My Top School Uniform Tips For Getting You Back To School Ready

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When anyone mentions Back to School shopping, many of us are instantly filled with dread. The crowds, the queues, the hunt for the right sizes, the fear of your child going back in with last year’s shoes. We’ve all been there, but it doesn’t actually need to be stressful. With a little planning and preparation, your Back to School experience could be so much simpler and done in no time. Here are my top school uniform tips for getting you and your little ones ready for September.

Write a List of All You Need

I love a list, a hand-written list that I can physically hold, tick off and refer back to. Go over all the uniform from last year and decide if any will fit your child in the new school year. Check uniform that you may have stored away from a sibling, see what they wore and what they didn’t and compile a list of everything they are going to need for the new term, including stationery, PE kit, kids backpack, lunchbox, reusable water bottle and so on. Some schools insist on certain items having the school logo on them so also make a note of this (I know many are now moving away from this rule to make uniform shopping more affordable).

Don’t Leave it all to the Last Minute

I think we have all been guilty of doing this at some stage. Waiting and waiting to see how much our children grow before heading out to buy the school uniform and shoes which usually results in hunting around different shops and online brands, being left with very little to choose from and unnecessary stress (no one needs that!) Try to book yourself in some time for this task, maybe around the first couple of weeks of the summer holidays? That way the kids haven’t quite worn you out just yet! And you have time to place orders and weigh up your options if you can’t quite find what you need.

Look for Good Quality Items

I always try my best to make all the uniform we buy last for the whole school year (longer if I’m lucky) and one of the main ways in which I achieve this is by going for good quality items over cheaply made ones. I often hear parents say how they had to throw a white top away because it has lost its colour or shrunk in the wash and I am always astounded by the fact that they continue to buy the same items again and again. It may seem cost-effective at the time, but if you’re buying repeatedly over the course of one school year, you’ll be paying far more out in the long-term. Choose well, buy once, save your pennies.

So, what do I mean by good quality? Ok, say you are looking for a white polo shirt. The best material you can go for is cotton and if you can find ones that state that they are 100% cotton, even better! Cotton is comfortable, breathable, it washes well, you can iron it and stain removal is usually much easier than cheap polyester.

*Top Tip – the sun is a great natural stain remover but if you need something more reliable, then use Percarbonate of Soda.

When looking for school trousers, choose ones with reinforced knees (we all know what these kids get up to in the playgrounds!), Teflon coating which protects them from staining and adjustable waistbands, so they grow with your child.

Seasonal Clothing

When we think of Back to School we often picture colder days, going into Autumn/Winter and wrapping up warmer but don’t get caught out. September and October can have some warmer days, so think about whether it is worth investing in some summery uniform bits, such as shorts and short-sleeved shirts; just maybe aim a little bit bigger so they can also wear these the following summer.

On the flipside, winter coats will be on sale with the uniform and I find now is the time to get them because there is always plenty of choice and sizes. Even if they don’t go back in wearing a coat, you can keep it to one side ready for that weather change.

Become a Shoe Fitter

In my previous life, I was a shoe shop manager. I couldn’t even take a guess at how many shoes I have fitted, but it’s got to be in the thousands, and I am always happy to share my knowledge; I think every child deserves to be secure and comfortable in their footwear. If you don’t already know, it is perfectly acceptable to go to a shoe shop and ask for your child’s foot to be measured. This is a free service they provide and you don’t have to feel obligated to purchase from there. Even though a measurement is only a guide, it is a good starting place if you want to shop around and attempt to fit shoes yourself. If you can get further information from the staff member such as are they narrow or wide, do they have a high instep or flatter feet, is their ankle skinny, etc, then even better.

You can get school shoes both online and in shops, so if you want to fit your child’s shoes here are my fitting tips:

• Length – all shoes need growing room and a thumb’s width from the end is the ideal amount. Some brands will already have growing room built in so you won’t need to size up or down.
• Width – use your thumb and middle finger to check up and down the width of the shoe. You don’t want to feel your child’s foot bulging out (or see it), as this may result in sores/blisters/aches and pains.
• Depth – The depth is checked by running the thumb over the top of the shoe. You want a little movement but not too much otherwise the shoe will give and become too creased or loose.
• Toplines – This is the ankle check. Feel around and make sure your child’s ankle is sitting nicely in the back of the shoe and that the this part isn’t going to rub.
• Slip Test – Ask your child to walk around in their shoes and watch closely for any slipping at the back. The shoe should remain in place. You can double-check this by having them sit down and giving the shoe a good tug.

I would recommend looking for a sturdy shoe that has good grip on the sole and toe protection for those footie fans! Velcro is easy to adjust so can aid in fitting plus it’s easier for a younger child to manage themselves. Always flex the shoe using your hands. This is a good indicator of how it is going to move with your child. Anything too rigid can possibly cause accidents and/or foot pain.

Get PE Kitted Out

All schools vary on their rules when it comes to PE kit. Some children are allowed to wear theirs all day on a PE day, some have to take it in a bag and change when they’re there, some items need to have a logo and some have different coloured t-shirts to show house teams. Whichever way your school does it, the important thing is to go for comfortable kit that will wash well, again, cotton is a good choice and will withstand a lot of activity. My child goes in wearing his, so we have a couple of pairs of shorts for the warmer days, a couple of pairs of joggers, a zip-up hoodie which he can easily take off and put back on if required and of course the school logo T-shirt. From experience, having more PE kit is a bonus.

Name Labels are a Must!

My rule now is, if it goes into school, it gets a label. I have learnt over the years that children can easily “misplace” almost everything and I have spent far too much of my time rifling through lost property, so taking the time to stick name labels into every item of clothing and on every bag is a job well-spent. Future you will thank you!

With a little bit of planning and my top tips, hopefully your Back to School will be a smooth and stress-free one, leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy the summer holidays with your little people.

*This is a paid collaboration with Very. All words and tips are my own. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.

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