school uniform choices for girls.

[Teacher12345]

DD is starting school in September and there are so many choices of uniform!
I was going to get a skirt, a pinafore, and 2 trousers (but no girls in my DS class wear trousers which has me doubting this too!) and then I read the thread the other day about shorts under skirts. Now I am thinking maybe playsuits instead but I have bought her ankle boots already as shoes.
Do you think any of these would look okay with ankle boots? What do your DD's wear if they are in infants?

direct.asda.com/george/school/pinafores-dresses/girls-grey-jersey-school-playsuit/GEM526852,default,pd.html?cgid=D10M2G1C19

direct.asda.com/george/school/pinafores-dresses/girls-grey-bib-top-school-playsuit/GEM619561,default,pd.html?cgid=D10M2G1C19&placement_id=GRGTOP&strategy=PWBAB&config_id=GRGTOP&product_id=GEM619561&parent_item_id=GEM526852

Shoes for reference
www.marksandspencer.com/kids-light-as-air-patent-leather-ankle-boots-5-small-12-small-/p/clp60274856?color=BLACK

Trousers the norm for boys and girls around here, with some girls wearing pinafores. Pinafores can be tricky to get in and out of but they keep polo shirts cleaner.

My dd wears knickers. I see no need to make a thing of it at that age. Do you have personal experience of perverts looking at little girls knickers?

I understand it's a worry but I am not going to needlessly pass on my worries to dd. She knows the pantasaurus song.

@mogtheexcellent It hadn't even occurred to me as an issue until I read it on hear the toher day. Wrote on a local FB for mums page today to see what local consensus is and loads of people piled on saying their kids do, teachers could be peadophiles too etc.

When DD was in reception (3 year ago) she had a skirt a pinnafore and 2 pairs of trousers. Not many girls wore trousers but DD didn't mind. The pinnafore didn't get much use as she said she got too hot in it.

In summer she had 2 summer dresses and a play suit. Mumsnet has a thing of disgust over playsuits. They'll get covered in wee etc etc etc. But DD was taught she only needed to get it down to thigh length and it's sit on top of her legs while on the loo. Deffo no need for it to be all the way on the floor. Never had any problems toileting and in summer when they are rolling round all over the field etc very practical too.

mogtheexcellent I don't think its about perverts in the playground, I think its about teaching that flashing your knickers to everyone isn't appropriate.

Strict uniform code at our school - for younger years pinafore or skirt. Plain black leather shoes (not patent, no embellishment).

Skirt or pinafore that can be lifted to go to the toilet -anything that is lowered when going to the toilet has the potential to end up on the wet toilet floor and no one ever knows what the liquid on the toilet floor is made up of
Pleated skirts are best for sitting crossed legs on the carpet

Make sure her undies fit and then there is no need for shorts

Reception age children don't need to worry about wearing shorts under skirts . It's another layer to worry about for toilet trips / PE. Just make sure her knickers are a good fit around the leg so that she's not flashing anything she shouldn't be.

Pinafores are good for this age. The 'bib' part protects polo shirts from dinner splashes / paint and they don't fall down like skirts do on young girls with no waist.

Check the school policy on ankle boots. Ours doesn't allow them as they aren't good for active children climbing on things / children struggle to sit comfortably cross legged on the carpet when wearing them etc. Our classrooms have heated floors and so boots would also be unbearably hot. Obviously if a child has a medical requirement to wear boots, then that's ok.

Went to primary in the 70s. Always hated wearing skirts to school at primary - never felt comfortable doing handstands and cartwheels. Colour of your knickers seemed very personal and you would get teased by boys and girls wh had seen them. So I just didn't wear skirts. I would buy shorts for my dd if she felt as I did. Ot just put them in trousers.

Dd1 wore skirts or a pinafore except on pe days when she wore trousers as they were easier than tights.
Dd2 refuses to wear trousers and manages the tights.
Having been in the reception toilets many times at 3.30, I would never put a small child in a play suit. The amount of wee on the floor some days is Ridiculous and I don’t think 5 year old girls have the coordination to stop their clothes falling on the floor as they sit down.

@Minesateaorthree apparently girls knickers are too flimsy and perverts will take advantage of this when the kids are doing cartwheels of sitting cross legged.

