👔 Have you commenced the annual job for anyone with school-age children, the school uniform shop?!
👖 Do you have little ones starting school this September for the first time? Are you wondering where to even start with their uniform?
👕 Fear not! Mumbler has done a lot of the background work for you, creating a list of options for where you can buy your uniform, as well as handy tips from other Mumblers on topics such as quantities to buy and how best to label your clothes.
Your School will have specific guidance about the uniform that is acceptable for students, so make sure you know what options you have (this is often sent out in the new starters pack, or may be available on the school website). Some schools offer quite a variety of colour choices making shopping much easier, if your school if quite specific about what to wear then it may be that only certain shops stock that option, so definitely worth checking before heading out to the shops!
Most schools allow the bulk of the uniform to be purchased without the logos (ie generic from supermarkets etc) this is much cheaper than buying the official uniform with logos from the school (once again check what’s acceptable). Some people buy just one ”official” top with logo from the school to wear for school photos trips etc, so you have that option if you wish. Some schools will be happy with a supermarket jumper with the logo embroided on!
For the bottom half:
Trousers / Skirts / Culottes / Shorts
For the top half:
Polo shirt / Shirt / Jumper / Cardigan
Dresses:
Pinafores / Gingham dresses / playsuits (yes, these are a thing!)
For the Feet:
School socks / Tights/ School shoes
Coat
Ok, so not technically uniform, but definitely required!
PE Kit
Top / shorts / socks / tracksuit / trainers or pumps
This ultimately comes down to how often you want to be doing the laundry and how good your child is at bringing home what they took to school (see labelling section below!)
Advice from the Mumbler Experts:
5 polo shirts, 2 jumpers, 3 pairs of trousers, 5 pairs of socks.
Mumbler MW
3 skirts 4 polo shirts 4 tights 2 cardigans
Mumbler HD
5 polo shirts (coloured rather than white if that’s an option), 4 trousers, 4 shorts, 3 jumpers.
Mumbler RN
It will depend on how messy your child is. If they can eat their dinner without getting it down them, you can manage on 2 jumpers. If not, you’ll need 3 (one wearing, one drying, one in wash. Polo top for every day. Usually come in packs of 3s so 2 packs are great.
Mumbler HH
Of course you can mix and match from different shops, and personal choice, fit for your child, local stores will all be a deciding factor but here are the most popular school uniform suppliers:
Marks and spencer or next for shirts and trousers/skirts. My son plays football every day and his trousers come up immaculate every wash. There’s no tears or holes. It pays off to spend a bit more.
Mumbler JM
Got all our uniform from Asda. Trousers still like new and the polo tops are still going strong and still white.
Mumbler CW
I like Sainsbury’s, it washes well and I always stock up when it’s 25% off!
Mumbler JO
Tried boys school trousers from every shop over the years and I found Tesco to be fab.
Mumbler PB
Matalan often do some bargains for School uniform
Mumbler AR
Definitely prefer the quality of these over the supermarket, and don’t mind paying a little bit more for it.
Mumbler LC
Just wanted to share that aldi are doing school uniform. School skirts great quality, polo tops, blouses, tights and socks. Really good price.
Mumbler LW
My son has Lidl t shirts and they are still white after nearly a year.
Mumbler SH
Theres also:
John Lewis and Debenhams
Again, check the school’s policy. It might be that they specify black shoes only or a certain style of school is not accepted.
Hopscotch. Great fitting service, range of brands.
Mumbler BW
I always go to Clark’s at designer outlet, last season’s obviously but so much cheaper, can get two pairs for price of the usual one
Mumbler EG
Always had Clarks for my lb and have always lasted him a full school year and would still be ok if not outgrown
Mumbler JJ
M&S shoes are amazing!
Mumbler EM
Geox shoe – they are pretty much indestructible; we get them every year now. We go for the ones with rubber around the toes, but they still look smart and they’re fairly weatherproof.
