to ignore an 'if possible' uniform request

[QueenofKelsingra]

DC1 in reception. When I bought all uniform off the list in the summer there was no mention of coats AT ALL. DC1 loves orange and I managed to find him an orange raincoat and an orange thick winter coat which he loves.

newsletter has just come home with a reminder that the kids should now be in 'winter' uniform (some still in polos and no tie i think rather than collared shirt and tie) and lists the uniform. underneath it then says in bold: SHOWERPROOF COAT (DARKER COLOUR IF POSSIBLE)

Now, if i really had to i could find the money to buy him dull darker coats. but he would kick up majorly as he loves the ones he has. Also i begrudge having two sets of coats when one is sufficient for both school and home.

In addition i walk to school along a busy road with a narrow pavement which traffic travels far to fast on and part of the reason i bought him the bright coats was to help him be seen walking to school in the dark mornings/afternoons.

so as the newsletter says 'if possible' WIBU to ignore and continue to let him wear his bright orange ones?

My DS's school has a dark coloured logo shower proof coat and a winter coat that can be bought and the uniform policy says 'dark coloured coats preferably'.

I have no intention of buying DS (in Recpetion) a logoed coat as I'll have to get a second one for the weekend and other parents have already had issues of the kids getting their coats mixed up where they look the same. DS is wearing his brightly coloured one from last winter still and his showerproof coat is covered in bright fish which his teacher pointed out looked great and meant she always could spot him outside.

OP I would just completely ignore the uniform guidance and if anyone raises it then point out why it is safer for your child to have a brightly coloured coat.

Itsfab some cars have sidelights permanently on, they neither spread the lights in as many directions, nor do they have the same strength, relying on reflection to keep you safe is very much not enough.

When dd's school were designing a new uniform and sent home a survey I suggested a waterproof jacket with reflective piping or even the school logo done in reflective material if they wanted to be clever. I pointed out that the children were coming home in the dark, the street lighting round here isn't brilliant and there is a nasty blind bend on the main road etc etc. Needless to say they completely ignored that idea!

Ds's school on the other hand has a lovely waterproof with a fleecy lining and reflective details on the outside. It is reasonably priced compared to coats bought in the shops and so nice that many of the staff and parents have bought them too.

Bit of a pointless post but just goes to show that pleading safety issues might wash with the school and might not depending on if they are idiots or not.
However in the OP's case she should clearly carry on using the coats she's already bought because dark ones aren't compulsory or sensible.

I hate this dark coat policy with schools.

My DC are teens so would laugh in my face if I dared suggest a neaon vest to reflective tags for their coats.

Even as teens they have to walk along a very narrow pavement along a very busy B road and another very narrow pavement along a very narrow road with buses and lorries travelling down it and they are head to foot in black!!

I know everyone would hate it but if ALL UK schools had a policy of Day Glo coats for after the October half term to the end of the Spring term/Easter/Spring break, then even "cool" teens would have to deal with it and just wear the things! If All kids from 5 to 16 had to wear them, there would be no issue.

In a world where schools are so health and safety concious these days it just seems arse backwards that they are still putting smartness above safety.

Not possible.

Next!

I used to be the fastest tie tie-er in the west. 20 ties to tie and 15 or so set of shoe laces stood between me and my coffee...

oh and dark coats are probably because then the parents can't see the seveal sets of footprints up the back of the coat after it has been used as a doormat and football goal. after all, parents don't have washing machines or anything these days..

"If possible". It ain't possible. QED.