How much school uniform to buy?

[Jamma]

So our daughter starts school in September and we've been given a form by the school with a list of all the various different items of uniform once can buy - sweatshirts, fleeces, t-shirts, caps etc. What to buy?

Is one sweatshirt and some white shirts for Sainsbury's enough? Or do we need a sweatshirt and a fleece and three polo shirts and a couple of pairs of black trousers/skirts?

Those that have been there and done it, can you offer some advice please?

[nunheadmum]

Probably more for a little one than a bigger kid would need as there's a lot of paint, pens etc around in reception and tops never lasted more than 1 day. I found 3 skirts/trousers, 3 to 5 t-shirts/tops (depending on how good you are at washing) and probably no more than 2 fleeces.

Also depends how tight the school are on uniform. Reception tends to have a bit more lee-way at our school as kids can still be rather strong willed on what they will and won't wear!

[Pickle]

I quickly found I needed one top per day, so depending on how often you do the washing I'd say at least 3 sweatshirts and polo shirts. I've managed, just, with two pairs of trousers for my son.

[Fuschia]

We have loads but mine frequently lose their sweatshirts and need clean stuff every day because they attract dirt

Each child - 6 polo shirts, 6 trousers or skirts

6 sweatshirts or fleeces

I get the sweatshirts second hand via the PTA

[Fuschia]

This works for us so clean

Uniform is usually to hand without me having a very dedicated washing regime!

[Mrs TP]

Depends how much of a pain it is for you to do an emergency uniform wash to get dry for the next day.

I would suggest to start at least 2 bottoms (i.e. skirt / trousers / pinafore). 3 blouses / polo shirts - depends if you can get two days out of them or not. I have at least 6 each for my girls who are in juniors, one rattles through one a day and the other keeps hers immaculate but I pop them in the wash after 2 days max.

At least 2 cardis / sweatshirts / top fleeces - if it gets lost in the playground or lunch spilt down it your are stuffed for the next day with only one.

Name at least the cardis and coats - those items that are taken off during routine lessons / playground / park - they will get lost but they will get back to you if named.

I am just buying secondary school uniform for my eldest and moving from generic blue cardi / sweatshirt to school logo cardi / jumper is a bit of a shock - just paid ?18.99 each x 2 for state school cardis.

Enjoy anyway, they look so cute in their first schooliform. Good idea, which I never did, take a photo of them on the first day of each new academic year to map the changes. Yes they still have official school photos but do your own full lengths.

[susyp]

great thread my daughter had her trial hour today so i was just thinkng about this and would have been wolefully unprepared! Have got 2 school cardis as she has a sweatshirt at nursery and hates it as she can't take it off - but is quite good at buttons. So would 2 pinafores and 1 skirt (figured skirt easier for pe?) and then a pack of poloshirts - 5ish, work? She can wear her own coat to school so I haven;t bought school fleece or anything.

A friend who is a reception teacher said please teach her to to put on tights - she spends so long helping the girls with tights - but i can't see her doing this - any tips on teaching this particular skill?!

susypx

[The Nappy Lady]

We've given up on tights and now buy leggings which my girls wear with socks and shoes or boots in winter. Plus a skirt or dress or even black shorts or culottes over the top.

Easier to put on and off than tights and don't have the whole falling down / not long enough hassle.

I'm sad as I loved buying coloured tights to match her school sweatshirts but the grumbling & 'hoiking up' of tights en route to school was driving me mad!

[Fuschia]

Try a size up, Suzy, and good quality stretchy ones, with some acrylic

I find trousers for my girl are best, really, though she likes skirts

[civilservant]

I'd go with all the excellent advice on here already - but I've never learned to manage tights, even at my advanced age!

Anyway they grow out of tights at a rate of knots.

I suggest that when the weather gets too cold for a skirt, you put her in trousers. There are some decent styles for girls available on-line at M&S and Next. Or do what the trendy set at my daughter's school do, which is wear leggings under their skirts, with socks.

[The Nappy Lady]

I find tights come up really small and also seem to shrink - I.e last autumn I bought 8 year old tights for my 7 yr & 3 month old daughter from John Lewis and after one wash she hated the feel of them around the gusset.

Hence leggings - would live to think its because she's trendy but no, just fussy!! LOL

[BeccaL]

My daughter has trousers specifically for days when she has PE to save her taking tights on and off, and she's 7!

[susyp]

she can't do leggings either - gets in a right pickle- i will discuss with her in january if she is willing to wear trousers on pe days or is willing to learn to put on tights!!! sounds like a fair choice! she doesn't have to get changed for pe until then thank goodness.

next stage is to find a lunch box which she can manage - in paperchase they have little boxes which a friend has used to put different elements of lunch inside a zip up carry box. ~Going to take her for a test run tomorrow!

susypx

[Bishberro]

Another question here from a first-time school mum come September. Can anyone recommend a good brand of name tags to label school uniform? I can't even thread a needle so can't face the idea of sew-in ones but are there any iron-on ones that actually work and stay on? Any other first timer tips? Thanks

[Sanne Panne]

My NameTags is good. It's iron-on and ours have survived lots and lots of laundries already.

www.mynametags.com

[susyp]

i got the iron on ones from great little trading co which have stayed on this year no problem.

susypx

[Pickle]

I started out with name tags and quickly realised life is too short. Black laundry marker pen, job done. Or if in a real hurry, normal old biro on the label, surprising how many washes it will survive!

[Jamma]

Thanks all for advice. After today's open day and speaking to the teacher seems we don't really need to get much of the official stuff at all.

I was also going to follow up with a question about name tags - marker pen sounds like the cheapest and most effective solution.

[Fuschia]

Don't buy official polo shirts, for sure! The 3 in a pack ones from m and s or sainsburys are fine

[Pickle]

Agree, the supermarket stuff is fine and a lot cheaper! My son has official school sweatshirts, but daughter has cardigans from Sainsburys - this seems to be pretty standard practise as the sweatshirts are quite boyish.

[Fuschia]

Get polo shirts that are low iron though

[The Nappy Lady]

Farmers on Lordship Lane do laundry marker pens. I do have some of the my name tags iron in labels too though and they are good (can have a name & phone number on which I think is a great idea).

[nunheadmum]

Both my girls can put on tights with no problems but that's down to nursery, not my teaching. I'll ask them for any tips. We usually buy Next school tights which seem to work.

[CharlieS]

Sanne Panne Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My NameTags is good. It's iron-on and ours have

> survived lots and lots of laundries already.

>

> www.mynametags.com

I agree with Sanne Panne and would recommend My Nametags for iron-ons. I've bought them for a couple of years & they've stayed on my children's school uniform & nursery clothing after plenty of washes.

Actually I think that www.mynametags.com labels are so good that I now work for them.