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Preschool education

Is it the norm for school nurseries to have uniforms?

37 replies

dogindisguise · 08/12/2013 20:13

DS, 3, will be going to the nursery at our local state primary school in January (afternoons for the rest of the school year followed by morning sessions at the school nursery proper in September).

He has to have a proper school uniform - school sweatshirt, clip-on tie, grey trousers, white top and black shoes - although they did say they don't enforce the sock colour as they would in the rest of the school! And the change of clothes in case they wee themselves doesn't have to be uniform.

All the schools where I live seem to have uniforms at nursery, but I wondered if this is now the case everywhere? Personally I would rather uniform wasn't compulsory before Reception, as it might not be the most comfortable thing to wear when doing lots of outside play and messy play etc, plus there's the expense, the faff of having to get changed before nursery, and the fact I may actually have to iron it. Children already start school so young and it seems even younger when you see children with a nappy under their uniform.

On the plus side I have seen children at afternoon toddler group who like the uniform so much they don't want to change out of it and I suppose his own clothes won't get ruined.

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ChestnutsroastingintheFireligh · 08/12/2013 20:15

Yes it's the norm where I am

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Hassled · 08/12/2013 20:17

It's not normal round these parts. In fact if I saw a 3 year old in uniform I'd assume it was some exclusive private nursery.

I suppose on the plus side you don't get any of those toddler tantrums about what they're not going to wear, because all choice is removed - but I am with you on the expense and the high wear-andtear.

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Ilikesweetpeas · 08/12/2013 20:20

In school nursery classes here they all wear it but usually sweatshirts not ties etc. As for nappies, school nurseries which only take children once they are 3 would expect them to be toilet trained, but would understand occasional accidents

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InkleWinkle · 08/12/2013 20:26

Our nursery has a sweatshirt which most wear because, as you say, it saves their own clothes but its not compulsory.

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addictedtosugar · 08/12/2013 20:26

Round here poloshirt, school specified colour trousers, and a school sweatshirt seems standard. Not sure about the tie - tho some receptions round here have ties.
Wouldn't expect a 3+ preschool starter to be in nappies.

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LydiaLunches · 08/12/2013 20:31

Compulsory but slightly flexible round here, eg grey sweatpants acceptable for ease of toileting.

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Wearegoingtobedlehem · 08/12/2013 20:45

Civvies round here, not a sniff of uniform until receptionSmile

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dogindisguise · 08/12/2013 21:03

At my first nursery visit there was a boy there with a nappy clearly visible under his uniform. I was worried DS would be the same, but fortunately he toilet trained aged 2.11.

I'm not sure how strict they are on ties - it's on the list but they weren't all wearing ties when I visited.

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usualsuspect · 08/12/2013 21:05

It's not normal in all schools round here.

Clip on tie? At 3 is bloody ridiculous.

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Fugacity · 08/12/2013 21:06

Our school nursery uniform is crested sweatpants/sweatshirt in winter, Bermuda shorts/polo shirt in summer.

It's fairly dodgy when you look at free nursery funding criteria.

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NoComet · 08/12/2013 21:11

NO! And I've told them to take a running jump if theyed suggested it.

I have my fingers tightly crossed DD1 gets into non uniform sixth form.

12 years of trying to get her school shoes is 12 too many!

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SantanaLopez · 08/12/2013 21:11

A clip on tie?!

Sweater and polo shirt are the most you'd see round here.

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Pooka · 08/12/2013 21:13

Not normal at all round here (London suburb).

Only private schools have uniforms in Pre-k or preschool.

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HowBadCanThisGet · 08/12/2013 21:13

Fairly common round here too, but sweatshirts and trousers/skirts.

Wouldn't be accepted if they weren't toilet trained though. I actually find school uniform (from the Supermarkets)cheaper than the clothes I would be putting them in, so I don't find it an issue at all.

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Pooka · 08/12/2013 21:14

Though our preschool does have uniform that you can buy. I don't think I've ever seen anyone wearing it. Totally optional.

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EdithWeston · 08/12/2013 21:16

THe nearest I've seen to a uniform is a sort of smock thing, that goes over ordinary clothes (and keeps the worst of the muck of a school day off them).

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CrohnicallySick · 08/12/2013 21:17

Howbadcanthisget- it is illegal for a state nursery in England to discriminate against a child who is not toilet trained.

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Sirzy · 08/12/2013 21:21

DS goes to pre-school and wears uniform - sweater, polo shirt and school pants. Simply means rather than buying clothes I don't mind getting ruined at nursery I got him school uniform.

All bar the sweatshirt will be suitable to use when he starts at the School in September assuming they are still in good condition.

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Rosencrantz · 08/12/2013 21:23

Mine all went to nursery in school uniform from aged 3. It was the uniform of the primary school that the nursery was attached to.

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BertieBowtiesAreCool · 08/12/2013 21:26

In my area it's not usual but also not so unusual that it would be commented on - probably about 10-20% of them have uniforms.

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fanoftheinvisibleman · 08/12/2013 21:26

Yes minus the ties. But should the uniforms remain the same then ds wil not require a tie until he hits 6th form here!

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Pooka · 08/12/2013 21:27

I didn't think schools (including preschools) are allowed to exclude children on the basis of still being in nappies.

Ds1 would have been excluded if that were the case - had medical issues that resulted in late potty training.

Ds2 as well.

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honeybunny14 · 08/12/2013 21:28

My ds nursery its just the seater and polo shirt can put on jeans or joggers with it

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honeybunny14 · 08/12/2013 21:29

Sweater i mean

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ilovepowerhoop · 08/12/2013 21:31

ours had a polo shirt and sweatshirt but they were optional. They were not in the school colours either - probably because the nursery was attached to a combined campus school who both have completely different uniforms

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