Back to School Shoes: When to Buy, When to Wait and How to Book

When is the best time to buy school shoes? It is the question I get asked more than any other at this time of year, and for a long time my answer had a frustrating catch in it. Buy too early and their feet might grow before September. Leave it too late and you are fighting the August rush with half the sizes gone. This year, the answer has changed, and I want to explain why.

The problem with buying early, and what we have done about it

Children's feet grow, and they grow a lot over a summer. That has always been the risk with buying school shoes in July: a pair that fits perfectly in the holidays might not fit on the first day of term. It is the number one worry parents share with me, and it is a completely fair one.

So this year we are answering it properly. Every pair of school shoes bought from us this summer comes with a free size exchange and a free recheck before term starts. Keep the box and the receipt, only try them on indoors, and if their feet have grown by the time September comes round, bring them back and we will swap them for the right size. That is the promise.

What that means in practice is simple. Whenever you choose to bring your child in this summer, early July, late August, or anywhere in between, you can have them properly fitted and know that if anything changes before term, we will put it right. The growth worry, the only real reason anyone hesitates, is taken care of either way.

Why a proper fitting matters more than the size on the box

Children's feet are still forming until their late teens, which means the wrong shoe at the wrong stage can affect how their feet develop. And here is the thing most parents do not realise: the measurement is a starting point, not an answer. Feet are dynamic, they change shape when weight goes on them, and a size 3 in one brand is not the same as a size 3 in another. That is why we have the conversation rather than just handing you a box.

It is also why Nadia and I set up The Footwear Hub, a not for profit directory of fitting specialists and a resource for parents across the UK. Wherever you are, every child deserves properly fitted shoes. If you are local to us, here is how it works in Portishead.

What happens at a fitting

A school shoe fitting with us is relaxed and unhurried. We measure both feet, but more importantly we look at how your child's feet actually behave: their shape, their width, how they stand and move. Then we bring out the styles that suit their feet, not just their size, and we check the fit properly with them standing and walking. One tip from me: bring their school socks. Sock thickness changes the fit, and we want them fitted for how they will actually wear them. If your child is nervous, do not worry.

We fit children every day and we take it at their pace.

Most of them leave rather pleased with themselves.

How to book

Our back to school appointment book is open whenever you are ready. August does tend to be our busiest month, so if you would like the widest choice of times, an earlier slot can help, but there

 is no rush either way. Walk ins are always welcome too, appointments just guarantee your time and avoid the queues.

And if you’re not local to Portishead, our virtual fitting service can help. You measure at home, complete a short questionnaire, and we recommend the right options from our stock with a video call to check the fit if you would like one. 

However you do it, the message this year is a happy one. There is no risk in buying whenever suits you and your family, and we are here to make it easy either way.