For most of our children, the new school year starts next week. They’re another year older, taller, wider and in need of a full new uniform to replace the too-small, too-stained, too-ragged clothes of last term.
And so, with heavy hearts, BritMums launch into the rigmarole of the new uniform. At least you know you’re not alone…
For The Balancing Act Mum, it really isn’t just a case of replacing the old and patching up the salvage-able, her school has decided to dispense with the classic navy and blue theme, and opted for a brand new, clashing ensemble that’s incredibly hard to find.
“After wasting the whole day walking up and down the shops all we have come home with are shoes, pinafores and trousers.
“Funny I never had this problem before when the kid’s uniform used to be navy jumpers, navy skirt, pinafore or trousers and a blue shirt. Now for some reason the school decides to change the colour of their uniform to burgundy jumpers, yellow shirts and grey trousers, skirts or pinafores.
“Well, I’m glad I couldn’t find what the whole uniform and now I have a reason for why my children will be wearing grey trousers and pinafores, white shirt and a grey jumper or cardigan. It’s my own idea of the uniform… let’s see how long I can get away with it.”
For Mummy Walker from Not The Tiger Mum, the trouble came when she tried to find suitable shoes for her three-year-old. Her little one starts at nursery in September, and has been brandished with a full list of required uniform – including smart black shoes.
The first measurement of his feet came in at seven and a half, width G. The second, size seven (no half) and width G. The third, size seven again, width G again. What size did they eventually find to fit?
“His school shoes are a size 8 and width H.”
Read and sympathise with the whole debacle here.
Please do share your school uniform posts in the comments below.
About Holly Seddon
Holly Seddon is a writer, editor and community consultant and helped launched the community for Adoption UK, which won charity website of the year just 9 months later. She also writes a music blog.
lillian2712
Thursday 1st of September 2011
I like the idea of children wearing school uniform as we really don't have to thing about what to wear everyday. I also agree with you all, during the later years there does seem to be a competition. My daughter is 8 and in previous years when the school had a non-uniform day I remember her and her friends would be planning for ages what they will wear on the day and after the event they would spend days talking about who had the best outfit. Imagine if they had no uniform, they wouldn't be able to concentrate on learning Lol. So overall uniform is brilliant but like Holly I wish ours was a different color...Perhaps the old one :)
Holly Seddon
Thursday 1st of September 2011
We've experienced both sides, our favourite school (which was in South East London) was a no-uniform affair, and it was absolutely fine in the lower years (and really handy that we only had to buy one 'wardrobe' for them) but you could see competition creeping in in the later years as children (especially girls) approach secondary school age. Now we live out in a semi-rural area and all the schools have a uniform (unfortunately ours is a mucus green and yellow - bleurgh!) but it does make it easier to bulk buy cheap uniform and not have a two-hour delay as my fashion forward 10-year-old goes through innumerate costume changes. I wish it wasn't green and yellow though...
Jennifer Howze
Wednesday 31st of August 2011
I agree with you, CJ. I used to think uniforms were unnecessary, but now that I have a child at primary school, I love them and wouldn't send her to a school without them.
Crystal Jigsaw
Wednesday 31st of August 2011
Ooooh, personally, I think it's a bit much to expect nursery age children to wear a strict uniform. Amy's nursery had a burgandy coloured jumper (I know, Balancing Act mum will be cringing!) but it was quite nice. But that's all they asked for. Every other item of clothing was whatever we chose. To be honest, most of the children didn't even wear the jumper, it was just an option. I think uniform is definitely the best way for older kids though, it saves all that competition of what to wear, especially for girls in their teens. CJ xx