Buying School Uniform

Check the school uniform guidelines. Some schools may prefer some items such as jumpers and book bags to have their logo on it. It is worth having one or two of these garments for school trips or school photo days.

Keep your eyes peeled for second-hand sales. Some schools will sell second-hand uniforms or unclaimed lost property a couple of times a year, which means you might be able to bag yourself a bargain.

Consider buying five sets of uniforms, one for each day. This might sound a lot - but if you’re short on time to tackle laundry mid-week, you’ll have peace of mind that a whole week of uniforms is sorted before it even begins.

Label them. Schools are forever telling us to label their clothes, but really, it does help when the cardigans or jumpers go missing (often). Instead of fancy name labels, a permanent marker will do the job just fine and much more quickly.

Buying school shoes can be a challenge. Some shops have low stock availability just before the start of a new school year, so don’t leave it too late. Similarly, don’t buy them too early and risk their feet growing out of them too soon. It’s always about finding that balance, isn’t it?

Don’t forget the PE kit. If your school is holding outdoor PE classes then your bag will usually include a t-shirt, shorts, socks and trainers or plimsoles - labelled, of course).