Parents guide to buying your child’s first school shoes

When people say that time flies when you become a parent, they’re not exaggerating. We can’t quite believe it’s time to start thinking about buying the very first ever pair of school shoes for your child.

Getting yourself organised beforehand will mean you can hold their hand and walk them into their first ever classroom with confidence, knowing that your child is equipped with everything they need for a fun and successful first year at school.

When to buy school shoes

As the summer draws to a close and the before-school excitement starts to ramp up, you could start to look for new school shoes. The end of August and the beginning of September is the perfect time, depending on when the term dates in your area fall. You may be calling this ‘summer’ but for many it’s known as ‘back to school season’.

If your little one isn’t going into reception this year and has already been at school the previous year, then remember to check if their shoes still fit - you don’t want to be squishing those toes on the first day of school.

Where to buy school shoes

Our range of school shoes caters for all children, whether they have small, large, narrow or wide feet. Whatever gets your child out of bed in the morning, we’ll have the school shoes to meet that need. What’s more, our prices are extremely competitive (we know that bit is super important) and won’t break the bank.

We offer free delivery on all UK orders over £35 and all orders will be delivered by Evri within 3-5 working days, and we even offer next day delivery (if ordered before 4pm) for those leaving it until a little later than planned.

We also have a friendly customer service team who are on hand to help with any queries you have about getting that very first pair of school shoes for your child. You can call us on weekdays between 9am-5pm on 01858 468546.

Top tips for ‘getting it right’ with your child’s first school shoes

Measure them properly

You may think it’s a good idea to get your child the next size up because you think they’ll grow into them by the end of the year, but don’t. That’s a one way ticket to blisters, holes in socks and a very uncomfortable child. Plus, you’ll have to buy a new pair of school shoes anyway, totally defeating the object.

Use a tape measure (tape measures are better than rulers to take into account the natural curves of the feet) and measure:

● The distance in cm from the back of your child’s heel to the tip of their longest toe.
● Repeat for the other foot
● Consider the width of your child’s feet.
● Consider the size guide for your chosen store. At Deichmann, ours is here

Feet come in all shapes and sizes and vary a lot from child to child. Sometimes, your child will have one foot longer or wider than the other. That’s very normal, so ensure you account for this.

Know your child as an individual and buy the school shoes they need

However much we want them to remain our cute little babies, children are individuals and have their own way of looking at and interacting with the world. Your formerly cute-as-a-button baby girl may have grown into a stomping, charging streak of a child who never stops jumping and, thus, her school shoes will need to have some grip and be designed for a more raucous playtime.

Our range of Kickers school shoes have decent tread on the bottoms, just in case your little one has a penchant for going up the slide backwards (there’s always one!)

Take fastenings into consideration

Some four year olds struggle with laces; that’s very normal and they usually get themselves sorted in the early years of school. In the meantime, a lot of our school shoes have ‘one touch’ or touch-fastenings - quick, easy, adjustable and saves anxiety in the morning and after PE.

Check out our range of touch fastening school shoes, which are just as easy to clean (of course they’ll be getting a little dirty) and have a nice comfortable fit.

Tips for breaking in new school shoes

Don’t leave it until the last minute to break in your kid’s first school shoes - you want them to have an easy, exciting first day, rather than being worried about sore feet. Here’s what you can do to break in new school shoes:
● Pop them on and wear them around the house in the weeks leading up to the first day.
● Massage the backs and sides of the shoes to stretch them out where they might pinch.
● Cushion the insides with insoles to make them more comfortable.
● Use a child’s shoe stretcher to help give them a bit of extra space.

How can I ensure that my child’s first school shoes will last throughout the school year?

If your child’s feet aren’t growing at a speedy pace, you’ll want to make sure that the school shoes last throughout the school year. Here are some top tips for keeping them looking fresh from the first term until last:

● Keep them clean - sounds obvious but a little care can go a long way. Wipe away mud, make sure they stay dry in the winter months (keeping them off direct heat), and polishing them will keep the leather in good condition and looking smart.

● Label them - it can be quite frustrating sending them off to school with one pair of shoes and getting them home with another. Labelling means you’ll avoid getting someone else’s shoes come home or if they are misplaced, they’ll be easily returned.

● Make sure they fit - it’s not just shoes that are too small that can cause problems, poorly fitting shoes can start to become misshapen and extra pressure on the material could cause them to lose that ‘new’ quality sooner.

Check out some more tips with our guide for caring for school shoes.

Parents FAQs when buying first school shoes

What is the best material for kids’ first school shoes?

When looking for first school shoes, the best material to shop for is real genuine leather. Not only is it durable and high quality, but it can be protected against the elements. It’s easy to clean, breathable for little feet and can be repaired easily. Girls' school shoes often come in a patent leather look which is a classic style.

How do I know if the school shoes fit properly?

The general rule of thumb (or finger in this case), is that there should be a finger’s width between the end of the shoe and your child’s longest toe. Of course, you can also measure your child’s feet at home to make sure you’re buying the right size and checking to see how much their feet grow throughout the year.
Read more in our step-by-step guide to measuring your child’s feet at home.

What kind of support do first school shoes need to have for growing feet?

When looking for first school shoes, support is one of the most important things to consider. Those little feet are still growing, and they are going to see a lot of activity over the next few months. The right school shoes will have a good support across the top of the foot to keep it in the shoe. Laces are a good option, but tricky for little fingers, so you might want to consider some sturdy velcro options to make sure they’re kept snug throughout the day.

Are there any brands that you would recommend for kids’ first school shoes?

With brands in stock including Graceland, Hush Puppies, Kickers, Nike, Adidas, and Fila, you can be sure that we’ll have the right pair of shoes for your child.

What are the different types of school shoes available for kids?

There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing the type of school shoe you’d like for your child - you could even get them to look and choose with you. Popular styles include patent leather, T-bar, canvas, boots, slip-ons, lace-ups, buckles and velcro.

Are there any special features that I should look for in kids’ first school shoes, such as slip-resistant soles?

Slip resistant soles are excellent as children are often in the playground in all weathers. You might also want to look for leather for durability and velcro or buckle fastenings that are easy for your child to do themselves while they practise tying their laces at home.