As families prepare for the return to school, new research from Tu’s Uniform Readiness Index reveals that nearly half of parents (49%) don’t feel fully ready for the school week until Sunday evening or Monday morning.
While school uniform is often thought of as a Sunday evening task, the reality is often much more demanding. On average, parents spend more than 74 hours across the school year preparing their child’s school uniform, with everyday jobs such as last-minute ironing, finding missing items and replacing worn-out essentials becoming a regular part of family life.
The reality of the school week:
From unexpected spills and replacement shopping to ironing at short notice and searching for missing pieces, school uniform is a regular part of the weekly family juggling act.
Tu’s Uniform Readiness Index reveals the five tasks’ parents would most like to spend less time on:
- Ironing (39%)
- Washing (36%)
- Finding missing items (28%)
- Labelling clothes (24%)
- Shopping for replacements (23%)
The research also reveals that last-minute school uniform issues are a regular reality for many families. One in four parents experience a uniform-related problem every week or most weeks, while 59% say they have had to resolve a school uniform issue at the last minute. One in three parents (33%) take a day-by-day approach to school uniform preparation, while more than a quarter (26%) frequently find uniform missing, unclean or not ready when it’s needed.
When things go wrong
When uniform isn’t ready, the challenge often shows up in the very practical moments of the daily routine: a missing jumper just before the school run, trousers that need urgent ironing, a stained shirt that must be re-washed. When faced with a uniform issue, parents report:
- Purchasing or replacing school uniform at least once every school term (64%)
- Carrying out last-minute ironing (35%)
- Scrambling to find missing items (34%)
- Handling unexpected uniform damage (32%)
- Doing late-night or urgent re-washing (31%)
- Dealing with unwashed uniform emergencies (26%)
Kimberly Royle, head of childrenswear buying, said: “Getting children ready for school is one of those jobs that can seem small on its own but quickly adds up alongside everything else families are juggling.
“What the research really highlights is that school uniform isn’t something families think about once a week on a Sunday evening. For many parents, it’s an ongoing part of the weekly routine, whether that’s tackling the ironing pile, replacing missing items or making sure everything is ready for the next morning. We’ve designed our school uniform range with those everyday realities in mind, focusing on practical features that help families save time, reduce everyday upkeep and make the school week feel that little bit easier to manage.”
Helping take the pressure off
Tu’s School Shop is designed to help take the pressure out of everyday uniform upkeep, with practical features including non-iron fabrics, reinforced knees, permanent pleats and adjustable hems. Built to withstand frequent washing, everyday wear and growing children, the range is designed around the realities of family life. Non-iron fabrics, reinforced knees and permanent pleats help uniforms stay looking smarter for longer, while durable designs help kids get more wear out of their uniform throughout the school year.
Alongside practical design features, Tu continues to offer strong value for families with prices locked for a fourth consecutive year and two full uniforms available from just £14, or £7 each when shopping age 3-6 multipacks, helping families manage both the time and cost involved in preparing for the school year.
As families prepare for the return to school this September, Tu’s Uniform Readiness Index shows how something as simple as school uniform can have a big impact on how smoothly the school week runs for busy families. While no product can remove the realities of a hectic family schedule, practical features that save time, reduce upkeep and deliver lasting value can help make a new term a little easier to manage.
Tu Clothing’s full school uniform offering from £3 is available online at tu.co.uk, argos.co.uk and in over 400 selected Sainsbury’s stores nationwide now.
Tu was also named Best Value School Uniform in the MadeForMums 2026 School Uniform Awards5 for the second-year running.
