To not buy 'regulation' school uniform

[Edenviolet]

Because firstly it is much more expensive (1 school logo polo top for £7.50 when I can get two plain ones for £5).
Secondly the list states "only shirts (l/s or s/s) with ties. NO open neck blouses for girls. Dd2 hates tight things near her neck or feeling restricted thread hated the shirt tie combo even with top button undone so I have got her blouses with an open neck as she will be comfier.

Db was horrified (his daughter is also starting school at the same time) and he said I am wrong to deliberately get the 'wrong' uniform

I had read that schools are meant to not have sole suppliers for uniform (we have real issues with this as our blazer is a little niche). I don't know if that is something that doesn't apply to academies but the idea is that you should be able to buy the cheap supermarket stuff as much as possible for uniform.
I understand that you're looking for ways to ensure starting school is pleasant. Anything new is difficult, and particularly for children with a lot of medical issues. There is a lot that you can control, perhaps have her favourite breakfast and dinner on that first day. Turn it into a positive experience, and bring your anxiety here! I'll try to be as understanding as possible as most people here seem to be. Good luck, and sorry I was snappy earlier when I didn't know the full story.

Yes never

I spent £51 on three cardis and two ties.

I got two Skirts in asda fir less than £10 two pinafores I. Sainsbury for around a tenner and two shirts in sainsbury for £7. I could have got those cheaper admittedly if I'd have bought the usual two packs in asda of the shirts but we like the sainsbury ones with the embroidery at the bottom. Which means I managed to get shirts pinafores skirts and pe shooters and t shirt for what the op will fork out for on a weeks worth of polo shirts with logos no one will see

Ridiculous. They grow quickly, they loose stuff, it gets ruined with paint and lunch and instead of heading to asda with a shrug for replacements she's stuck at home with a trying to bleach out stains in £7.50 shirts.

Shooters? Ffs

Shorts

School uniform is such bollocks, put her in what you've bought. It's not like you've sent her in in a tutu and fairy wings. I think you're being completely reasonable, as long as stuff in the right colour and looks uniformy then I reckon it's okay.
Breaking a few rules that are unreasonable is a fantastic lesson for a child

Our school is all proper blouses and shirts no polos. They all must wear a tie. If a child goes in not wearing a tie they are given one to wear until hometime. Anyone with an open necked blouse would be asked to change it as it isn't part of the uniform. Normal state primary school. From experience you would get talked about.

You should be able to get them to adjust the Uniform policy for her under the Equality Act. Does your daughter have a statement? If so, you can get it written in so they have to stick to it. It might be worth reposting this in Special Needs. hugs i know how horrible uncomfy clothes are with EDS.

Ridiculous to put reception kids in ties! It really annoys me when they do this for the hell of it. It's difficult enough starting school without feeling uncomfortable. If it's a new policy I would ignore and also make sure you let the parent forum or head know you don't like it for reception at very least.

If polo shirts are ok just go with them? Less ironing anyway.

Some school uniform prices are ridiculous - my friend's dd went to a selective state school where she had to wear the regulation blouse! with the embroidered logo - only one design of blouse, only one supplier - £12.50 each. And that's in addition to the uniform tartan skirt (only one design and supplier), indoor and outdoor PE kit (ditto), science overall etc etc etc - it cost a fortune!

At least ds1 and ds2 could wear black trousers and white shirts from Tesco - but we still had to shell out about £200 on blazer, tie, rugby kit, indoor PE kit, science lab coat, PE kitbag - even regulation socks at £6.50 a pair!

I was very glad when we moved to Scotland, to a school with a far more sensible uniform policy - black trousers (trousers or skirts for the girls), plain white shirt with tie, plain black v-neck sweater, cardigan or zip up sweatshirt or fleece, and any shorts/jogging bottoms and t-shirt for PE (no football colours is the only rule). They can wear blazers in the final year, but it's not compulsory. It is so sensible - washable, easy to wear, inexpensive and easy to source. Every school should be the same.

That's Insane STDG

It can't look smart when all the uniforms hanging on by a thread because it's to expensive to replace.

My kids have always had non logo-ed polo shirts, some not quite the right shade either! Never had any complaints from anyone- no bullying either. My ds1 is starting secondary and you have to wear logo-ed polos even though they always have to wear logo-ed sweatshirts so it seems pointless. It annoys me as they are 4 x as expensive. Luckily secondary has 2nd hand uniform shop. I hate uniform.

You aren't wrong, Giles! We had to replace ds2's blazer within the first term - he spilt custard on it and dh sponged it off, then tried to iron it dry by plonking a hot iron on it and leaving it there - so there was a huge iron burn on the front. £45 for a new blazer just before Christmas - I could have wept.

Jesus, MN is full of complete wankers lately - lots of newbies (or shitty name-changers) being arseholes for the sake of being arseholes!

I have three kids. Eldest is now in secondary school (an academy) and they're precious about their uniform. We're on our second primary school (having moved from one part of the country to another) - one was a very middle-class place and the new one not so much. Neither primary really gave a shit about type of shirt worn (as long as it was white or light blue) or whether the kids wore a tie.

