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Original poster

Can a school really make you buy a specific pair of shorts on their website??

47 replies

User5757385737 · 27/07/2022 07:33

I don't want to be the parent refusing to buy something specific for uniform but hear me out.

Ds is starting secondary. They can wear any trousers from any shop if they meet their guidelines, the girls can also wear any skirt as long as it's within their guidelines.

Ds likes wearing shorts. He has asd and won't wear trousers.

the boys can wear shorts but only if it's from a certain school uniform shop (the same place you get the jumpers). They are literally
plain black shorts, the same you'd get anywhere else (no Logo as far as I'm aware). Plus they are £20 for one pair of shirts !! Not affordable at all in comparison to other shops!!

why are trousers or skiers allowed to buy bought anywhere but not shorts??

as above Ds is autistic, I'm not expecting special treatment but I usually buy him ones that have some elasticated waist on them (he has a bit of a tummy). The shorts on the website look rigid and stuff, they have a button which he can't do - but can do a hook and loop.

can they really stop you from buying a pair of black shorts say from M&S or next, Asda or whatever that look exactly the same but half the price??

plus the sizes are off. They only do uo to 11-12 in kids, which will be too tight. Then they jump to adult sizes which will be too long on him, they would look like 3/4 lengths on him (he is only 140cm tall) which would look ridiculous but getting him say 12-13 or 13-14 from somewhere else will be a much more suitable length for him!!

OP posts:
MermaidSwimming · 27/07/2022 08:32

Our senior school allows shorts but they cannot be cargo type with pockets on side. Ds stopped wearing shorts as he didn't like the other style, up to y7 he didn't even own school trousers. Hopefully the School will see it as reasonable adjustment and if you can I would tag the senco into emails as well

Clymene · 27/07/2022 08:35

We are supposed to buy shorts from the school shop. DS (with ASD) won't wear them as the fabric is wrong/ the length isn't right/something.

He wears his own shorts. Never been challenged or questioned. I've never even spoken to the school about it.

Original poster
User5757385737 · 27/07/2022 08:36

MermaidSwimming · 27/07/2022 08:32

Our senior school allows shorts but they cannot be cargo type with pockets on side. Ds stopped wearing shorts as he didn't like the other style, up to y7 he didn't even own school trousers. Hopefully the School will see it as reasonable adjustment and if you can I would tag the senco into emails as well

Thank you. My son doesn't like cargo style so hopefully be okay. He's always wore very plain shorts, so won't be too much different other than the colour!

I am hoping to get DS into trousers at one point - might need someone to turn them up a but but we will see 😅

OP posts:

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Kendrickspenguin · 27/07/2022 08:36

My DS1 is a couple of years older. He also has ASD and is a bigger lad. I had the added complication of kitting him out for secondary school when the uniform shop was only doing online sales during the pandemic. Zecco on Amazon do a sturdy fit with an elasticated waist. Tesco also sell sturdy fit trousers. I imagine the other supermarkets do too.

alnawire · 27/07/2022 08:41

as above Ds is autistic, I'm not expecting special treatment but I usually buy him ones that have some elasticated waist on them (he has a bit of a tummy). The shorts on the website look rigid and stuff, they have a button which he can't do - but can do a hook and loop.

Maybe not special treatment but actually the law is on your DS side here and 'reasonable adjustment' should apply.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 27/07/2022 08:46

I live across the road from a middle school Y6-Y8. Shorts are reasonably popular all year round. Both my dc wear them, and although the school does not specify a supplier, I've never found any bigger than 13/14, and they are difficult to get above 11/12. I imagine your school are specifying this shop to ensure that the children who wear shorts wear smart, tailored shorts rather than sports shorts or casual shorts.

Original poster
User5757385737 · 27/07/2022 08:53

Kendrickspenguin · 27/07/2022 08:36

My DS1 is a couple of years older. He also has ASD and is a bigger lad. I had the added complication of kitting him out for secondary school when the uniform shop was only doing online sales during the pandemic. Zecco on Amazon do a sturdy fit with an elasticated waist. Tesco also sell sturdy fit trousers. I imagine the other supermarkets do too.

