I can't get school uniform to fit dtds. where do I stand?

[EdwiniasRevenge]

As part of school uniform dtds need embroidered tracksuit bottoms. Whilst strictly speaking they are not compulsory NONE of the girls wwhere shorts and shorts are not appropriate for winter.

Therefore imho it is necessary for them to have a pair of tracksuit bottoms.

The school policy is that I have to buy a specific pair. We have been to try these on and they do not fit. Those which fit around the waist are far too short (see picture on profile).

In order to buy tracksuit that is long enough I have to buy a tracksuit which is 8" bigger round the waist, which is big enough to put them both in together. They do have elasticated waistband with drawstrings but it is just so bulky and uncomfortable when tied tight enough. There is so much excess fabric on the bum and legs.

They have very tall and skinny. I do have problems buying them clothes. I have to shop around for brands and styles to fit, and even then I often have to adjust the trousers by elasticating the back portion of the waistband. There is no scope for me to adjust these.

Where do I stand given that they could wear shorts as an alternative. I feel that this would be discrimination against them for being tall and slim.

[Bakingtins]

They look like bog standard black tracksuit bottoms . What school specifies particular items for PE kit?
I think I'd buy another pair of trackie bottoms and see if they called me on it. Or get someone to alter the massive ones so they do fit? But the whole policy of school-specific sportswear seems unreasonable so maybe you should take it up with them.

[missimperfect]

Have you spoken to people with children in older years to find out what the reality is as to what kids actually wear and how strict they are? At our school there is a tracksuit option but actually a lot of the girls wear leggings under their shorts. So my DD is one of the few to wear a tracksuit. She is incredibly tall and skinny so wears them a bit baggy and a bit short. Also in winter she found they did PE indoors anyway. It might be worth holding fire on buying anything until she has a chance to see what the other kids are wearing.

[ShowOfHands]

DD is tall and slim and the school PE trousers don't fit. So she doesn't wear them. Problem solved.

[nextphase]

They look like very fashionable crop's to me!

Can you buy the school logo seperatly? So buy very similar plain tracksuit bottoms, and get someone to add the logo afterwards?

We were v lucky. DS1 has just gone into 3-4 trousers. PE kit starts at (non adjustable waist) 5-6. Just as my face was falling I was told it wasn't essential.

[LIZS]

How old are they ? dd is very skinny but we still found her school shop could fit her waist/leg measurement for tracksuit bottoms . They are a bit baggy but once a skort is over they look fine and most of the time she wears black leggings(skins) instead. She even had a swimsuit ordered in especially to fit. Maybe they would do similar for you.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

I had this problem with ds rugby shirt. It looked like a dress on him. He cried (ASD year 3) I went to see the head who agreed the uniform supplier needed to do something about it. He was allowed to not wear one for year 3 and in year 5 they ordered in a size specially that wasn't Advertised on their website.

[JohFlow]

Why not have a quick word with the head teacher and explain your dilemma. If he/she can give permission for plainer track pants then that is all you need.

Alternatively many companies now offer a school embroidery service if you are able to sent them a copy of the school logo.

Good Luck

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Y kids have always had the track suit bottoms drawn in a lot though. It's how they are meant to be.

[Scruffey]

I can't see the embroidery on them but would it be possible to cut the embroidered part off and sew it onto another black tracksuit?

Ask the school what they would like you to do. They can sometimes order things in specially.

[Rooners]

We have the opposite issue - ds needs a bigger waist and shorter legs.

I tear my hair out every summer taking up trousers that are 2 years too old for him, by 5 inches.

I think he is finally slimming out at 10. I can't wait till they abolish school uniform.

[Madamecastafiore]

I'd just get some plain black tracksuit bottoms and send them in with a note and see what they say before banging on about discrimination.

[EdwiniasRevenge]

They will have the school logo on. The pair in photo was a size sample.

This is the first year of introduction of the compulsory tracksuit bottoms. Until now the uniform was 'plain black' tracksuit bottoms. But apparently that isn't rigid enough and there isn't enough 'uniformity'. This means I can't speak to older years. It also means that I know that all girls wear trackie, and although they do do PE inside there is no heating and it is as cold as outdoors.

I am pretty competent on a sewing machine (see the other items on my profile) but the way the waistband is constructed there isn't really much scope to adjust them. They are already costing me £20 a pair I can't afford to pay to have them taken in as well.

They will not be allowed to wear leggings under shorts. I am pretty confident on that.

I can't buy the badge seperately but the embroiderers have agreed to embroider onto a pair trousers bought elsewhere but only if permission is expressly given by the school, so will have to wait until term has started. The trousers are not made in different waist/leg combinations as I have already asked.