Please don’t buy into this nonsense and put that on your girl - skirts with knickers are perfectly acceptable and appropriate - the idea that teachers are perverted just waiting for a flash of 4 year old pants? Just adds to the stigma of men (And women to a lesser extent) working with small children - if you honestly think she’s not safe at school you have bigger issues than uniform choice. It also starts from a very early age messaging that tells women they need to cover up to protect themselves.

She’s 4, let her wear what she feels comfortable in and, if you really have a concern about paedophiles at school, address this with the school.

My DD is the only girl that wears trousers afaik. She hasn’t even noticed!
I want her to play on the climbing equipment like the boys do and wearing a dress and silly shoes (cheap ballerinas) make it harder. Just watch reception kids for ten mins and you will immediately notice that girls can’t do the same things due to their clothes. I didn’t grow up in the Uk and don’t understand at all why girls are put in clothes the restrict them (let alone the knicker issue). I will probably get flamed now...

I'm an EYFS teacher. Please avoid tights, playsuits, laces in shoes and anything else your child can't do 100% independently. Elasticated trousers, jogging bottoms if they are permitted, and Velcro shoes are the best thing. Of course the teacher will help your child, but the children will want to get back to playing ASAP. Laces trail in wee, water, paint, mud and everything else. So do skirts, as most 4 year olds take everything down when they use the loo.they find it hard to do "skirt up, tights down" as we would, when they use the loo.

If she's anything like my dd, don't get her too many options. She's bound to end up wanting the one that's in the wash!

It's so much easier for boys. My ds has 5 polo shirts and 5 pairs of trousers or shorts, job done.

@ThisIsNotARealAvo I agree with the independence thing. We have no intention of buying tights because she struggles with them.

@jellycats I don't believe teachers are perverts but was shot down on Facebook for suggesting School was safe from sexual predators.

Sorry to miss the point but do t you think she'll have grown out of the shoes in 3 months time? Even 6 months only take you to November? Why have you bought them already. I'll get my kids school shoes as late as possible.

Grandaughter, just turned 4, has been at nursery wearing uniform for a year and starts reception in September too. What's worked for her is pinafores and 1 pair of trousers. She has 5 full sets of changes for September, just in case covid rules of clean change daily are in force, and she is a much magnet. She also has an all in one : polo shirt attached to pleated skirt in her bag, in case of accidents as it folds up small, it's also handy for PE days. Skirts didn't work for her as they wouldn't stay up. I can vouch for the asda Modesty shorts, wash well. She has white for under summer dresses and darker ones for the rest of the year. Don't forget labels, though sometimes stuff vanishes down a black hole.

@newphoneswhodis her feet don't grow fast at all and I bought them a month ago, a half size up. She is only in infant 7.5 and turns 5 in September. With my son, I leave shoes until late August because his feet grow fast but DD has very slow growing feet!

Oh and I bought them then because they had 25% off and she really liked them.

@Teacher12345

You live in a very paranoid area. I dont know any children who wear shorts under dresses or skirts at DDs school, my DSis is a primary headteacher and has never seen it .

It's a non question for winter as they all wear tights anyhow. Summer clothes till oct half term and then after easter. Get culottes. For ease of dressing as they will have to change for PE. Personally I would start a trend of not wearing them since I assume the other parents are just following the pack mentality and I refuse to do so.

DD wears combat shorts with all black Nike velcro trainers & a white t.shirt.

My daughter started wearing cycling shorts under her dress in year 3/4 when they all went through a phase of swinging upside down. Had not occurred to me until then. Little reception kids don't need to be worrying about anything like that. Getting to the loo in time when school is so distracting should be their biggest worry

I would get some bike shorts. If your daughter has chubby thighs during hot weather she will need them to prevent chafing. It’s also warmed during winter that way. Depending on how long her skirt is you may also want it for everyday wear for an added layer of protection when sitting on grass.

When buying summer dresses for school, I'd recommend a dress with a zip, as buttons can be tricky at that age, and they'll be changing for pe.

@mogtheexcellent thats good to hear. I thought I was being neglectful at one point as loads of mums were saying "you can never be too careful" etc.