Shoptalk

And the good news is that there's a school uniform price war going on. The supermarkets have moved into the market and prices are tumbling.

For the full range of standard school uniforms, it's hard to beat the big stores such as Marks & Spencer or Bhs. But it's sometimes not worth paying more for the extra quality. If you are the old woman who lives in a shoe and have hordes of children coming along afterwards to wear the hand-me-downs, then yes, paying more for better quality can be cheaper in the long run. But most children's clothes are outgrown/lost/ripped on a railing, before they wear out.

What it is worth paying for are Teflon-coated clothes - this does actually repel stains. So comforting to watch blackcurrant juice just rolling off...though it grows less efficient with time. Also non-iron clothes, because, well, life is just too short.

But there are other bargains to be had, often amazingly cheaply. School uniform has never been so cheap.

Marks & Spencer have cut their prices by 15 per cent, Sainsbury's by 25 per cent, Bhs by 30 per cent... and they still get undercut.

You might not have as much choice in the bargain stores, but how much choice does the average five-year-old need?

ASDA

Huge range with wide variety of styles in skirts and trousers.

Teflon trousers for three to six-year-olds, £3.50; 10 to 16 £5

Non-iron long sleeve shirts, three to six-year-olds, £4 for two; 10-16 £5.

V-neck jumpers, three to six-year-olds, £4; 10-16 £6

Teflon non-iron pinafore dress three to six-year-olds, £4; 6-10 £4.50

Teflon non-iron skirt three to six-year-olds, £3; 6-10 £3.50

Bhs

Huge range, many different styles and sizes, up to chest 43 inches so excellent for strapping teenagers.

Two easy-care, long sleeve shirts, collar 14, £8

Teflon trousers for four-year-olds, two pairs for £10; for age 11, two pairs for £16.

Teflon machine washable blazer, £13.60-£16.80

Two polo shirts, age five, £4

Teflon skirts with fashion detail, age 12, £6.30

Stretch skirt, age 11, £7.70

BOYES

Easy-iron blouses, size 26, two for £5

Polo shirt, size 30, £2.49

Blazers 38ins, £9.99

Skirt, age 9-10, £3.99

Sweatshirts, age 11, £2.99

MARKS & SPENCER

The biggest choice of all and famous for its quality. This is the uniform to go for if you have a tribe of children who don't mind hand-me-downs. One of the few stores that does the complete range, including blazers, and also caters for strapping teenagers, with school shirts going up to collar size 19, or bust 41ins, and wide-fit boys' shoes up to size 12

Non-iron Teflon trousers, £5.95-£17

Teflon wool blend trousers, £14-£22

Sweatshirts, £4- £9

Two long sleeve, non-iron shirts, £7.65-£14.45

Two polo shirts, £4-£9

Non-iron Teflon blazers, £14.45- £20.40

Non-iron Teflon skirts, £6-£13

MATALAN

Huge selection, sizes from tinies to age 16 as standard, with some basics up to a size 22 for girls or XXXL for boys.

Teflon pinafore £4.50-£6

Scalloped edge cardigan with heart-shaped buttons, £4.50-£6

Two long sleeve shirts, £3.50-£6

Skirts from £3.50

Pull-on trousers, from £2.50-£5

Boot cut trousers, from £4-£6.50

Three easy care polo shirts, £4.50-£7

Sweat shirts £2-£3.50

Non-iron Teflon trousers £4-£7

NATIONAL SCHOOLWEAR CENTRE

Unusual in this is a chain of franchise operated shops devoted entirely to school uniform, plus uniforms for Scouts and Guides. They are not the cheapest, but they are also specialist in that they sell the uniform specifically for local schools.

This is where you get the polo shirts and sweatshirts, even fleeces, embroidered with the school name. You can also get just about anything your child will need for school, from gym kit, through aprons and overalls.

PRIMARK

Small range

Two short sleeve polo shirts for 13-year-olds, £3.50

Two long sleeve white shirts for seven to eight-year-olds, £3; 11-12, £3.50

SAINSBURYS

Small rather crumpled selection of schoolwear, mainly for under 11s.

Two short sleeve shirts, age four, £4

Skirt for eight-year-old, £6

Pinafore dress, age four, £6

Trousers, age ten, £6

TESCO

They now boast that you can get your child kitted out for less than a fiver. Well yes, a Value skirt for a four-year-old is £2, cardigan £2 and polo top 95p. For a 16-year-old boy a set of the basics goes up to £9.

Teflon coated non-iron trousers, from £6

Three pack non-iron shirts, £6.75

Blazers from £11

WILKINSONS

Not a collection as such, more a few random items.

Teflon skirt for 11-year-old, £4.99

Teflon trousers for five-year-old, £4.99; for 11-year-old, £6.99

Grey Teflon pinafore dress, seven to eight-year-olds, £5.99

Navy shorts for 11-year-old £2.49

WOOLWORTHS

Big range, especially for under 11s. Lots of little fashion details which makes uniform more appealing.

Pleated skirts, from £6.95

Bootleg trousers, £6.99

Zip-front pinafore dress, £7.99

Stretch pinafore, £7.99

P.S. Just be glad you're not posh.

If you wanted to send your son to Eton, not only would the fees knock you back about £24,000 a year, but the uniform doesn't come cheap either. A three-piece tail-suit can cost £197, the shirts are £11 each and the collars £6.50. Also on the list, among the blazers at £140, overcoats (£150) woollen football socks (£14.50) and white linen hankies (£1) is an umbrella at £13.50. Makes our lot seem so simple, doesn't it?

www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/features/