If you’re the parent of a three or four year old, you will have recently heard news about which school your little one has been accepted into. Over the past few months, anticipation will have been rising, as you waited patiently to hear whether your first choice school had been agreed upon, and by now, that wait will be over. Whether you’re happy with the decision or not, or even if you’re currently going through the appeal process to try and change the decision, now is a great time to start thinking about what your little ones will need by the time the first day at school arrives.
Most parents tend to leave the school shopping until the summer holidays but, if you have your wits about you, you should start a little earlier. That way, you can spread the cost of the uniform over a few months, rather than cramming it all into one shop, beat the crowds and get your pick of sizes. But what do you need?
When your children head off to their reception class for the first time, they won’t need much. Until they are a little older, the school tends to provide them with everything that they need, and if anything else is required, they will let you know in due course. However, there are things that you can buy now, so that they’re ready and waiting for the start of the September term.
Pop over to George when you get a moment, where you can pick up some fantastic value uniforms. Check the colours that are accepted at the school, and keep your eyes open for bargains which can be kept for later. School socks, tights, cardigans and the like can all be stored in a wardrobe for when the big day comes.
You can also prepare other items in advance, without worrying about growth spurts. Are you planning on giving them a healthy packed lunch? You could grab a lunch bag or box and juice bottle when you next go to the supermarket. Will they need a school bag, or a PE bag? You can sort this, too. Don’t forget that everything needs to be labelled with their name – there are some fab sites online that can provide you with easy to use labels for affordable prices.
Remember that your children will likely grow between now and September, so be wise about what size uniforms you buy. If you do choose to buy sooner rather than later, make sure that you choose a size that they will fit into by the time September comes – for example, they may fit into an age 3 polo shirt now, but will they in a few months? Or, should you go for the age 4 option? It’s recommended that you leave school shoe shopping until the summer holidays though, so that you can have a more accurate measure of their feet.
Prepare as much as you can in advance so that you’re not panicking later – seeing them go to school for the first time can be stressful and emotional at the best of times, let alone if you have left the shopping until the last minute, too. Be prepared and look forward to waving your little one off fully kitted out and looking super smart.