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Almost half of parents aren't ready for the school week until Sunday night or Monday morning

Almost half of parents aren't ready for the school week until Sunday night or Monday morning

New research by Tu at Sainsbury's reveals the hidden workload of school uniform, with parents spending more than 74 hours a year getting children school-ready.

Two young children exit a doorway at the same time, holding backpacks and lunch bags and wearing a school uniform. Image depicts a morning and the school day ahead.

Hollie Bond

Published: August 20, 2026 at 12:02 PM

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Back-to-school prep is often presented as a one-off job, but new research suggests school uniform can create a weekly workload for parents throughout the school year.

Research from Tu's Uniform Readiness Index, based on 2,000 UK parents of children aged 4 to 16 who wear school uniform, found that 49% don't feel fully prepared for the school week until Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Parents spend an average of 1.9 hours each week preparing school uniform, adding up to more than 74 hours over a 39-week school year.

The school uniform jobs parents want to spend less time on

School children having breakfast at home while mother does washing

From ironing and washing to hunting for a missing jumper, keeping school uniform ready can mean lots of small jobs during an already busy week.

According to the research, the five uniform tasks parents would most like to spend less time on are:

Ironing, 39%
Washing, 36%
Finding missing items, 28%
Labelling clothes, 24%
Shopping for replacements, 23%

The research found that one in four parents experience a uniform-related problem every week or most weeks, while 59% have had to sort out a uniform issue at the last minute.

For a third of parents, preparation is very much a day-by-day affair, with 33% saying they take this approach. More than a quarter, 26%, also frequently find that uniform is missing, unclean or simply not ready when it is needed.

When the school uniform panic hits

We've all been there: it's nearly time to leave and the school trousers are still in the wash, a shirt has mysteriously disappeared or a jumper has suffered an unfortunate breakfast spill.

The research found that 64% of parents purchase or replace school uniform at least once every term. Meanwhile, 35% have had to do last-minute ironing, 34% have scrambled to find missing items and 31% have dealt with late-night or urgent re-washing.

Parents also reported dealing with unexpected uniform damage, at 32%, and unwashed uniform emergencies, at 26%.

What the research really highlights is that school uniform isn't something families think about once a week on a Sunday evening.

Kimberly Royle, Head of Childrenswear Buying at Tu

Kimberly Royle, Head of Childrenswear Buying at Tu, says the findings show that uniform is much more than a Sunday night job.

“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.”

Tu school uniform wins MadeForMums award

composite image of two children in school uniform as part of MadeForMums Uniform Awards

For families looking to replace uniform ahead of September, Tu's School Shop includes practical features designed to help reduce the school uniform workload with regular wear and washing in mind, including non-iron fabrics, reinforced knees, permanent pleats and adjustable hems.

Tu says its school uniform prices have also been locked for a fourth consecutive year, with two full uniforms available from £14 for selected age 3 to 6 multipacks, subject to availability and the terms of its Price Lock.

And there's our very own MadeForMums seal of approval too. Tu was named Best Value School Uniform in the MadeForMums 2026 School Uniform Awards, winning the category for the second year running.

Tu's school uniform collection starts from £3 and is available online at Tu and Argos, as well as in more than 400 selected Sainsbury's stores.

The Uniform Readiness Index research was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Tu between 16 and 21 July 2026 among 2,000 UK parents of children aged 4 to 16 who wear school uniform and are not homeschooled.

Authors

journalist and two young kids sat on a bench in France for a review of Eurocamp

Hollie BondSenior Digital Journalist

Hollie is Senior Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes articles about pregnancy, parenting, child health and getting pregnant. She has written for a number of national lifestyle magazines and websites over the past 12 years including Family History Monthly, You and Your Wedding and Muddy Stilettos. She has two children aged 5 and 8 and hasn't slept since 2017!