Thank you. Sadly the supermarkets around here are small and don't hold a lot of stock but may travel further afield to have a look!

OP posts:
Original poster
User5757385737 · 27/07/2022 09:08

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 27/07/2022 08:46

I live across the road from a middle school Y6-Y8. Shorts are reasonably popular all year round. Both my dc wear them, and although the school does not specify a supplier, I've never found any bigger than 13/14, and they are difficult to get above 11/12. I imagine your school are specifying this shop to ensure that the children who wear shorts wear smart, tailored shorts rather than sports shorts or casual shorts.

I've found this too. But I've seen some 13/14 on M&S and 14 years from next. They might be okay for ds! But it's hard to say!

OP posts:
ClinkeyMonkey · 27/07/2022 10:26

I reckon the school will be reasonable about something like that, especially given that your DS has autism. I'm considering asking if DS1 can wear shoes with a velcro fastening because, even at 14, he has regular meltdowns while wrestling with shoe laces (awaiting ASD assessment).

We're in NI and the price of uniforms here, especially for secondary school, is astronomical. DS1's school insists that everyone buy their PE kit from a particular sports shop and it cost us over £100. Some of the grammar schools (including the one I went to) have wool blazers. DS1 has grown rapidly and is now on his third blazer, but we would have been out a fortune by now if it wasn't a bog standard polyester one. His jumpers all have the school colours around the neck, so a generic grey jumper can't be worn. Not only that, but the colour of jumper changes from grey to black in Year 11 (equivalent of English school Year 10) and again has the stripes. So if he doesn't grow much in the next year, we still have to buy new jumpers. The uniform then changes from black to (a very nice!) dark green in sixth form!! This is an all ability integrated school, not a posh grammar. And the uniform grant for low income families here is the lowest in the UK.

Glad I got that off my chest!!!

alnawire · 27/07/2022 10:41

I reckon the school will be reasonable about something like that, especially given that your DS has autism.

Just for clarity, it's not up to the school to decide here, they are duty bound by law to make reasonable adjustment. I don't want to sound pedantic but it's important for the parents of children with disabilities to know they are not asking school for permission here, they are exercising their legal rights.

Inmyownlittlecorner · 27/07/2022 10:45

DD is going into year 9 & the school have decided to change the uniform. They’ve presented it as the pupils want this, they’ve designed it etc, but I’m pretty certain the core group of children they consulted didn’t come to the decision to have a 3 box pleated navy skirt from a specific supplier on their own!
They’ve said that anyone year 8 & up are able to continue to wear the old uniform (as they’re “heritage pupils”) but as it’s no longer produced & DD needs bigger sizes we’re having to fork out for it. Her uniform cost £72 last year not including shoes, it now costs over £200 & I’ve got to buy school shoes on top of that & PE trainers. My friends DD goes to the non uniform school close by & she’s just spent £10 on a PE shirt & the rest of it are the clothes her DD already has, most of which are from primark.
I’ve emailed the school about the huge increase in price & got a phone call saying she can have second hand jumpers from the old school uniform if she wants but they’re very happy with the decision & all the children are very excited🤷🏻‍♀️

SummerLobelia · 27/07/2022 10:48

alnawire · 27/07/2022 10:41

I reckon the school will be reasonable about something like that, especially given that your DS has autism.

Just for clarity, it's not up to the school to decide here, they are duty bound by law to make reasonable adjustment. I don't want to sound pedantic but it's important for the parents of children with disabilities to know they are not asking school for permission here, they are exercising their legal rights.

That's a really good point.

I have been holding off on getting firm about extra curricular activities which the school says are compulsory. DS can barely cope with the school day as it is. I was going with the reasonable adjustment route if need be.

ClinkeyMonkey · 27/07/2022 11:04

@alnawire you're absolutely right of course. Thanks for pointing that out.

fUNNYfACE36 · 27/07/2022 11:09

alnawire · 27/07/2022 10:41

I reckon the school will be reasonable about something like that, especially given that your DS has autism.

