Added by: Shropshire Mums on Thu Aug 10 1:04 2023
In the blink of an eye the School Summer Holidays will be drawing to a close. The average national cost of school uniform just like verything else has spiraled with school uniforms setting parents back hundreds of punds each year...
Check out the below tips to help find affordable uniform:
Don’t be afraid to use hand me downs. If a blazer for one child fits the younger one when they’ve outgrown it, then make good use of it. Don’t just share hand me downs with siblings - if you and your friends all have children at the same school, then make use of that network.
It’s becoming a popular trend among parents to help save some extra cash. There may be an online group for your local school where you can easily swap uniforms such as a ‘year 4’ top for some ‘year 5’ trousers. It’s always best to do it just before the academic year starts.
Check around selling groups for members who are selling bundles of school uniforms as part of free giveaways. These are often first come first serve, so make sure to turn post notifications on!
Explore various shops which are selling packs of uniform items for your unbranded clothing. This will further help when buying multiple packs to last throughout the year. Supermarkets such as Sainburys and Tesco frequently hold discounted school uniform events saving you up to 25% off.
Have a look at where you can put away the spare £10 or £20 every week and allocate it directly for school uniforms. If you save these extra pennies, you’ll be able to have a higher budget for the start of the academic year. Some school uniform stores accept payments from places such as paypal credit, klarna finance etc and can help spread the cost interest free over a few months.
It’s always worth keeping an eye out for any discounts or voucher codes. These can make a big difference to the school uniform spend.
Many parents aren’t aware of this tip but heading straight to the schools is a great way to get free school uniforms. Lots of kits are donated at the end of the academic year and these are usually available for collection in the first month of re-opening. School uniform banks have become a regular in schools with many schools across the county now holding supplies.
Looking to kit out the kids with school uniform? Our libraries and partners are staging pop-up uniform banks. Drop by every Monday in Bridgnorth, Whitchurch from 10.30am to 11.30am on July 31, Oswestry between 2pm and 5.30pm and Market Drayton on September 2 from 10am to noon...
If you still need to head to the shops and buy new...
We have been taking a look at some great Back To School products to help settle your big and little kids back to school.
Disclaimer – We received these products for the purpose of this review feature.
Get ahead with back-to-school essentials, and a one-year uniform guarantee.
Parents and children preparing for the new term need look no further as Tesco has a range of uniform options to suit all kids no matter what their style or preference. To make uniform shopping as smooth and simple as possible, Tesco has a range of great value items to help families prepare for September, meaning there’s no need to break the bank.
Uniform staples from Tesco are returning for all ages1, from primary through to secondary school pupils; and can be picked up in stores alongside the food shop. What’s more, parents can rely on the new one-year, great quality uniform guarantee, which includes shoes, offering an exchange or refund if they aren’t satisfied with the quality it2; giving children the freedom to embrace every adventure and parents’ peace of mind.
Essential items, such as the 2-pack boys’ and girls’ trousers in black, grey, and navy from just £3.50 per pair3 are available in regular, slim, and skinny fits, a selection of colours, and jersey & woven fabrications. The range also features boys’ and girls’ 3-pack shirts, in both long and short sleeves from just £1.83 per shirt4, in regular, slim, and skinny fits designed to suit every preference.
Skirts are also available in a range of colours, including a 2-pack jersey skirt starting at £3.50 per item3, and come in tube, skater & kilt styles. Shoppers can also purchase 2-pack pleated & skater pinafores in a range of colours, starting from £5.00 per dress3.
Unisex’ and girls’ polo shirt 3-packs are available in a variety of colours from just £1.33 per shirt4, a unisex slim fit is also offered. Parents can also purchase unisex 2-pack V neck jumpers starting at £4.00 per jumper3, in a range of colours, and girls’ two-pack cardigans in a range of colours from just £4.00 per item3.
A range of school shoes are available, including the boys’ sporty double strap formal shoe starting from £15, and the girls’ black plimsoles for just £6.00. Other styles available include slip on, runners, velcro and lace up options.
