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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

that I don't like that my nursery strip my child if she's not in nursery uniform?

151 replies

musicfan · 19/04/2011 21:01

A new policy has been introduced.

If children (3 and 4 year olds) at my nursery are not sent wearing their nursery polo shirts (regardless of the weather), they are stripped by the carers, and put into uniform polo shirts. Parents get to keep said shirts, but are charged the cost of the uniform on each occurrence.

What do people think about this? I really want to canvass opinion on this before I speak to the nursery head.

Thanks.
MF

OP posts:
muddyangels123 · 19/04/2011 21:37

I was glad that my DC had a uniform for nursery. DD didn't and stained everything she wore. Her non-uniform clothes cost alot more than the DS' nursery ones.
Alot of nursery schools now have a uniform. I think it's a good idea, it's gets children use to wearing one.
You can always hand the uniform down to your younger child.

ChristinedePizan · 19/04/2011 21:38

Well they're taking off her top, that's not 'stripping' her. I don't think it's a great policy but I think you might want to avoid the word if you want to be taken seriously by the head

Meglet · 19/04/2011 21:39

I buy loads of everything as I don't always have time to get it washed and dried overnight.

Original poster
musicfan · 19/04/2011 21:39

@muddyangels123 I value your opinion on this, but disagree that children should get used to uniforms at the age of 3.

Also, one of my daughter's tops is already so stained that it cannot be worn by her, and certainly cannot be passed down to her brother.

OP posts:
upahill · 19/04/2011 21:39

I have 2 lads

1 at primary and he has 3 polo shirts and a jumper.

I have a 14 year old who is at high school who has 3 button shirts and a jumper.

I have done the nursery and reception years and have never had more than this. One on, one off and one in the wash.

We manage to send them to school clean and ironed everyday and have done so for the past 11 and 1/2 years.

ChippingInLovesEasterEggs · 19/04/2011 21:40

I wouldn't send my children to a nursery like this, but as it seems to have changed while you are mid stream I'd leave DD there for the last four months unless there's a really good 'other option'. I'd move DS. It's not so much the uniform (though I don't like the compulsory nature of it at that age) but their frankly worrying attitude to it.

Original poster
musicfan · 19/04/2011 21:41

@ChristinedePizan Point taken. Maybe 'strip' is the wrong term here. But 'change' seems tame for what I consider a draconian enforcement of a pointless rule.

OP posts:
sammich · 19/04/2011 21:42

yabu because you know the nursery has this policy and you have sent your child to this nursery knowing this policy even if it is a new policy you continue to send your child there

yes you may not agree with children that young wearing uniform but you have sent your child there and therfor have to adhere to there policies

it could also make your child stand out if they are not wearing the shirt and every other child is it may lead to that child being singled out and so what if your child comes home with paint on it its a nursery shirt its not going to be worn anywhere else and thats probably the reason they want everyone to wearing nursery t shirts so that parents dont complain that they are getting there everyday clothes messy

annh · 19/04/2011 21:44

Will people please pay attention to the OP who says that this is a new policy! She did not send her child there knowing that these were the rules because they weren't in force at the time! Rant over!

From what age are children wearing uniform? Are the 6-month olds wearing these polo shirts?!

seeker · 19/04/2011 21:44

There is a bit difference between "taking off a t shirt" and "stripping"

Why on earth would you onject to nursery staff taking off a child's t shirt?

Ripping you off with polo shirts, making 3 year olds wear uniform, changing the rules mid-stream - yes, I'll happily be outraged on your behalf.

But "taking off a t shirt"? Nope - can;t see the problem.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 19/04/2011 21:45

Weird. Firstly, the nursery are in loco parentis when the child is there. So them changing her t shirt is not stripping, that's just you being melodramatic.

Secondly, it's nearly May, so why you'd be buying her 4 jumpers for the next 4 months I don't know Confused

Thirdly, so a polo shirt is stained, so what? As long as it is clean, it's nursery fgs, who cares if it is stained. Of course your boy can wear it.

