BUY EARLY AND STRESS LESS, URGES SCHOOLWEAR ASSOCIATION

As we enter the last academic term before the summer, The Schoolwear Association, whose members clothe three-quarters of Britain’s children, is urging parents to purchase uniforms for the next school year early to avoid the annual back-to-school panic.

By late August each year, schools and specialist schoolwear suppliers are inundated with last minute uniform requests, which can result in a more time consuming experience for parents, if they are unable to source specific sizes or styles so close to the start of the new school year.

According to the Schoolwear Association, the three main reasons why parents leave it to the last minute to shop for school uniform are:

·         The arrival of the holidays means school drops off the radar

·         Leaving it to near the start of the school year to see if the child’s size changes

·         Families want to put off the expense

David Burgess, Chairman of the Schoolwear Association, said: “All these approaches are false economy and will end up costing parent’s time and money. It makes sense to buy early to avoid the rush and to ensure that there aren't any last-minute problems. If there are any special requirements, this will give suppliers time to resolve them, meaning you’re not faced with extra expense or stress.”

“Taking the time now to choose a specialist schoolwear supplier will offer real benefits if you are willing to pay a little extra for a premium product and service. We understand that price is important but a uniform that is made well does the job better and offers better value because it lasts longer,” added Burgess.

The Schoolwear Association represents British businesses involved in the manufacture and supply of school-specific uniform, from manufacturers to wholesalers and independent retailers. Established in 2006, the association is run on an entirely voluntary basis by some of the sector’s most experienced professionals.

School uniforms are great value for money!

For years, the Association has fought against criticism that school uniform is too expensive, but now we have proof that this isn’t the case!

According to the latest study, school uniform costs on average just 45p per school day. A relatively small price compared to the £113 price tag for the outfits children wear when they aren’t in school.

Here at Schoolwear Association we believe that it is important for every child to wear school uniform, to give them a sense of pride with their school and to improve behaviour. With children spending at least 10 hours a day wearing school uniform, we believe uniform should be good value for money and long lasting, something which we are constantly encouraging.

The new research reveals the average secondary school outfit is priced at £88.05, just 45 pence per school day. With PE kit, the total averages £127.32. A Primary school uniform comes to £33.48, rising to £42.32 with a PE kit. A separate poll of 2,000 parents shows they typically spend more on outfits the children wear outside of school than they do on uniform, with almost half dressing their children in high street and designer fashions. The average non-uniform outfit came in at £113.

Our Chairman, David Burgess, is keen to tackle the common misconception that school uniform is too expensive. “We completely understand that for the poorest in society, uniform is a major expense but most schools have arrangements to look after them, and many of our members contribute to those schemes by providing free uniform to those in need. Most parents can afford to buy their children’s uniform, and like teachers, they agree that quality, school specific uniform contributes to better education and behaviour. It is a worthwhile investment, and we believe every child is worth it.”

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!