This guide covers the main items, how to brand them and how to keep ordering manageable.
The core uniform
Most primary schools and nurseries build their uniform from a few items: a sweatshirt or cardigan, a polo shirt and a bag. Secondary schools may add blazers or jumpers. Polycotton blends wash well and resist shrinking, which matters for clothes washed several times a week.
Keep the list short. Fewer branded items mean lower costs for families and fewer stock headaches.
Choosing colours that last
Colour choice affects how long uniform looks good. Dark colours such as navy, bottle green and burgundy hide marks and fade less noticeably. Pale colours show grass and paint quickly. Choose a colour available across sweatshirts, cardigans, polos and PE kit so everything matches.
PE kit, trips and outerwear
Beyond the core uniform, schools often brand a few extras.
- PE T-shirts in house colours with a printed badge
- Hoodies for older pupils and sports teams
- Junior hi-vis vests for trips and walks near roads
- Fleeces and jackets for outdoor learning and forest school
- Book bags and drawstring PE bags
Staff and leavers
Staff often wear branded polos, fleeces or lanyards so visitors can identify them. Nursery staff may prefer tunics or polos that cope with messy play.
Leavers' hoodies are a tradition in many schools: the school badge on the front and every pupil's name printed on the back. Collect names early and check spelling carefully, as names cannot be changed once printed.
Making ordering easy
Decide how parents will buy. Some schools hold stock, while others ask parents to order directly. Either way, give parents a clear list of required and optional items with a size guide. Children grow quickly, so expect regular top-up orders through the year.
Where to put your logo
School badges are nearly always embroidered on sweatshirts, cardigans and polos. It survives years of washing and looks smart. Place the badge on the left chest. For PE T-shirts and leavers' hoodies, print works well, especially for names on the back. Send the clearest badge artwork you have, as detailed crests may need simplifying to stitch cleanly at chest size. Check the proof carefully before production.
Ordering what this guide covers
The garments this guide talks about, such as school sweatshirts and cardigans, kids' polo shirts and kids' T-shirts, can all be ordered from one piece with free logo setup. The logo price drops at 9 and again at 25 garments, and every garment with a small logo counts towards it, whatever the style or colour. Before anything is made, we embroider an actual sample of your logo and email you a photo to approve, or you can pop in to our Hull workshop to see it.