This year’s range also features great quality PE kit essentials, including t-shirts, joggers, cotton rich sweatshirts, quick-dry netball skirts, football shorts and more.
Other school essentials, including stationery, lunch boxes and water bottles are available – Clubcard members* can get a head start with half price on these items from 10th July – 7th September.
Here is just a small selection we have been checking out. from F&F...
Adjustable waist, 100% of the polyester used in this garment is recycled, grow with me hems, reinforced knees, Teflon EcoElite Stain Repellent, regular/slim/skinny fits available.
Boys: Tesco F&F Regular Trousers Black/Grey/Navy (2 pack), from £8.00 (Ages 3-4) to £14.00 (Ages 15-16)
Boys: Tesco F&F Skinny/Slim Trousers Black/Grey/Navy (2 pack), from £8.00 (Ages 3-4) to £14.00 (Ages 15-16)
The F&F boys trousers are great quality and good avalue for money, all the essential touches have been covered from reinforced knees, easy iron, adjustable waist and they are a lovely relaxed fit. The material is thick enough to know that even with a fall to the knees they are strong enough to not end up with holes in the knee. They washed well with no fading or bobbling to the material and are a great choice for comfort, style, durability and affordability.
Easy iron, 100% of the polyester used in this garment is recycled, reinforced seams, boned collar.
Boys: Tesco F&F Long-sleeve Shirts White/Blue (3 pack), from £6.50 (Ages 4-5) to £11.00 (Ages 15-16)
Girls: Tesco F&F Long-sleeve Shirts White/Blue (3 Pack), from £6.50 (Ages 4-5) to £11.00 (Ages 15-16)
The tesco long sleeve short range comes in both girls and boys. Great crisp cotton qaulity in a lovely bright white, easy iron and a great relaxed fit, buttons are all sewn on well and they tick all the boxes for style and comfort. Super affordable at just £8-£14 for a 3 pack too.
Supporting more sustainably farmed cotton, Teflon EcoElite Stain Repellent, keeps the colour for longer.
Unisex: Tesco F&F Polo White/Red/Blue/Yellow (3 pack), from £4.00 (Ages 3-4) to £9.00 (Ages 15-16)
Girls: Tesco F&F Polo White (3 pack), from £4.00 (Ages 3-4) to £9.00 (Ages 15-16)
As with all of the Tesco school uniform we looked at, these polo tops are great quality and a lovely fit at an affordable price, our only critisism here is that we feel the girls polo tops could have been made with a bit more of a girls style in mind, we know not all girls like girl pretty styles, however there is a unisex range that covers this. It would be nice to see that little extra touch for the girls design.
See instore at Tesco for the full range of uniform including sports wear, footwear, hair accessories etc
Send your little one off to school in gear that not only looks good but meets your active kid’s daily demands. Whether they’re returning to school for a new term or their school gear needs a quick mid-term refresh, we have everything they need.
Get your little learner ready for school with our boy's school uniform. Our collection features comfortable and stylish pieces designed to withstand the rigours of the school day. From moisture-wicking Polos to durable comfy shorts, we have whatever they need to go from classroom to field. Pair our boys' school trousers with a crisp white shirt for a classic look. Add a smart blazer or jumper for a touch of sophistication.
Our fantastic range of girls' school uniform has smart styles, including pinafore dresses, skater skirts, girls' school blouses, polo shirts and more. Grab whatever they need and kit them out from top to toe. And check out our range of boys super skinny school trousers for an alternative uniform style.
Say goodbye to daily laundry and welcome a fresh set of uniform every day—a smart way to get through the week. Explore our clever and handy range of multipacks. From 4 pack pleated school skirts to 5 pack polo shirts and more, they're sure to make prepping for school days a breeze.
If you're looking for girls' school shoes, we have styles that are super comfy and come with fun detailing that'll last. Our shoe collection also features anti-bacterial lining and scuff-resistant coating to help your kid look and feel fresh for longer. For a versatile option for both school and play, look no further than girls’ black plimsolls. Combining comfort and style, they're ideal for active little feet. Pair them with soft cotton socks for easy grip.
