School uniform rules

[CityOfCake]

So at our school (primary) girls can wear plain black leggings under a dress or skirt.

So can I assume that if this is ok boys should be able to wear black leggings instead of the typical boys school trousers ? My son is much more comfortable in them as prefers the softness and fit but I don’t want to send him on the first day and it’s not ok or am I just overthinking ?!!! It must be ok if girls can with a skirt ?!

I would speak to the school, it may be worth an email as there is usually someone answering queries throughout the summer. At all primary schools I have taught at it really would not have been a problem for a child with additional needs to wear leggings as long as they were the same colour as the school uniform

In our local schools the only girls who wear leggings under a dress or skirt are Muslim girls.

Your son won’t be able to wear leggings on their own (and neither would the girls). He can wear them underneath trousers (or a skirt if we are going gender neutral)

However you might be as well talking to the Sendco. My son had a massive sensory issue with uniform and was allowed to wear a polo shirt for a while instead of the compulsory shirt & tie.

I do understand the compression thing. Dd is still like that aged 20. She wears a lot of Lycra (went to ballet school so was allowed) and also clothes that are too small for her

He has asd, if it's a sensory issue school should accommodate this as it's part of his disability. Regardless of uniform policy. It is unlikely other boys would opt for leggings so it's how he feels about looking different. You can get trousers without fastenings .

How about him wearing the cycling shorts under his trousers? I think school would accommodate what you are asking but you also need to think about the future. Would leggings be OK as he gets older? As a mum of two kids with asd I also used to find that making a change when moving to a new environment was oddly more accepted. So it might be easier for your ds to accept trousers in the new school than it would be once he is established there.

Next do slim fit joggers which might be an option, they look almost legging like on my DS! They also have soft, pull on jeans which you might want to look at as he gets older.

If the rule says that they can be worn under a skirt then you are being completely unreasonable to say that he can wear them without a skirt.

There’s nothing wrong with sending him in the girls’ uniform if that’s what he prefers.

Why obviously not a skirt? If you want him to wear the female uniform that’s not obvious at all.

Is it primary age OP? Present it as a special needs issue and ask how they can accomodate his needs. Don’t just tell them he wants to be comfortable - most kids hate their school uniforms and school is used to not caring if a more comfortable option is available. If the conversation goes badly you could argue its sex discrimination to allow girls comfy leggings but not extend this to boys.

By the way I know you want tight all the way down but m&s school uniform stretch jersey trousers are extremely comfortable (in the girls section, but DS wore them throughout primary without any issue).

Good luck.

I think school would be ok with it, given his autism dx. However I would start thinking of ways to widen the range of ‘acceptable’ clothing he can tolerate, as four year olds won’t bat an eyelid at a boy wearing leggings, but ten year olds will notice and comment because it’s out of the ordinary. Try to find an OT who specialises in sensory processing differences and can come up with a plan with you.

I don’t want him to wear the female uniform as that would be 2 waistbands and not acceptable for his sensory needs I just want him to be able to wear trousers that he can cope with due to sensory needs

it’s not a case of preference or boys/girls it’s what he can manage to wear and the leggings were listed as part of the girls uniform I just want him to be as calm and comfortable as possible

Yes primary age I am going to ask the school if it will be ok hopefully they won’t mind

Which is fine, but your OP didn’t mention that, it just mentioned that he wanted to wear some of the female uniform, you didn’t say that he didn’t want the skirt.

As others have said, you need to speak to the school to see what they can accommodate.

City please don't ask as in request. Approach it with "ds has x needs due to his asd. This is the reasonable adjustment he needs. Therefore his uniform trousers will be x style".

They cannot legally refuse to accommodate reasonable adjustments for his needs.

If you ask then you allow them to refuse. Then you have to start a conflict to tell them that actually they can't say no.

My asd son has been fine in next slim fit jogging bottoms. They are tight so give him the compression he seeks and don't make him stand out as a target!

I will have a look at them Thankyou

If he has an EHCP ask for it to be written in, I cannot see why the school would not allow this if it makes his day easier to cope with, also get it written onto his care plan in school.

M&S do some jersey trousers that would probably work, no buttons or zips - just pull on and they are called slim leg jersey school trousers, www.marksandspencer.com/girls-slim-leg-knitted-trousers/p/clp60450198?color=NAVY they are with the girls trousers but they look unisex to me,

They also do some super skinny leg trousers www.marksandspencer.com/senior-boys-super-skiny-trousers/p/clp60450634?color=charcoal .

There are also some skinny leg jersey school trousers. marksandspencer.com/girls-skinny-leg-knitted-tousers/p/clp60450195?color=BLACK these look most like leggings, you could order some and if they are not right just send them back

These are just a few but on their website there are lots of choice they do loads in black.

Is there anyone you know with a sewing machine who can take in the leg of some school trousers if the school will not allow this adjustment for your son.

Is there anyone you know with a sewing machine who can take in the leg of some school trousers if the school will not allow this adjustment for your son.

The school cannot refuse adjustments.

They are bound by the equality act to make reasonable adjustments.

There is no reasonable argument against him wearing something he can tolerate.

www.gov.uk/school-uniform

Def approach as a "this is what we need, we've tried all other options, this is what works"

Incidentally, how are we still at "DiscriminationS: chools can decide if girls can wear trousers" in 2022

Oh please don't!! He will be laughed at on Day 1.
Except obviously fine if he is actually planning to wear a dress rather than trousers, if that is what this is more about.

Sorry, for some reason I thought this was secondary school! If he is only 4 the school might let him wear them.

It’s not about skirts/dresses at all, that’s not something he has ever requested to wear his only requirement is something that he can tolerate wearing.

Even if anyone did laugh which I think would be highly unlikely with young children he wouldn’t notice anyway he’s in his own little world and I don’t think he would register it at all

Yes - primary !