It won’t be long until the new reception year finds out which school they will be going to, and school uniform becomes the top priority for every parent. Given the lead time on branded items can be months, it’s best to plan ahead. But if you are a first-time school shopper, you might be wondering how much school uniform to buy. Well, don’t panic. I’m a super-organised Mum of two, and I’ve got the complete list covered. My list will keep your child looking presentable whilst keeping you from doing laundry every five minutes. I’ve also got a few budgeting tricks up my sleeve for you.
How Much School Uniform To Buy
Obviously, each school will have its own uniform list and possible specialist items which your child may need, but this list should be a good starting point.
Start With One Simple Rule
Before we get into numbers, here’s the golden rule. Buy enough to comfortably get through one school week. That’s it. Not a term’s worth. Not “just in case the washing machine breaks.” Just enough to avoid panic midweek.
The Uniform Checklist – What I Actually Buy
Here’s what’s worked well for us:
Tops (Shirts / Polos / Blouses)
I buy at least 7 of these.
Kids spill things. A lot. Paint, lunch, mysterious playground substances… You name it. If your school has white tops, like ours, then you’ll be replacing these at some point during the year. I find starting with 7 tops is enough for one per day and one spare in their bag. That way, you also have one in reserve should one need to be binned.
I tend to buy a new set at the beginning of the summer term as they tend to get stained by suncream, food, etc. The winter and autumn terms last longer as they are covered by jumpers for most of the year.
5 is the bare minimum (one per day)
7 gives you breathing room (and fewer emergency washes)
Bottoms (Trousers / Skirts / Shorts)
Buy: 3–6
Buy 3 if you’re good with laundry
6 is safer if your child is enthusiastic at playtime
My son has PE on two days, and he wears his kit to school, so I have 3 pairs of smart trousers and 2 pairs of jogging bottoms. I pop a spare pair of jogging bottoms in his bag as a change is always useful – last term he fell into the biggest muddy puddle and the change of clothes came in very handy.
When it gets warmer, we have 2 pairs of smart shorts and 2 pairs of PE shorts. Kids’ shorts are much quicker to dry and are worn less frequently.
Jumpers or Cardigans
Buy: 3–5
These tend to go missing, get stuffed in bags, or end up in lost property.
2 is the minimum
3-5 if your child is prone to losing things.
We have 3 jumpers and 2 hoodies (for PE days). It means I don’t have to worry about the hoodies being dry (they are super thick) on consecutive PE days.
Socks
Buy: 7–10 pairs
Honestly, socks disappear into another dimension. You will lose some. You will find mismatched ones. You will question reality. You will probably inherit some that aren’t yours. Best to have a good amount so you aren’t scrabbling around on Monday morning.
Shoes
Buy: 1–2 pairs
1 sturdy pair is essential
A backup pair can be a lifesaver (especially in winter or if they get soaked)
We bought two pairs of black kids’ trainers. One is a bit smarter for everyday wear, and one is more sporty for the PE days. They can easily be interchanged should they get wet or be left at school. I find buying two good quality pairs of trainers is better than lots of cheap ones. They will last long after your little one grows out of them.
We also have a pair of wellies which can be left at school. This is perfect for Earth Class or any kind of wet, outdoor activity. It also gives a backup should shoes get damaged beyond repair during the day. Yes, this has happened once!
PE Kit
I’ve already covered off what we do in terms of PE kit, but if you prefer and your child’s school allows it, you could add in a kids’ tracksuit for PE days.
Budget Hacks – How Much School Uniform To Buy
- One blazer (if required) is enough.
- Stick to the minimum of fancy logo items. We have 3 logo jumpers and 2 logo hoodies. I bought the logo t-shirts in the first year, and they got ruined very quickly. I now buy a pack of supermarket polo shirts.
- I wouldn’t buy any “just in case” extras. I did this once, and they stayed unopened in the cupboard. Kids grow fast. So buy core items now, then top up later if needed.
- Be honest with yourself. If you hate doing the washing every day, simply buy more.
- Label EVERYTHING. I cannot stress this enough. My son’s clothes disappear all the time, but because they have labels in them, I find them popped back in his bag the next day. I put the name labels on the labels at the neck – it’s easier to see. I use the washable peel-and-stick labels. It’s so much quicker.
It’s really easy to overthink school uniform shopping. I definitely did at first, but the truth is, you don’t need loads, you just need enough to suit your laundry schedule.
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