Our durable boys' school shoes come in a cool range of styles. From easy slip-ons for those early years to smart lace-up styles for secondary and beyond, pick high-quality shoes right here.
Pack all their school supplies in our sturdy and durable range of school bags. From backpacks to canvas bags, our stylish collection will make sure their school style is on point while keeping all their back-to-school supplies handy.
Tu School Uniform range boasts the following claims:
We took a look at the below:
Boys Regular fit trousers
Available in grey, black and navy woven material. These sturdy trousers are made be durable enough to see your child through the school year. With features such as reinforced knees, adjustable waists (also available in pull on versions), belt loops, permanent leg creases and zip and hook fastening.
These trousers are durable, stylish comfy fit and easy iron thanks to the permanant pleat. and at priced at just £9-£14 for a pack of two they are a great price too.
These classic white shirts are styled in our non-iron fabric - great for busy mornings and big laundry loads. This pack of three cotton blend shirts is ideal for school uniforms. Also available in blue.
Fantastic quality and great fit, the non iron really does work and we simply hung them on hangers to dry afterwards and no ironing was required. Again fantastic value at between £4.50 and £9.50.
Refresh their daily schoolwear with this pack of two smart pinafore dresses. In classic grey, they feature two pleats to each side of the skirt and are finished with a handy front zip fastening complete with a cute heart charm.
We love the sleek fit of these dresses and they are great quality without the material being too thick, the non iron feature on these is great, they wash well and the pleats stay in place really well. We found the sizing to be generous too and love the little heart zipper addition. Again a really great price at just £9 - £13 for a pack of two.
This polo shirt double pack is great for stocking up on their schoolwear essentials. Made from pure cotton, they have a tiny chest pocket with flower embroidery and flower-shaped buttons for a fun finish that remains smart and comfy enough for all-day wear. Designed with Perfect colour™ - which keeps colour brighter for longer.
These polo tops are really cute, all too often girls polo tops can be really quite plain, however we love how these have a flattering fit with the cute slight puff style shoulder, pretty collar and the addition of the subtle delicate sequin motiff on the chest pocket. Great quality and value as always and definaltey one of our favorite girls school polo tops we've seen. Priced at £5-£8 for a 2 pack they really are great value.
Check out the entire TU School uniform rage at School Uniform | School Clothes & Shoes | Tu clothing (sainsburys.co.uk)
Stamptastic School Name Labels Basic Bundle
With a staggering 75% of primary school children losing on average 1-2 items of uniform per year, Stamptastic is about to answer your prayers when it comes to that dreaded task of labelling items ahead of the back to school madness! The ingenious solution promises to save families hours of time, and plenty of money with its best-selling Personalised Name Stamp. Making it truly bespoke for little ones, parents can choose the text, font, size and even a novelty icon for the stamper, which can be used on a plethora of different items; it is a must have gadget for all families!
RRP: £23
STATIONARY, BOOKS & SUPPLIES
Home Bargains Young educational books
Home Bargains have a large range of Back to School items in stores. It’s currently showcasing its book range, featuring homework help books, phonics books and other educational titles.
Help with homework 3 plus - RRP £3.99 Home Bargains Price 99p
Help with homework 7 plus - RRP £3.99 Home Bargains Price 99p
Help with homework 9 plus - RRP £3.99 Home Bargains Price 99p
Phonic readers - RRP £4.99 Home Bargains Price 79p
Star learning - RRP £3.50 Home Bargains Price £1.29
These books are perfect for easing your little ones back into school life with some fun educational activities and some even come with reward stickers and certificates too, super affordable, well worth the 99p price tag. Home bargains also have a range of other back to school products such as hair accessories, school bags, bottles, lunch bags and so much more so well worth a visit to stock up on the essentials. You can also find the range online. Back To School | Home Bargains
