How to get the best value from your child's school uniform

Some parents can find buying school uniforms quite a worry, especially if you have more than one child, so to prevent having to buy a new uniform every term follow these simple tips on how make the most out of your child’s uniform: 
 

• Make sure you look for good quality uniform as it needs to stand up to the wear and tear of being worn and washed almost every day! Look for things like extra value in heavier fabrics, long life features and robust stitching to ensure the quality of the item.
• Naturally, most parents avoid buying their child’s uniform until it’s time to go back to school but, this isn’t always the best option. If the majority of parents are rushing to buy uniforms at the end of August then most of the sizes and items will be gone, so consider buying your uniform as soon as school finishes that way you are guaranteed a better choice.
• Another way you can make the most out of your child’s uniform is by buying it slightly bigger, meaning you can get at least another years worth out of your jumpers and shirts! Once your child has outgrown their uniform you can offer the items to other parents to use.
• One thing to remember is that the way you wash and iron the uniform can give it a longer a life, so make sure to use low temperatures and read the items labels! (You can read about how to keep your uniform smart and clean on our previous blog post).
• Lastly, don’t forget to label your child’s name on their uniform, often enough they will leave it in the PE changing rooms! 

How to keep your children's uniform smart and clean

Washing your child’s uniform a few times a week, or for the unlucky -everyday, isn’t any parent’s favourite responsibility, particularly if they’ve been rolling around in the grass all lunch time. But, unfortunately it is something that has to be done, so here are a few tips on how to keep your child’s uniform looking and feeling like new!

First things first, as with any of item of clothing, check the labels! This is because, easily enough, washing at the wrong temperature and setting or using the wrong detergent can damage the uniform.

So, whether you are trying to clean the yoghurt off of their jumper or the paint off their trousers, there are a few ways to ensure your child’s uniform will be clean every day: 

·         Empty all the pockets; make sure there are no tissues or wrappers that could damage the uniform.

·         Close buttons and zips so you do not lose any, this is also to prevent snagging.

·         Turn clothes inside out to reduce wear and tear.

·         Separate light and dark colours to avoid colour runs such as turning your white shirts blue.

·         Do not over-fill the machine to ensure clothes are cleaned properly

·         Use the correct amount of detergent (there is usually a recommendation on the bottle).

·         Do not exceed the temperatures marked on your care label otherwise you will end up with a very tiny uniform.

·         If the school jumper is acrylic knitwear, do not use fabric softeners, because this will damage the condition of the clothing.

Finally, when drying and ironing the uniform, make sure you follow the labels again properly, as sometimes tumble drying can shrink the uniform, whilst some items cannot be ironed, so make sure you turn the uniform inside out and use a suitable heat setting.

Overall, the key to a pristine uniform is not to forget to check the labels! If you are unsure you can find out what commonly used symbols mean at www.care-labelling.co.uk.

Don’t forget to sign our petition to make school uniforms more affordable! We are campaigning for a salary sacrifice voucher scheme to be put in position for school uniforms. This is very similar to the childcare voucher scheme presently in place, meaning it is tax exempt and therefore, making uniforms more affordable. Please help us to make this possible, by signing our petition here- http://tinyurl.com/schoolwear