Just for clarity, it's not up to the school to decide here, they are duty bound by law to make reasonable adjustment. I don't want to sound pedantic but it's important for the parents of children with disabilities to know they are not asking school for permission here, they are exercising their legal rights.

If depends how they define reasonable adjustment though doesn't it.They nay argue having a pupil not wearing the correct uniform is unreasonable

Winter2020 · 27/07/2022 11:16

The uniform laws have recently changed. Branded uniform should be minimised and school should try to offer second hand.

The schools my kids go to one has sent a letter emphasising supermarket uniform can be worn. The other has made a big effort to ask for second hand uniform and plan a sale.

www.headteacher-update.com/news/school-uniform-new-rules-signal-crackdown-on-branded-items-second-hand-ties-blazers-poverty-disadvantage-1/242454/

AlexandriasWindmill · 27/07/2022 11:22

As long as they look the same, they won't care.
Our uniform website is expensive. Nearly everybody buys the main uniform - skirt, shirt, trousers - from supermarkets instead. Our PE stuff is all logoed so we need to buy it from official suppliers.

LunaAndHerMoonDragons · 27/07/2022 11:26

It is a strange policy. Our school said they have a strict uniform policy, but when our Autistic DS couldn't wear the specific uniform required they were completely fine with him wearing his version of school uniform. The change was very obvious, same colours, very different materials and missing the school logo. The policy might not be as strict as it seems. Uniform variation due to sensory issues should be a reasonable adjustment to allow you son to access his education. Uniform should also be affordable to all. I'd find it worrying if these things became serious issues.

Redflagorno · 27/07/2022 11:33

İ think you're over thinking it. İn a school of probably 1500 pupils it's very unlikely you're going to find a jobsworth teacher with such an accute eye for detail and abundance of time on their hands, that they notice the hem is slightly off from the website photo with which they've spent the whole summer holiday pinned to their bathroom door to memorise the exact cut of short they're supposed to be looking out for and says 'Dear Billy, I'm suspicious that your black shorts may have come from Mark's and Spencer's, come over here and let me peer down your crack to inspect the label and confirm my suspicions'.

Hm2020 · 27/07/2022 12:33

It’s ridiculous op an academy chain has taken over 3 struggling secondary schools near where I am they where nearly all in special measures in deprived areas they have such strict uniforms that you even need a school log coat aswell as logo skirts trousers blazers ties and pe kits amazing that this is aloud and makes no sense at all to the demographics.

alnawire · 27/07/2022 12:42

If depends how they define reasonable adjustment though doesn't it.They nay argue having a pupil not wearing the correct uniform is unreasonable

It doesn't actually. School are not the authority here.

Readytoplay · 27/07/2022 13:01

I would bring this up with the school on 2 counts

  1. School’s shouldn’t be doing this as a new bill has been passed to prevent The Monopoly of uniform.
  2. As you son is autistic, a school should be meeting his needs and by demanding he wears an item that is sensory to much for him, is putting a Barrier to him receiving an education.

Genuine question, would you son be open to wearing a skirt?

Best of luck OP!

Okeydoky · 27/07/2022 13:20

With the greatest kindness, I think you're overcomplicated this. I totally understand it as these as these things are mega stressful. But really all it needed was a light touch email to the school. Not asking permission, but politely informing them of what will be happening.

Eg. Subject "NAME - reasonable adjustments" and then something like:

"Dear X,

As you are away NAME has autism. As a result of this he has certain sensory issues which extend to his clothing. He is most comfortable in shorts.

Unfortunately the shorts from your preferred supplier are not suitable for him as he cannot manage a button closure, so he would be unable to use the toilet independently.

I have therefore sourced shorts from another supplier which look as similar as possible to the shorts from your preferred supplier, but which have a fastening which he can manage independently.

I trust that this is acceptable, and would be grateful if you could please communicate to anyone that needs to know the reasoning behind this deviation from your preferred shorts.

Kind regards"

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