Regardless of whether you like the uniform or not, as far as practicalities go, you're making a load of fuss about nothing.

LindyHemming · 19/04/2011 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

usualsuspect · 19/04/2011 21:48

Maybe the 6 month olds wear a baby grow with the nurseries logo on

millie30 · 19/04/2011 21:50

The nursery my DS goes to has a uniform, but it is covered by the registration fee and is entirely optional. They will effectively be fining you if you fail to adhere to a policy that you didn't agree to, and that is ridiculous.

sammich · 19/04/2011 21:51

if you dont like the policy move nurseries its that simple if you love the nursery and your little one loves the nursery adhere to the policies set out by the nursery they are set in stone to be adhere to by ALL parents/carers

annh · 19/04/2011 21:53

While I don't really agree that 4-year olds need to wear uniform at nursery, I do think that you making a mountain out of a molehill. To describe changing your dd's t-shirt as "stripping" is definitely melodramatic, in all the time she has been there how often have they had to change her because she has spilt food/water/paint on herself? I bet you would rather they "strip" her on those occasions than leave her wet and uncomfortable.

You also can't possibly need 4 shirts and 4 jumpers for a four month period at nursery. Four jumpers for one summer suggests you think it is never going to warm up! And so what if the polo shirt gets grubby one day, you said yourself they never go out anywhere so she doesn't need to be catwalk-ready!

Could you suggest a compromise to the nursery that, as this policy is only now being introduced, children who are leaving in Sept do not have to wear the uniform? How much do the polos/jumpers costs btw?

seeker · 19/04/2011 21:56

I do think the idea that 3 year olds should wear uniform to "get them used to wearing one" is incredibly sad.

Original poster
musicfan · 19/04/2011 21:57

@Seeker
@GwendolineMaryLacey
Please see previous posts.

This policy is being introduced from May. She has been there since 2007.

Introduced from the age of 3.

OP posts:
Original poster
musicfan · 19/04/2011 21:58

@Annh Please see previous posts.

OP posts:
GwendolineMaryLacey · 19/04/2011 22:01

I've seen previous posts thanks. I asked why you think she needs jumpers for the summer months? DD has a jumper for pre-school and it's packed away until the autumn now.

Original poster
musicfan · 19/04/2011 22:03

@GwendolineMaryLacey I may not need a jumper for the summer months.

OP posts:
bullet234 · 19/04/2011 22:03

"Right, you do what I said in my previous post. You send her in whatever. They take it off, put on a polo. You collect her, take the polo off, hand it back with good grace, put back the top you dressed her in that morning (clean - bonus - no washing!) and they receive their polo back, wash it, iron it and put it on her the next day, only to do the same again.

If they are being stubborn and changing your daughter's clothing, you can do the same. Take nothing out the building. Carry on as if.

Sorted."

I'll agree with that. Ds2 refused to wear an apron at nursery so I sent him in clean but old clothes that didn't matter if they got paint on them.

upahill · 19/04/2011 22:07

That's all well and good bullet but there is a charge.
Musicfan may as well buy a shirt or change nursery.

ravenAK · 19/04/2011 22:12

I would refuse to buy extra, expensive, polo shirts.

If she's got two, that should be fine for 4 days - quite often a shirt will be clean enough to wear for a second day - & if it is covered in paint/dinner after one day, they wash & dry pretty quickly.

If they're clean but stained I think that's OK, actually, at this age!

Re: her being put into a nursery polo shirt if you've happened to send her in something different - I agree that I'd hand it back at the end of the day & laugh off any nonsense about keeping it & paying for it...but I don't see why you'd be unable to manage with the 2 shirts you have, really.

Cymar · 19/04/2011 22:42

In that case, YANBU. Uniforms are coming back in, it seems. Although, when I was in reception we had to wear uniforms (main school uniform and PE kit with motif) and that was a good 28 years ago.

Back in the dark old days (dear blesses I'm an old git Grin) we wore nothing but uniforms. It's not such a bad thing you know Wink.