I did joke about taking them up a couple of inches to turn them into crops and wait for the school to claim they are not wearing the right uniform. Can't afford to throw £40 to fo that though...

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I'm with MadameC. Saying it's discrimination is pretty OTT. DD1 was always v tall and skinny but we never had problems finding PE trousers for her. And tbh most tracksuits, even in the right sizes, tend to be baggy on the bum and legs.

Just buy plain black tracksuit bottoms or, if you want more fitted, plain black yoga style trousers which tend to be slimmer - and write to the school to say why you've done it, without mentioning discrimination.

[TSSDNCOP]

If she's already got regulation shorts I'd send her back in those week 1.

Then speak to the school. Would they compromise on a pair of trackies from somewhere like Marks, Next, Sainsbury that all do size/varied lengths provided they were black and embroidered?

[EdwiniasRevenge]

She doesn't have regulation shorts. I had no intention of buying her them as that is another £14 and they didn't wear last years plain black shorts on a single occassion.

I was asking if you thought being forced to wear shorts because of body shape was discrimination so I know how to take the discussion.

I have yet to ask about embroidering an alternative pair.

I did have discussion with school because the regulation skirts werent regulation knee length. The response I got was "the uniform shop have to sort it". Hence she will wear troysers instead of skirts.

The uniform shop have told me categorically that they do not have longer lengths and will only embroider a different pair if given permission by the school.

[TSSDNCOP]

Ok, we'll its unlikely she'll have PE on the first day. So go in that day and explain the uniform shop aren't able to provide the kit. Take the photo on your profile.

Present the compromise I suggested and see what they say.

[TSSDNCOP]

And agree that she can wear last years shorts while you're sorting the trousers out.

[EdwiniasRevenge]

Thanks. That is what I was planning to do. As a seperate issue I have requested financial assistance from the school as I am a FT student and entitled to FSM and couldn't plan for the new PE kit as it was only announced about 3 weeks before end of term. I have yet to hear whether I will be granted assistance and therefore purchasing them would be difficult in any case whether they fit or not.

I think that the key questions i am trying to ask

A) can the school insist that they wears shorts?
B) if the school insist she wears shorts would this be discrimination? (Already answered)
C) can they insist that I buy the trousers that are far to big around the waist and uncomfortable

[trinity0097]

At the school where I work tracksuits are only worn for sport if it is either snow play as there is too much snow lying to do proper sport, or if the temperature is below freezing. Otherwise it's shorts and the kids run around to get warm!

[QuintessentialOldDear]

Let them wear them as capris. The school cant complain, they are adhering to uniform policy....

[bronya]

Presumably the tracksuits are also too wide in the leg? One way to reduce the waistband is to turn them inside out, then increase the seam on the outside of the leg (obviously cutting off the excess).

[EdwiniasRevenge]

trinity tracksuits can be worn for any P.E. lesson, they are allowed to choose between tracksuit and shorts. The P.E. lessons I have observed (oct, march, june) the vast majority if not all of the girls were wearing trackie. My dtds did not wear their shorts at all last year.

quint. Tempted....very very tempted.

bronya. Trust me I have looked closely to see if I can adjust them. It would not be quite as straightforward to adjust the legs as they are lined, have a zip bottom and have the school logo on the outside of the thigh.

It is the waistband which the fabric needs to be removed from. I really can't see how this can be done as they have stitched in elastic and a cord channel which would need to be preserved. Believe me, as a person pretty competent with needlecraft and clothes repairs that is one of the first things I looked at.

[Eastpoint]

I have had this problem in the past. If the school are difficult ask them what they would do if a pupil was too large for the biggest size, they usually then realise it is unfair to discriminate against slighter pupils. My daughters wear leggings similar to winter running leggings for winter sport, they are now part of the school uniform, as they are more comfortable & keep the girls warmer. While they are more expensive they do at least wear them & are available in a wide range of sizes (& with logos if required).

leggings

[EdwiniasRevenge]

Thankyou eastpoint

Very good point to question them on larger pupils.

I have found a pair of plain black tracksuit bottoms of similar fabric and style which are close to fitting (and they are bog standard off the shelf size 6 - no fancy sizing).I am hoping that school will see sense and allow me to purchase these and allow me to either get them embroidered or obtain an embroidered logo which can be sewn on.

Having asked around I know of a few parents which are planning to buy plain black as they disagree with the price. There are also quite a few complaining about a poor fit on this item - suggesting that my dtds (although unusually tall and skinny) are not alone.

[NoComet]

Cheapest plain bottoms you can get and only explain the problem if the school bothers to moan.

DDs are supposed to have plain tracksuit bottoms, no logos. DD says this rule is universally ignored.