasonably well and kept the seam down the front to acceptable level of neatness.

Good luck with all your purchases.

Thanks for reminding me RCOR - I bought the wool rich cardi last year and it's DDs favourite, I need another for winter.
Lots of supermarket cotton ones for summer have gone a bit saggy but they've survived endless washes

We just use a Sharpie marker to label our clothes, rather than a special clothes pen.
We are so lucky, as our school has a slightly relaxed attitude to uniform - the school colours are navy/grey/white, but you can wear pretty much anything. Ds seems to stick to school navy polo shirts and gets through less uniform than dd.
DD has (deep breath!)
2 pairs of shorts (one navy cord, other dark denim)
1 grey dress
2 pinafore dresses
2 school skirts
5 nice floaty summer tops
3 polo shirts
2 long sleeved white tops from H&M
Stripy leggings (to use under shorts/dresses in winter)
4 summer dresses
loads of cardigans.

To be honest it is rather a lot, but she really needs it all, as she is a messy thing.
Ds on the other hand has 5 school polo shirts, 4 sweatshirts, 3 pairs of shorts, and 2 pairs of navy blue corduroy trousers, and that is plenty.

If you can, try and look at the school polo shirts. Ours are excellent quality, and have lasted through older ds for 2/3 years, dd, and now onto ds 2. They still are a lovely dark navy, almost look as good as new - so definitely worth the £8 each.
Also, if your school allows it, get polo shirts that are not white. We always get navy or pale blue. When we used white we were having to replace them so often.

I'd also avoid the expensive white school polo shirts with the logos embroidered on. At our school they give the kids white board pens to use and my DS managed to get ink all over the polo shirts. It doesn't wash out again. I've tried every stain remover I could find. Now I just buy dirt cheap polo shirts.

Okay I finally purchased her whole uniform minus plimsolls and shoes. I cannot believe how expensive this uniform malarkey is! I never realised it would cost this much. So I think I've learnt now, all her next uniforms will be bought in sales for the following year! Price aside, I am really pleased with everything from M&S. I bought the stainaway polo shirts from M&S, so hopefully washing them wont be a problem.