School won’t accept reasonable adjustments what can I do?

[RAsnotAccepted]

DD is 9, moving to Middle School in September to start Y5.

She has an EHCP due to SN and medical needs.

New schools uniform is incredibly strict:

• No tights
• Gap between socks and skirt/shorts
• No visible logos
• No boots
• Blue or black hair accessories including bobbles only
• No cycling shorts

I can accept the hair bobbles although its inconvenient to go out and buy just blue and black ones.

But DD needs tights in winter. She always wears piedro boots due to a foot issue. She wears cycling shorts underneath her skirt in the warmer months and also for PE – I have agreed that she can wear the cycling shorts under normal shorts in PE but they’ve still said no. I have said I’ll buy black piedros and any colour tights they want, it’s still a no. I can accept all the rest of the uniform (although I think it's incredibly strict expecting 9-11 year olds to ask to remove their blazer and jumpers but hey!)

School won’t accept her RAs even with medical evidence that she needs them. They’re the only local school that said they could meet need and the only school DD liked on viewing. They can meet all other needs.

Is it worth taking them on? If so who? They’re an academy part of a MAT and the headteacher of this school is in charge of the MAT. Current school are trying to get them to agree.

I’m going to look at another school today but it’s 25 miles away and I just don’t think I can manage it everyday as it’s opposite direction to work. Her most recent assessment says she won’t cope in Special School, so that’s not an option. I also really like the Middle School bar this one issue so it does feel unfair - the layout, the positioning of the school in relation to home, the extra curriculars offered all suit DD.

My suspicion is that they have looked again at the ECHP and decided that they can't accommodate your child, so have decided to be as difficult as possible in order to get you to change school. You need to make sure you get what you want for your child in the process.

I agree with this, I’m afraid. Get it all in writing.

The problem is, there usually isn't anywhere else, and nearly all schools have the same draconian approach these days.

Its interesting the majority of these affect only girls.

No tights is beyond stupid, as is the colour of the bubbles. I despair that this shit still happens.

Fight it Op.

This is batshit. They are unable to decide if a skirt is too short because of it blending in with tights?!

I am sorry you are having to go through this.

How will school know she has tights under her trousers or cycling shorts under her PE shorts?
I can't see why you're upset over the bobbles though, makes sense if they don't want all manner of weird and wonderful hair accessories.

Contact the local councillor ( for the area the school is in )who will/may be able to put some pressure on the school to make necessary adjustments.

Their tel will be on the council website.

They can wear trousers to get round that problem.

I’m a school governor and I would absolutely push this. Go directly to the Head, Chair of Governors and the Head of the DE&I Committee.

These really are small things for the school to allow but would make a huge difference to your daughter. Good luck and I hope you get the support you need (and should be getting) from the school.

Plus how outdated and sexist is the uniform! I bet boys don’t freeze in winter with bare legs.

I think you need to ensure you explain carefully why each item is needed and state which items are on medical advice/medical supplies eg the compression shorts and specialist boots if prescribed them they cannot refuse. Tights are trickier if they are ordinary tights - a drs note explaining why she needs to wear them will probably be helpful. The other things you mentioned are standard.

Are the boots proper orthotics? If so they cannot deny her to wear them

This is fury-inducing. Also I boaked at the thing about staff being able to ask kids to roll their socks up or down to check skirt/shorts length - a completely constructed rule that then "necessitates" adults telling kids to do things with their clothes like that. Repulsive, controlling and so ridiculously unnecessary. OP, this school must have some truly outstanding traits to weigh out all this creepy, obsessive nonsense. Fight this all the way, yet at the same time I wonder if it'd be a blessing in disguise not to send your kid to this place.

This is always schools in nice areas who'd like to believe they're running a private school thus excluding children from any struggling families

The daft thing is parents fall for it and believe a fancy uniform with strict adherence does make for a good school (image works) and poor or struggling families or families with children who won't be able to manage it avoid the school. A strict uniform is a way of manipulating intake. It does help behaviour but that's nothing to do with what the children are wearing.

If the next suitable school is 25 miles away then should the LA provide transport?

That simply isn’t how it works. THIS school is suitable but they’re being arseholes and I’d be willing to bet they won’t put anything in writing because they’re surely not THAT stupid.

in any event this school is named on the EHCP and the school can’t dislodge the place, because legally the LA maintains the EHCP and must take “all reasonable steps” and the child must be accommodated there so long as the education of the child is not “incompatible with the effective education of others or an inefficient use of public funds.” That’s it.

The school are placing themselves in a ridiculous position which 5 minutes with anyone with even a basic knowledge of SEN law, would unpick.

Not all schools.

I work in a school and our uniform policy is that our uniform is optional, most of the pupils choose to wear it but if any pupil would be more comfortable in something else then that is fine. Our only rules with regard to what is worn is that it is suited to the weather/season, allows for ease of movement and takes into consideration the various activities carried out in school.

Most of them wear the uniform. There are a few with sensory issues or dexterity issues who wear joggers or leggings instead of trousers or a skirt but still wear a shirt and the school jumper, one or two wear what is basically normal clothes. And that rule applies to all of them, not just those who need adjustments - last week I had a pupil rock up to school in a Christmas jumper instead of a school jumper because they "felt festive"

Easiest way to make something inclusive is to say "do (wear) this if you're able to but we understand if you can't and we don't mind the reasons why".

The knees visible thing sounds… well, a bit creepy.

You won’t want to OP, I’m sure, but a journalist would bloody love to write a story about this wankery.

School uniforms exist to break the spirit. I abhorrent them. Kick off please!

That's standard school rules apart from the tights

piedros boots - just googled as they seem like special needs boots expensive ones too! of course you don't buy them for fashion or fun ! Are there any alternatives which can support her feet because she will be only one and may stand out

Write a letter to the board of school governers, and contact the person at the Council SEND team who is responsible for the EHCP. If that doesn't work then apply for a SEND tribunal as soon as possible. They will back down as it costs them money.

No one's disputing that - did you bother to read OP's concerns?

Why should they?

Write to school , MP and copy in local authority stating that her boots and compression items are medical devices. Quote disability discrimination and ask them if they would deny a diabetic child insulin? If not, why are denying your child her medical devices

Appallingly that the don't understand the law around disability and RA.

Please fight them. It's the right school for your DD.

My suspicion is that they have looked again at the ECHP and decided that they can't accommodate your child, so have decided to be as difficult as possible in order to get you to change school. You need to make sure you get what you want for your child in the process.

Sadly, I think this is correct too. OP, ask yourself if you really want to risk sending your child there as she could be targeted for some kind of unpleasant, even if subtle, 'managing out' and this could be just the start of it.

Please find a head and a school who really want her, even if you have to travel. I don't know whereabouts you are in the UK but there are specialist (rather than special) schools near us and one of our DC goes to one (against advice which was to keep them in mainstream) and has thrived (rather than survived).

Take them on!
Your daughter needs adjustments and you are not asking for anything unreasonable!
I'm a special needs mum and although it's tiring having to battle everything it's important for your daughter not just a mum being awkward x
Good luck