To send DS to school in uniform without logos?

[PurplePenguins]

We had a letter before the break saying the uniform was changing and the uniform was compulsory. Fair enough no problem with that. DS is in y1 so uniform gets ruined with paint etc. So I by from Tesco or Asda. Today I receive a letter saying the school uniform is compulsory and consists of:
A red jumper (with school logo)
Black trousers
White polo shirt

If I fail to comply with the school's uniform policy, I will be fined. I don't earn a fortune and DS2 and DS3 are in secondary school. For them the bare minimum (1 blazer, 2 pairs of trousers and 3 shirts each) costs £160. Add £7.50 for a logoed jumper that I can get in Asda for £3 works out a too much for my pocket. AIBU to not by logoed jumpers? ATBU to fine me for putting my child in a non logoed jumper so that I can feed him? (Yes money is that tight)

[Flowerpower41]

Wendalicious perhaps you don't know the meaning of watching the pennies/living on a budget. Show some consideration.

[imwithspud]

In what way is the op expecting something for nothing? As far as I'm aware she hasn't rocked up to the school demanding they give out the jumpers for free

[catkind]

wendalicious, some of us are lucky enough to have "few quid"s to splash around where we like. OP says she's had to budget carefully, has already bought the uniform that was specified in advance, and this "few quid" would be eating into her food budget.

[Wendalicious]

For the sake of a few quid just buy it! People complain about everything and expect something for nothing

[catkind]

So if as a parent you say "sorry can't afford logoed uniform", they couldn't just send them home then? It's not like sending them off to change out of trainers and come back.

[PatriciaHolm]

They can send them home, yes, briefly in order to rectify the breach.

Whether this is appropriate should take into consideration the level of breach, the ease and vulnerability of the child, the time it will take, and the availability of the parents. So its not a "go home" punishment, more a "please Mrs X come at collect Fred and change him into his uniform and bring him back for the afternoon session." It is explicitly an authorised absence not an exclusion. However, if the child continues to breach rules in order to be sent home, or the absences are continually more than is needed to change, then the absence may be recorded as unauthorised.

As I said, it's uncommon in primary, and very unlikely for a younger child given the requirements above. But there is provision for schools to do so.

[Knittynumpty]

Technically, any "fine" a school sends you should fall into the same category as a private parking notice, that is, its not actually a fine. It's an invoice. I would seriously question the legality of this and it's possibly even worth getting in contact with your council's LEA.

[catkind]

Can they really send them home Patricia? That would have to be an exclusion wouldn't it? There are pretty strict rules about the process for exclusions, I think they'd find it hard to justify when it's the parents that have done something wrong. (Even without making judgements about whether providing uniform without logos is doing something wrong...)

[whywonthedgehogssharethehedge]

I'm pretty sure they can't force it on you.

Ours is not compulsary. They sell logo jumpers and polo shirts as well as book bags. Most wear the jumpers but very very few wear the polo shirts. Most infants have the bookbags but by juniors they all have a random backpack. We got the logo jumpers because they are good quality and have lasted months. Last year DS wore jumpers that had already done 12 months on my friends Yr 2 DS and they are still in good enough condition that they can be passed on again.

Our school has a second hand uniform shop that the PTA run where you can pick up stuff for a small donation. People hand in their stuff kids have grown out of and PTA sorts and washes it then pretty much just gives it out to anyone who needs it. The donation just helps the school a little and means people don't just take stuff they don't need (which they do when it's totally free )

Do you have a school FB page? Can you find out if there's a uniform sale somewhere? It's hard when the uniform is new but I imagine by Christmas there will be bits kicking about.

[CodyKing]

My Das hates the logo jumpers - really thick and far too warm in weather other than winter - he has an basic supermarket one - no logo

He didn't get picked on - give kids some credit!!

He didn't feel different or less than anyone else - it's just a jumper

[Flowerpower41]

School uniforms are a terrible price. Certain things HAD to have a logo for my 11 year old ds and I spent all in £290. That includes all the items needed for the school bag e.g. maths set, colouring pencils and so on. Football boots, pe kit the lot.

Certain items of clothing had to have the logo on. No alternative.

Just a common or garden state school can cost so much for one child!

Not at all easy having to squeeze out of one income either.

[PatriciaHolm]

No state school in England can fine you for incorrect uniform.

However, a primary school can choose to have a required uniform, and can enforce it; for example, a child who doesn't have the correct uniform can be sent home, though in primary this isn't common. The school cannot impose monetary fines though.

