Shirt and tie in reception?

[IsithormonesoramIamadcow]

Just been to see around the primary school that DC1 should be going to in September and found out that their uniform code includes a collared shirt and tie from Reception. AIBU to think this is mad? Every other primary school I've come across has polo shirts in the infants and then sometimes shirt and ties in the juniors.

DC1 has eczema which makes me think this will be very uncomfortable as well as not age appropriate. 4 year olds are not business people! I'm not anti uniform in general I'm not happy about this.

It's a state primary - but an academy if that makes a difference?

Ours is the same. They do get an elasticated tie for primary 1-3 though. We used to have polo shirts throughout primary school but it got changed about 3 years ago, unfortunately

Not that unusual. When DD was in primary she had to wear shirt and tie from reception. This was a state school too.

Honestly, they soon get used to it. At first the teacher, TA and a couple of the boys who had learnt how to do ties used to have to help everyone after PE but by a few weeks in they could all manage perfectly well.

Academy, by any chance?

Shirts and ties here. Polo shirt only for PE. It's no big deal, the kids are happy. DD1 loves her school tie although they've just gone into summer uniform so no more shirt ironing!

DD2 I mean. DD1 is in yr4!

Ours is the same, as are another couple in the area. It's madness but it's take it or leave it.

My kids are Year 8 & 9 now but did wear shirt and tie from reception onwards. In the summer term they wore a polo shirt but the rest of the year was shirt and tie. Elasticated ties were available and were worn by most of the infants.

Academy, by any chance?🤦‍♂️

Read the original post!

Academy, by any chance?

DD's school wasn't an academy.

TBH I though the shirts and ties looked nice. In summer they had a gingham dress (girls) and shorts and polo shirts (boys)

yep we had ties in our state primary.
elasticated though.
i suggested to the pta that it might be easier for the little ones to wear a polo shirt.
they paid no attention then but a year later ~ bingo! polo shirts.

teachers used to complain DS couldn't manage his top button . he had just turned 4 at the time . heaven's sake.

I have two at high school and one at primary. They have all worn a shirt and tie from day 1 (pre school too for DS). State school. Same for all schools round here.

Polo shirts tend to look very grubby very quickly, especially if they're white! Do agree with you on the comfort factor though, especially if you have eczema to consider too.

If the uniform is mandatory then you don't really have a choice other than to choose another school. Discuss your son's condition with the school and they might offer you alternative fabrics etc.

Same at my bonkers isn't it.

Then of course there's the irony of being sent a letter home saying the kids are taking too long changing for PE please get them to practice

Have you tried to do up those teeny buttons lately?

Yep ds at state primary had proper shirt and tie and blazer fromy reception. He could do his own tie from around year 2. Now in year 7 and has clip on tie

I can't believe it's such a 'thing'. Has anyone come across 100% cotton shirts in size 2-3 which aren't terribly expensive and a pain in the arse to iron?

I've noticed in Scotland many schools still have shirt, tie and blazer for kids starting school. England trnds to be polo shirts and jumper - a lot more relaxed and practical (if sloppier looking)

My DS aged 5 has worn a shirt and tie since Reception. Elasticated tie and easy iron shirts from Asda.

Shirts here.
Polo shirts are for PE kits.
But yes to acadamy. Apparently nothing says academy like going over to blazers and ties. Fake it to make it is definitely the preferred direction of education at the moment. Schools have sussed what ofsted actually wants.

M&S have them in 2-3. They have handy elasticated wrists, velcro instead of a top button and they're non-iron. I love them.

It may seem mad but it's far nicer than the polo shirt DS is now wearing. M&S top button is Velcro and the only thing that's irritating is that the elasticacted ties often need tying up. A friends DS was tying his own tie by the end of reception.

M&S school shirts have a Velcro top button in smaller sizes and elasticated cuffs, although I always buy short sleeves.

DS school has them and isn't an academy. I think they look smart and really cute.

DS and DD both had to wear shirts and ties from reception in their non academy primary. Elastic ties at first then 'proper' ties in KS2.

They looked very smart IMO.

Proper shirts, ties and the boys have to wear shorts up until Y6 at our school.

My two both had this. It was no big deal as they just took it as normal and learned very quickly

I know it seems excessive to us but sometimes we can hold our children back by assuming things are too much for them

I don't know the cotton ratio but M & S do shirts with velcro for the top button, up to age eight (and they don't need ironing )

All our schools round here do the shirt and tie, with elasticated ones in infants.