Any state primary school that insists on making small children wear a tie needs to get its head out of its fucking arse and concentrate on the more important issue of educating the children.

OP, as long as your uniform is the correct colours and looks smart no one will give a shiny shit whether your child has an open necked shirt or not. And no, the children in Reception will not bully a child because their shirt is slightly different. And if they do say anything then you know to keep your child away from that child because they're obviously learning some weird lessons from their parents at home about what you judge people on.

Oh, and you won't be 'that parent' in the staffroom either. I work in a school, my Mum was a teacher and my BIL is a teacher - 'that parent' is generally the one whose child behaves like a little thug and their parents blame the school for everything. Staff will care about what kind of child they are dealing with and whether the parents are supportive of their child's education - not - shock horror! - whether the child is wearing an open-necked shirt, ffs.

I work in a reception class and our uniform is any polo shirt and a school jumper or cardigan,

Lots of children wear plain jumpers or cardigans without badge, we say nothing, some children wear proper shirts, we say nothing, they are I'm reception and I find it ridiculous to expect so much in terms of uniform.

One thing I will say op is that most of our children wear polo shirts and jumpers all year round and don't complain of being cold (and that's with the door open for free flow play) the heating will be constantly on! Some children do wear a long sleeved cotton top under their polo shirt in winter and I've never known them to take their jumpers off because they are too hot.
I would recommend sticking to plain polo tops, logoed is ridiculous, and in winter ask teachers if she is complaining of the cold and if so put a cotton long sleeved shirt under her top, she will be free to remove jumper if too hot, good luck op I hope your little one enjoys reception!

I also think it's very sad that everyone has been so dismissive about comfort.

Every child is different. Look at the Primary Education uniform threads. People share their experiences of various brands. Factors like how it washes, how it feels after it's been washed, does it shrink, is it thin material and see through, does it fall apart, are important. I review nearly every item I buy because it's not just about cost. I will pay more for a product I like and lasts. Dd has eczema so I avoid clothing that others say they found rubbed or irritated their child or that the backing to the logo was uncomfortable etc.

This kind of logo stuff, it's rarely any better than what you can get anywhere else your jst paying more for some stitching. It's actually pretty bad that people have to but these things knowing that it's going to rub or not last or be uncomfortable because if the position of the logo or the way the labels stitches on etc. If that was flagged up in conversation or in a review how many of you would still be happy to buy it?

Are you going to be mildly, intentionally obstructive about other school rules you don't like, too?

You're unreasonable. End of. She won't wear a shirt & tie but you've got an easy alternative, why be a pain in the arse? Your child is no more special/as special as everyone else's. I also don't think £7.50 is outrageous, if it's too expensive then ask for support from school. Are you in receipt of free school meals? If so your school will receive pupil premium for your child which can be used for situations exactly like this.

I thought that uniform wasn't allowed to be compulsory in primary school - I mean, I thought that was the law. Happy to be corrected.

Anyway, it's all fucking bollocks. What type of fucking top you wear has no bearing on how well you perform in class or how you are socially. We could do with getting rid of uniform altogether imho. Someone on the first page said 'uniform is there for a reason' - what fucking reason is there in making everyone wear identical clothes?

And another thing - I would never wear the same jacket for work every day week in week out - it's a pretty fucking minging thing to do. But isn't that what happens with school blazers? So not just fucking stupid and pointless but unhygienic as well. Bollocks to the lot of it.

Neither do I beer

It's a non logo'd polo where the logo would be hidden by a jumper anyway and a non strangling blouse.

She's not wearing hot pants with a obscene slogan bra top.

My son is moving from a private school where the uniform was tracksuit bottoms and polo shirts, to a (fantastic) state school where he'll be in shirt and tie every day, and its really made me think about uniform in this country. I mean, really, who came up with the idea of shirts and ties for schoolkids? How is it conducive to work and concentration? My husband doesn't even wear a tie to work.

I understand how you feel OP, just wear the polo shirt and be honest with the school about how your dds medical issues make you feel anxious about her comfort,especially when she has so much to deal with already. I am sure they will be understanding and work with you to make life easier for her.

Yanbu.

Uniform for primary school children is ridiculous and unnecessary. There's no logic in permitting a polo shirt without a tie but not permitting an open necked blouse. I really can't see the difference.

As for everyone saying it's the rules and you should just obey, I despair. It's no wonder huge companies and the government manage to impose whatever they like if noone questions it or stands up to it.

How on earth will the clothes a child wears affect their learning experience?

Another vote for the polo shirt here. Supermarket ones are fine. At my ds's school they have polo shirts with logos on available but I don't really know why because no-one buys them. A Tesco 3-pack will do you fine. And it really is sufficient in winter as well because the classrooms are heated and they have jumpers/cardigans on anyway. I hope her first term goes well and you both enjoy her time at school, with all of this stress fading into a distant memory.