Teaching assistant outfit help!

[tigereyes10]

Hello! I've just been offered a job as a learning support assistant in a secondary school. I've read their staff 'uniform' policy and it says 'formal/office wear, no denim, nothing too short, nothing low cut, no sports wear, no leggings, nothing satin or sheer" etc... Basically everything in my wardrobe is inappropriate 😂. Because I'm going to have to now buy a whole new wardrobe just for work, where's the best budget friendly place to be looking? Some lovely bits on new look but at £35 for a shirt dress..it's not really doable considering I'm going to need atleast five to seven new outfits to rotate. If there's any teaching assistants on here - what do you all wear?

You can perfectly well use leggings under clothes in cooler weather. They will just look like tights

Thank you! Some of the teachers that work there taught me 15 years ago which is daunting! Hopefully they don't remember sending me out of class for being a sarcastic smartarse 😂 x

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Are jumpsuits okay? Like culotte style ones so not tight fitted. X

Not sure in a secondary setting, but I've got a plain black dungaree/jumpsuit thing that has culotte bottoms that sits mid calf on me that I wear with bright teeshirts and vans in the summer months. Maybe run in past you exmil, she'll be a good source of knowledge if she's there already 😀

I'm not sure she would even know what culottes are 😂😂😂

i think leggings and a dress would be fine. I’m a TA but in primary and that’s my go to. Long sleeve thermal top under the dress in the winter.

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Straight legged trousers and a plain blouse/top with flats

I’d get yourself a pair of smart trousers but with jersey stretch (M and S or next) and 3 tops, if you think you can do a midweek wash.. and then get a feel for the place before you buy anything else.

Primaries are generally more informal, so you probably won’t get away with the tunic and leggings a PP mentions above, and I think mid thigh is probably too short for a shirt, but don’t spend more than you have to till you know.

You only really need 6 outfits and then just rotate!

Two pairs of trousers and 6 blouses/jumpers would be fine. Or one pair of trousers, three tops and three dresses.

H&M, New Look, F&F, Tu are all good. Or Vinted/eBay! I really like H&Ms cheap work trousers, think they are around £15?!

If you spend more on anything it should definitely be shoes.

I'm a teacher and get all my work clothes from ASDA George and Sainsbury's TU - wash really well, not too expensive and some lovely things.

It's really important to be comfortable and I would recommend wearing layers (schools can get hot). I go for chinos/high waisted trousers or a midi skirt with a blouse, polo neck or high-neck top and a cardi, or a high-neck midi dress with cardi. I always keep a blazer in the classroom for impromptu parents meetings or assembly etc where you may need to be a bit smarter.

Plus a warm coat for duty! I have a long wool trench which is very smart and warm. Comfortable shoes are worth investing in. I actually get mine from Hotter which aren't the most fashion forward but comfort is key when you're on your feet all day.

So long as it’s not denim and you’re not flashing a boob or a thigh you’ll be ok. Teachers are scruffier than most TAs at my school!

I’m an LSA in a secondary school. I wear pinafore dresses and jumpers or shirts with tights in the colder weather, or tailored trousers/smart top and blazer. In the warmer months I wear smart, lighter-weight tea dresses without tights. For footwear it’s either chunky lace up boots or loafers. 😊

Most of my stuff is from Vinted, although I’ll spend more to get nice trousers, as I’m vertically challenged and need petite fit. 🤣 Seems impossible to get the shorter leg in cheaper shops! 🤣

Make yourself a uniform. I’d do 2 bottoms - either high waisted trousers or a midi skirt, in black, navy or gray (pick a different colour to the school uniform!) and then 3 shirts/blouses in whatever colours/prints you fancy tucked in. You’ll have to do a midweek wash until you can afford a couple more shirts. High waist gives you more overlap with shirts so no chance of any visible skin but keeps some shape. Size up and then sew up the placket if you sometimes have issues with buttons not staying done up over your boobs. Add a suit jacket type thing if they like that. Mango is good for non traditional suiting if you want to avoid looking too school uniformy. Add thin merino jumpers when it’s gets cooler. And leather boots or shoes. I’d look at TU at sainsbury’s and Tescos and M&S for cheap formal looking clothes. Also uniqlo - they do excellent quite inexpensive merino jumpers that look perfectly smart for this kind of dress code.

Another option would be shirt dresses. Start with 3. Add tights and a cardigan/jumper for winter.

When I went back to teaching I bought 3 pairs of trousers in black, grey and blue and 4 plain, long sleeve t- shirt tops in different colours. Jiggled them around in different combinations. Added a long cardigan if needed. But the school advised against dresses/skirts and also easier to run in trousers and flat shoes. It was a challenging working environment.

Good luck in your new job, hope you enjoy it.

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These would be all good options for me for a new school year wardrobe!

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This is the vibe I’d go for.
If you hate button up shirts and blouses, I’d start investigating in merino wool tshirts or thin jumpers - you can wear them as your first layer and they hang better and look much smarter than ordinary cotton or cotton lycra tshirts.

I would just get a couple of basic pairs of trousers (black) and a selection of plain tops/jumpers/cardis to wear with them. No need to go overboard clothes wise if you're only going to be wearing them to school.

New Look and Sainsburys usually have some decent blazers that are smart but not suit jacket smart (if that makes sense) and they’re not too expensive. I’ve get a range of
basics like a decent pair of black trousers that you can mix & match tops with, ditto a dark skirt, and jersey or shirt type dresses are comfy and smart with tights and ankle boots.

Just wear trousers and blouse. Pick up things second hand on vented or from Asds or sainsburys. I worked in a secondary school for years. I aimed for my clothes to be a meh as possible. I also always wore a vest under my top because I was always leaning over. Shoes are really important. You want the most comfortable shoes possible.

Congratulations on your new job! 💐

Yy to the leggings, culottes and long tops. Comfortable and practical too. I just rotate tops. Add a cardigan in colder momths.

I would get some stretchy pencil type skirts from Primark, blouses with collars (we wouldn't have been able to wear a t shirt) and two blazers (black and a lighter colour) from H and M. Then basically any semi fitted knee length dresses in a block colour off vinted with tights. I used to just wear pumps. Dresses always look smart and are easy to wear.