Uniforms! A vital necessity of school life, and a big purchase each year. Whether you’re a returning school parent, or this is your first time getting everything you need, it’s time to make sure your child is school clothes ready, if you haven’t already sorted things. In this post, we’ll remind you of everything you’ll need to be prepared, as well as our top places to get good quality uniform for reasonable prices.
Firstly - what do I need?
A great place to start when ensuring you have everything you’ll need is our Ultimate Primary Uniform Checklist. If you’re short on time, here’s our checklist summary. You’ll need:
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1 waterproof Winter coat (with hood and lining)
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1 waterproof Summer coat (with hood and a thinner lining)
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3-5 school jumpers or cardigans (at least 1 with a school logo, for trips)
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10 pairs of short school socks
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1 pair of school shoes (some families might buy a heavier duty boot for Winter and something smaller for Summer, but most classic school shoes should be fine all year round)
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1 pair of PE plimsolls
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2 PE tops
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2 PE shorts
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2 x PE long tracksuit bottoms
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2 x PE socks
Plus one of the following combinations:
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5 x school polos, 5 x trousers, 5 x shorts
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5 x school polos , 5 x tights, 5 x long socks, 5 x skirts or pinafores
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5 x school dresses, 5 x tights, 5 x long socks
Where should I buy everything - and when are the sales?
Once you know what you need, it’s good to get stock of where you can purchase everything (and when sales usually pop up to maximise your budget). Here’s where to head, and when!
Supermarkets
Most supermarkets will begin stocking school uniforms in the early Summer months, and these are typically the most budget friendly places to shop. You may sacrifice longevity and fancier features by going for a more budget friendly option, so this is entirely dependent on whether you think your child needs something more long lasting or would benefit from features like ‘easy on’ items (or easy iron, for you!).
We’ve spotted that the likes of Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s begin stocking school items around June/July time. Sainsbury’s is offering a 25% off offer from mid-June 2025, while Tesco and Asda are likely to follow suit. If you can afford to wait until the later months, you may snap up a real bargain as it gets close to school time, but equally there may be the risk that you won’t find items in the right size, fit or colour.
Some value supermarkets, such as Aldi and Lidl, are known for their special buys during school uniform season. Aldi’s press office have released that they’ll be offering their £5 uniform bundle from the 29th June 2025. They also promote selling pieces beginning at £1.50, which is a serious bargain. Just make sure to get in quick and check local stock, as this sort of deal moves fast. Lidl is offering a similar bundle as Aldi, from the 3rd of July. Again, local stocks will vary, so act fast!
High Street Retailers
Slightly higher price figures will be found at the likes of Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis (and these are stocked all year-round). Some families may feel that the higher investment and year -round availability is worth it for convenience, higher quality and longevity. ‘Easy Iron’ or ‘No Iron’ items are always a great boon if you’re looking to save time - though beware, ‘No Iron’ doesn’t always mean no creases whatsoever! If you have a child who could do with a little help getting dressed, we also recommend searching for ‘Easy on’ or ‘Easy wear’ versions of clothing. This may mean false buttons, velcro and minimal zips allowing for speedier and more independent dressing (though these additions will not be visible to any other children, of course).
Sales wise, if you’re going for a more premium retailer, there are fewer bargains to be had in the late summer months, with discounts popping up in late August. Next and Marks and Spencer are not currently advertising any large scale discounts on their uniforms (M&S owing to its recent cyber attack and not offering its usual 20% discount). John Lewis has a uniform discount section, but this isn’t advertised as a specific campaign.
Shoes
School shoes are another high price item to get hold of. Consider supermarket retailers if you are happy with the quality, as these may come under their discount seasons (but not always). If you prefer to go for branded options, Clarks and StartRite are the usual contenders, both of which don’t typically advertise major sales in the summer - but may do come late August. We did spot, though, that StartRite are offering a 10% discount on their Schoolblazer line!
Good luck!
Any more tips for parents looking to maximise their uniform budget? Let us know on our social channels! Remember to ensure you’re labelled up with our personalised uniform name stamps, once you’ve got your uniform secured.
