Thursday 6 August 2015

Top Tips For Shopping For School Uniform....

This is the time of year where if you have children in school you are buying uniform....I have been lucky this year I haven't had much to buy.....Just trousers, shirts and one pair of shoes for Ellie (I am leaving getting them until the end of August)


Know What to Buy....

Start with a list of the required items.....Most schools have a written list and many schools have a list online as well.  

Take note of what is required and what is optional. Are they just suggesting what you need to dress your child in or are they telling you? For instance my eldest girl wears plain black tracksuit bottoms for P.E but on the uniform list it suggests you can buy tracksuit bottoms with the school logo on for a ridiculous price.....She'll be fine with the plain one's for quarter of the price thank you.

Think about how much you need....

Don't buy too much at once....Just buy the minimum you can get away with. If you need more you can always go back in September when the kids are back at school & the items might be on sale....Think about how often you wash every week as this might mean you won’t need to buy 5 shirts, 5 skirts and 5 jumpers...

Only buy what you have to from the school....

If you have to have jumpers or polo shirts with the logo's on only get what you need....They are expensive! I know my girls school has optional extras like coats and bags with the logo on which are not compulsory....You can get things like that cheaper elsewhere....

Buy second hand....

Schools often host their own second-hand uniform sale.....Keep an eye out for those....Check your local Facebook selling pages too....Someone might be selling their children's old jumpers with the school logos on....

Buy right first time....

Buying cheap can mean buying twice.....Work out which items you can afford to spend a bit more on and avoid paying again further down the road. I have bought cheap shoes in the past and they haven't lasted until Christmas....

Buy bigger....

If you want to buy uniform which will last buy a bit bigger than you actually need.....Make sure you leave some growing room.....Look out for trousers and skirts with adjustable waists...

Go dark...

If you have a choice of colours e.g. grey or white shirts go with the darker shade....The stains will show up less. 

Choose trousers over tights...

Avoid tights for younger girls especially on P.E days....They may struggle. If you have the chance send them in trousers even if it is just for P.E days....

Shoes....

Don’t leave it too late to buy but also don’t buy too early otherwise you may get caught out by a growth spurt...Most kids wear the same pair of school shoes every day 5 days a week for a whole school term. So it is absoloutly essential they are the correct fit and are comfy...Buy velcro if your little one's struggle with laces...It will make everyone's life easier. 

Label everything....

If you haven't got the time or the patience for sewing on name tags a biro will do!! Make sure to show your child where you've put their name, so they can check it themselves....

Ask for help.... 

If your family income is low you could be eligible for funding to pay for uniform, contact Citizens Advice or your Local Education Authority to find out more.

If you’re struggling to afford your child’s school uniform, speak to a teacher or the head teacher at your child’s school. They may know where you can get discounts or find cheaper items. At the very least they will understand your situation better.

Good Luck & Happy Shopping!

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