Mumbler EM
My 5 year old boy has worn kickers since September and there still good as new. I use shoe polish on them every other day and they look new then
Mumbler JK
I got some from asda which was scuff resistant and they was great
Mumbler KT
I used to buy the expensive ones for my lg n they were always scuffed within weeks. The last pair I bought her were from sainsburys £15 scuff resistant and leather. Best ones we’ve had they’ve stayed in brilliant condition.
Mumbler LL
Direct from the school: The official school uniform with logos is usually available via an order form through the school.
Uniform shop: Kool Kidz (Wetherby), PC Sports (Yeadon), JR Sports (Otley), Skip To School (Skipton), Dobson & Robinson (Ilkley)
Second-Hand uniform: It’s worth asking at the school if they stock this, or the PTA may do a sale. Mumblers often list school uniform items for sale too on a weekend!
Embroiders: Wharfedale Embroidery (Otley), Logo That (Ilkley), Hanney Embroidery (Skipton)
This is a MUST DO task!
My little boy did so well in Reception and Year 1 but as soon as he started with the after-school clubs in year 2 we were misplacing items every week! As much as I enjoy my regular trips to lost property to rummage through the clothes mountain, it’s much easier when the teaching staff can see the label and pop it back on the child’s peg for them or the Mum whos child takes it home can easily get in touch with you to arrange the return!
There’s plenty of options: labels (stick on / iron on / sew on), stamps or writing on with pens. Pick one and get busy!
Stikins from Amazon…they are amazing
Mumbler DR
Boyes iron on ones are amazing lasted 3 years so far. So easy and cheap 59 for £2.
Mumbler NP
Sharpie easy and quick to do uniforms and it does not wash off
Mumbler AS
My nametags, they have a FB page. Don’t fade or come off and are lovely
Mumbler JS
Stikins are fab stay stuck wash after wash and stick to anything from fabric to plastic – absolutely everything in between.
Mumbler AS
Stikins. Fab and so easy /no ironing etc
Mumbler KC
Black biro! Lasts well. Cheap. Simple. No messing
Mumbler EI
Stamptastic! Stamp your labels in no time at all! I’ve used pens, stick/iron on and fabric and so far the stamp was the easiest by a mile. Apparently it lasts the year too
Mumbler MM
So, I may be a bit late to the party on this one, but thought I’d share in case anyone else didn’t know about these playsuits. Sooooooooo much more practical than school dresses and no need to wear cycling shirts under them anymore. My daughter loves them (and it appears I’ve wasted money on her school dresses as I suspect she’ll just be wearing these now!)
Mumbler KK
Jersey polo tops are the most comfy and far less rough. Pinafores protect the white under and don’t show the marks as much.
Mumbler GH
Always trousers on PE days because they can’t wear tights for PE so have to take them off, so trousers are easier.
Mumbler RM
Pinafores keep tops clean and look smarter than skirts (tshirts always hanging out).
Mumbler HH
Keeping those white polo shirts/socks white!
I bleach my boys whites.Hot water in my mop bucket and a good slug of household bleach.
Mumbler JM
Soak in sink in small amount of bleach or vanish then hang on line in sun to dry before a normal wash
Mumbler DF
I use Ariel bio liquid and a scoop of vanish gold for whites on a normal wash and they come out good as new. My mother in law gave me that tip!
Mumbler CS
We bought white socks for our daughter in Reception. All absolutely filthy, binned and navy socks it is from September!
Mumbler LH
If you also have the terror of the whiteboard marker pen stains to deal with I have heard spraying hairspray on the stain before washing actually shifts it!! I need to stock up in preparation for next year! So far nothing I have tried has worked…
Hopefully, you feel well informed by the marvellous Mumbler Community and fully prepared to embark on the mission of school uniform shopping.
If we have missed something you want to share please do so in the Wharfedale & Craven Mumbler Chat Group!