In terms of regulation, the uniform policy must be "fair and reasonable"; which should require that items are widely available in high street shops and other retail outlets, not just "expensive sole suppliers." Note that is a "should" not a "must"; this is guidance from the DofE, not statutory requirement.

What schools must do "ensure that [...] policies around school uniform or school trips do not discourage parents from applying for a place for their child." Problem is, this is so wooly as to be useless essentially; some parents will be deterred financially by any sort of compulsory uniform.

Essentially all you can do is talk to the school and explain that right now, finances forbid you from buying any more uniform. They may use their discretion to find funds to help. They cannot fine you though.

[MyDressIsInferiorBlue]

purple that's awful. You're one of those who end up worse off because you qualify for working tax credits.

I hope you get this situation sorted out.

[mouldycheesefan]

No logo anything at our school. They can't fine you. Stick with what you have. Did they actually ststae in writing they would fine you or is this hearsay and playground gossip?

[PurplePenguins]

I don't trafalgargal. Although my earning are under the limit, my hours mean I get working tax credit so I don't qualify. I have tried to ask them not to pay WTC (£7 a week) so I can but they won't 😢

[PurplePenguins]

Definitely Dellaporter. DS1 went to a different secondary school to the middle two. I bought a black blazer and trousers from BHS and sewed the logo badge on. Worked out cheaper. DS2 and DS3s uniform is like a dark grey suit. You cannot match the colour so have to buy from the uniform shop. They've changed supplier and prices have increased by nearly 50%. They have new uniform about every term as they are growing so fast and the quality is poor. They done last well. Now DS4s school is demanding logoed polo shirts, jumpers and PE kit, it is putting a real strain on my finances

[GerdaLovesLili]

What would the school do if the parents all decided no to comply with the logo nonsense? Could you organise a "NO LOGO" committee?

[2and1ontheway]

t4nut do you know that fpr a fact about European schools having the same issues as UK ones enforcing dress code?

I have 2 children in the German state system (1 at primary, 1 at secondary) - I asked the eldest whether anyone ever gets told off for wearing the wrong clothes and she looked at me like this and asked what the wrong clothes would be and why the teachers would be interested in their clothes. Then she said actually they do get told off if they have nothing suitable for PE and asked if that was what I meant...

[imwithspud]

One uniform, single provider, no arguments over what is and isn't OK.

In an ideal world, yes. But due to the cost this approach puts those on a low income at a significant disadvantage and yes, I know most schools have a second hand shop. But I also don't think telling a family who is struggling that "you can just buy second hand stuff" is a good enough solution either and shows no empathy regarding their circumstances. Especially when they could afford identical stuff minus the logo from the supermarket at a third of the price.

I agree that wearing school colours should be enough, logo'd if desired but not required, at least at primary age. Seems to work fine at my dd's nursery and adjoining primary school.

[WutheringTights]

We live in a fairly affluent area so I bought the official logo-ed stuff for DS. Polo shirts at £5 each and sweatshirts at £9 each. Quality is outstanding. But I have noticed that most children just seem t have a logo-ed sweatshirt/ cardigan and standard M&S polos (it's a funny colour so I recognise it from when I was looking). I'll be doing the same next year, especially as he has managed to put some huge and interesting stains all over one polo on day 1! He'll be wearing it next week though.

[PrincessWizard]

Mine have one logo sweatshirt/cardigan each, the others are plain supermarket ones in school colours. They are a third of the price of the logo ones. If they were amazing quality then i wouldn't mind spending the extra but they're no better than the ones that i get for £4 from Asda.

Clean, neat, school colours. That's it. I refuse to do otherwise.

[MyDressIsInferiorBlue]

Almost all primaries require logo'ed sweatshirts, and almost all children comply.

Sorry but you're wrong. In my local authority area at least, primary children tend to be mostly in unlogo'ed uniform. Certainly less than 50% own even one logo'ed jumper and probably only 1-2 pupils per year group own a logo'ed polo shirt.

[dylsmimi]

Can you speak to the office about it?
Our school has logoed polo shirts and sweatshirts but say as long as they have one for church and photos the generic supermarket ones are fine
We also have a Pfa facebook page whwre lots of parents sell or give away old uniform so that might be worth asking on?

[Minisoksmakehardwork]

Dc's new jumpers were £14 for dd1 and £11 each for dc's 2-4. I feel your pain op. I have bought one each, school have supplied one each and anything else will be in without logo if I need to replace them. I wouldn't have minded ordinarily but with twins stating reception, I'd deliberately bought big last year for the older 2 so I was only buying 2 uniforms. I ended up having to buy shirts/tie on top of the new jumpers.