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Original poster

School uniform issues

60 replies

Badnewsoracle · 10/10/2022 07:39

DS is nearly 7. He's NT (as far as were aware) but has some significant sensory challenges, mainly around clothes. At home he wears 'boy leggings' and t shirts and fleeces 99% of the time as these cause him least issue. He likes thin, soft, stretchy fabrics and hates anything restrictive, particularly around his joints.

For school he wears short sleeve shirts and shorts, with a vest underneath. Getting him to wear a jumper is a no-no, but he will wear his blazer and school let him wear a waistcoat/ sweater vest made of school jumper material (not sweatshirting).

However trousers are a huge issue and it disrupts his learning. Days I have made him wear trousers he's been so distracted and upset in school that they've let him change in to his P.E shorts.

So he's wearing school shorts. But it's freezing here now and getting colder..they play out in all weathers. Any suggestions? Either for super stretchy school trousers (that look like school trousers, no joggers or leggings allowed) or knee high socks (makes me think of the 1950s!).

Thanks

OP posts:
toomanyhobbies · 10/10/2022 07:44

Could he wear his legging under the shorts? Like girls are allowed to wear tights?

MrsWombat · 10/10/2022 07:47

Leggings under his PE shorts? Like sports base layers?

TeenDivided · 10/10/2022 07:51

Leggings under his school trousers?

Have you looked into Sensory Processing Disorder?
What are his motor skill like? Sensory issues can go hand in hand with dyspraxia.
If he is that distressed it is worth looking into further as it could become a big issue at secondary school otherwise. (Whereas with some kind of formal assessment a school should make reasonable adjustments).

Interested in this thread?

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7 year olds Clothing General education
SlipperyLizard · 10/10/2022 07:56

Would something like these work?

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Grey-Jersey-Trousers-2-Pack-%283-12-years%29/128960027-Grey

DD1 hated the “tight” waistband of traditional school trousers but was fine with these. DD2 prefers these as they’re more comfortable to sit down in assembly.

Elsanore · 10/10/2022 07:56

Some boys wear shorts for school all year round anyway, I have noticed, and I live in a cold northern county in UK. Maybe he can do that.

Soft, stretchy trousers- at M&S I got dc some school trousers made of jersey type material- really soft just a bit thicker than leggings material. They came in regular, slim or skinny style. Maybe he would accept the skinny ones as close enough to leggings? They are extremely soft and stretchy, I'll be getting more for my dc. Better than the stiff scratchy traditional trouser material.

Elsanore · 10/10/2022 07:58

These OP
I have been browsing at M&S and found this: https://www.marksandspencer.com/girls-skinny-leg-knitted-trousers/p/clp60450195?intid=mobileappppdpshare

Lochjeda · 10/10/2022 07:58

My 9 year old and all his friends were shorts all year round every year. Iv gave up trying to make him wear trousers as he's happy and wants to wear shorts. They just have warm jackets on and don't seem to notice the cold like I do.

MeowMeowPowerRangers · 10/10/2022 08:00

Can he not wear black/grey joggers?

My 6 year old does as he hates school trousers and struggled with the zip/button. They are fine about it and were the ones who actually suggested it!

AmIThatMam · 10/10/2022 08:03

Shorts are fine for school. Kids don’t feel the cold like we do or aren’t bothered. Lots of kids wear shorts all year round here (uk). You might struggle at secondary if they have strict dress code (ours is no shorts allowed- except for the PE teacher of course( for another thread)) so for now, just let him wear shorts and for goodness sake don’t put knee highs on him!

bigbluebus · 10/10/2022 08:08

I know boys who have worn grey shorts for school all year round. I don't think he'll come to any harm as long as the rest of him is adequately covered. We have postmen around here who wear shorts well into winter too. Your DS won't even be outside all day - just at breaktimes and PE (when presumably everyone will be wearing shorts).
Just let him wear shorts.

Ohdearnotagain76 · 10/10/2022 08:09

Pair of joggers to go over shorts to play out in. Not many secondary schools allow shorts, so worth trying different things

UnityO · 10/10/2022 08:20

My DS is 10 and has similar issues with 'how things feel'. He's always worn shorts all year round - quite a few boys in his class do.

