March is the new September! Stressed parents reveal uniforms have sold out online

Stressed parents have taken to social media to reveal how school uniforms have sold out online – with one even branding March the new September.

Boris Johnson’s lockdown exit plan will see schools in England reopen March 8, while younger pupils in Scotland and Wales started going back to class last week.

However, lockdown restrictions means parents haven’t been able to pop to the local shops to buy new uniform for their ever-growing children – resulting in online sales of shoes, blazers and the likes soaring and selling out within minutes. 

And frustrated mums and dads across the nation have been quick to take to Twitter to vent their anger – with many raging their children have no choice but to return to school with shoes too small and shirts which do not fit.

‘I have had to order new school trainers online,’ wrote one. ‘They won’t be here for another week or so… He has to go back in too small shoes now. My three girls are all in dire need of clothes but online are sold out in their sizes.’ 

Among the influx of comments were parents who told of their difficulty trying to get hold of highly-sought after items of school uniform clothing.

‘Its taken me since December to get ours,’ wrote one. ‘Had to grab it in bits. When I’ve asked they said because of lockdown, no one’s been sending them through to the shops, but even online haven’t had the sizes I’ve needed.’

A second baffled parent asked: ‘Can anyone explain why everywhere is sold out of school uniform online?’

Elsewhere, one infuriated mother even compared the manic process to trying to get her hands on a pair of in-demand Glastonbury festival tickets. 

‘FINALLY managed to buy some school trousers online, it’s like everyone has decided to buy school uniform for some reason,’ she wrote. ‘Putting the card details like I’m buying Glasto tickets praying it won’t say sold out by the time I get to the final page.’ 

Other frustration included the lack of warning that parents were given when it came to the back-to-school dates – with many slamming the idea of opening schools before shops.  

‘Opening schools before opening shops makes getting new uniforms for the growing ones difficult… Much online is sold out,’ wrote one, while a second penned: ‘Continuing to categorise children’s clothing as “non-essential” and penalising stores who allow parents of children who GROW LIKE WEEDS to purchase the next size up is ridiculous.

‘The online stores are either sold out or take weeks to be delivered. Bit of cop on is VERY needed.’

A third added: ‘Not a huge lead time in terms of knowledge of when the schools were going back. Exacerbated by non seasonal demand that will be hard to fulfill due to pandemic impact on production and distribution.’

Meanwhile, a fourth commented: ‘But… can’t shop in store and they knew schools were going back…’

Another angry parent wrote a plea to her child’s school urging them to soften the rules when it comes to their uniform guidelines.

She penned: ‘Dear school. Please relax your uniform policy so children, especially young children, can wear clothes and shoes that are comfortable and practical. Just as adults are often able to do in their work places.’