He wears M&S adaptive/ easy dressing range for his uniform and sock shop bamboo seamfree socks are the only socks he'll tolerate.

Original poster
Badnewsoracle · 10/10/2022 08:22

The reason I've made this thread is because this morning he was saying he was cold and wanted to wear tights under his shorts - I said no because they're spotty (he wears them under leggings in winter when he's cold) and I was also worried about what his peers would say but before I got him grey school tights I thought I'd ask for suggestions on here.

OP posts:
Original poster
Badnewsoracle · 10/10/2022 08:26

TeenDivided · 10/10/2022 07:51

Leggings under his school trousers?

Have you looked into Sensory Processing Disorder?
What are his motor skill like? Sensory issues can go hand in hand with dyspraxia.
If he is that distressed it is worth looking into further as it could become a big issue at secondary school otherwise. (Whereas with some kind of formal assessment a school should make reasonable adjustments).

Thanks. His gross motor skills are shocking (his fine aren't much better, handwriting is awful). People have always said he's just "not into sport" or labelled him as clumsy. The health visitor was suggested revaluation 6 months after his 2year check as he was behind on a couple of physical things (stair climbing and jumping) but wasn't very concerned and when I chased this up they weren't bothered as he could now do those things. He was a late walker as well (20 months) but again, no one was concerned when I raised it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Badnewsoracle · 10/10/2022 08:28

And thanks for the suggestions, I'll look in to them.

DS won't wear joggers as they are "scratchy" but school wouldn't let him anyway.

OP posts:
RIPWalter · 10/10/2022 08:28

M&S do some "tailored" jogging bottoms. www.marksandspencer.com/girls-regular-leg-knitted-trousers/p/clp22388768?color=GREY

They are marketed as "girls" but not sure how that's relevant at 7.

Original poster
Badnewsoracle · 10/10/2022 08:35

Looks like I'm going to be doing a big m&s shop and getting him to try stuff on.

OP posts:
Helenloveslee4eva · 10/10/2022 08:48

Is he cold or do you just think he is ?
mine wore shorts all year for most of primary and would have carried on at secondary if allowed 😂

greyandcontent · 10/10/2022 08:49

Badnewsoracle · 10/10/2022 08:35

Looks like I'm going to be doing a big m&s shop and getting him to try stuff on.

School Uniform can be so frustrating. I’d ask for him to be assessed, if pretty much insist upon it to the school and the GP (not sure who refers now) as this is impacting him significantly.

BretonBlue · 10/10/2022 08:50

My DS's school has a very traditional uniform and boys wear shorts and long socks all year round. Would he tolerate long socks? Alternatively some kind of soft long johns / thermals. The Uniqlo heattech leggings are very soft and have flat seams.

yikesanotherbooboo · 10/10/2022 08:51

DSes wore shorts all year round until year six , it was school uniform. The girls wore skirts and socks similarly. I don't think trousers are necessary if they upset him.

ThanksItHasPockets · 10/10/2022 08:54

Has he actually complained of the cold? There are lots of schools where it's normal for boys in infants to wear shorts year-round. I was surprised at first but it really doesn't seem to bother them.

Gobowen · 10/10/2022 08:58

Longer term - I would strongly recommend you push for a referral to an occupational therapist. You may need to find out the correct pathway for this in your area, as it varies. They can assess him and make recommendations. This will help with reasonable adjustments in school as he gets older.

ThanksItHasPockets · 10/10/2022 08:58

ThanksItHasPockets · 10/10/2022 08:54

Has he actually complained of the cold? There are lots of schools where it's normal for boys in infants to wear shorts year-round. I was surprised at first but it really doesn't seem to bother them.

Sorry, just seen your post where you say that he has complained of it!

Leggings or a base layer I'd suggest then, OP. There is clearly something going on in terms of his sensory processing and it is worth pursuing in order that you can insist on any necessary reasonable adjustments for his school uniform.

UnityO · 10/10/2022 09:02

My DS - who refuses to wear trousers and leggings - will wear mountain warehouse thermal base layer pants - they look like black leggings but are super soft.

Not the merino ones as they're 'itchy' - the isotherm ones.

Could he wear a black pair of those under his shorts?

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