To be put off a school by it's uniform?

[SnugglyButterflySnuggler]

I know I probably am UR.

DD is 3.4 and we're applying for schools for her. Ready for her to start next September. She has a few SN so even though technically we have a choice (she has an EHCP) we actually don't as there's only 2 primaries schools (out of 6) in our town that are willing to take her with her specific issues.

The closest school to us that would take herI hate the uniform. It's a state school but they insist on blazers from the January of reception year all the way through to year 6. No pinafores or trousers for girls, skirts only. No shorts for boys only trousers. No polo shirts for anything other than PE, full button up shirts and ties. It just seems so formal for such young children. It's an oversubscribed school so it looks like the parents don't agree. I just can't imagine trying to battle DD into a shirt and tie everyday. The website says children are only permitted to remove blazers if a teacher says they can, even the local high school isn't that strict! (HS has blazers but they don't have to be worn at all after Easter and up until then the individual child is allowed to choose when they take it off) This is actually our closest school even if DD didn't have SN, so this is likely were we'll be allocated.

So AIBU to be put off a school by it's uniform, and is there anything I can about it? I am going to put the other school down as first choice, but I don't think we'll get it as we're just outside of it's catchment for the last 3 years and SN in catchment come above SN out of catchment for that school

As a parent of a child with SN, both the uniform and the attitude of the head would put me off.

I honestly prefer the shirt and tie look much more than the polo shirts, and I love blazers as I think it’s looks smarter and tidier this could be because that what I always had to wear though.
I’ve never had to consider trying to get a small child with SN into a buttoned up shirt and tie though, and trying to get my 3 YO son into both for a christening recently was a PITA so I do understand why this could be a put off.

I do think if it’s the better School though then you should maybe suck it up for the sake of the better education, after all I’m sure many adults hate their work uniforms but they’d still be mad to turn down a decent job over it.

If it makes you feel any better, I have occasionally considered (if only fleetingly) getting DS christened as I love the local Catholic school’s uniform

Yes I can name a school the EHCP but if the school feel they can't meet her needs they don't have to take her. This is one of only 2 schools that said it could meet her needs, and the other school I just don't think we'd get even if we named it as it is popular with SN children.

try reasonable adjustment for the weather!!! Not a policy I would support.

Hi, it's not actually up to the school to decide 'they will accept her' - legally they have to unless they have extremely good reason and in my experience, if the parent wants a school for their child with an EHC plan the same local authority will override what the school says anyway.

My DD has ASD and sensory processing disorder so I would avoid a school with a strict uniform policy (and have done). I like uniforms in principle but I don't see why they can't be comfortable. I hate seeing infants trussed up in ties and blazers as it restricts their play. I agree it would indicate a high level of inflexibility in the ethos if the school which could be tough to navigate with an SN child.

As a parent of a child with SN and SPD, I agree with you. We discounted a high school mainly on their strict uniform policy as it wouldn’t work for our DS.

Go with your gut instinct.

This is a social control mechanism. It is designed to eliminate certain parents who want a free, relaxed 'do as you please' regime and favour those who prefer strict discipline and conformity, which will be one factor in achieving their good reputation/scores.

It would put me off. I hate over-the-top formality in school uniforms.
They are kids, surely a polo shirt with sweatshirt in correct colour will do for boys? Nonsense.

I was at primary about 10 years ago. Girls could wear dresses (grey or green/white), skirts (grey), or trousers (grey). Boys could wear shorts or trousers (grey). All had plain white polos, green cardigans/sweatshirts. NO TIES. Didn't have to have any logos.

Hope I can find somewhere sensible like that when DDs time comes... Not some of these ludicrous places where even the colour of their hairbands are policed!

A blazer used to be a summer uniform jacket, now it seems to be a status symbol/brand to be worn indoors and out all year around.
A private school which has always had an unobtrusive, comfortable uniform (no blazer!) now has suddenly decreed that everyone should wear identical school coats. It seems that the school gets a sizeable payoff for this. Oh dear!

No, wouldn't touch a strictly uniformed school with a bargepole if I had a young child with sensory issues.

The inflexibility might be elsewhere, too.

Choose wisely now, while you can.

OP if your daughter has a disability within the meaning of the Equality Act (which she may well; the definition of disability is quite broad) the school is obliged to make reasonable adjustments for her. That doesn't necessarily mean they can't justify their uniform rules, but they would have to have good reasons for not making an exception. Perhaps worth raising this guidance with the school?

www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/reasonable-adjustments-disabled-pupils

*for them, not for boys. Edited my sentence and forgot to change that word 😐

Hmm I'd be worried about that attitude I must say. There would have been no way of wrestling me into a uniform like that at that age. I refused the school uniform throughout primary school and just about managed to wear it for secondary school. I still hate labels and embroidery. I did not have any specific diagnosis but my school accommodated me because they could see I was distressed by what I was supposed to wear. I don't think rigidity is a good sign in a primary school.

Even if it’s popular with parents of children with SEN, it won’t have all of its places taken by children who have it named on their ECHP.

What are the admissions criteria? I think there may be a misunderstanding somewhere.

So AIBU to be put off a school by it's uniform
Yes, YABU.

and is there anything I can about it?
Yes. Either change your attitude and support the school 100% if you send your child there. Or keep your attitude and please place your child elsewhere. Don't, under any circumstances, be that parent who sends their child to a school and moans and complains about the uniform, fails to send their child to school in the correct uniform, and undermines the school.

It would put me off and none of my children have sen, yanbu.

Criteria for School 2:

1. LAC/Fostered
2. SN in Catchment
3. Siblings in Catchment
4. SN outside of Catchment
5. Anyone else

I though state primaries couldn't enforce a uniform? I suspect with such draconian rules about something that has no impact on learning outcomes they wouldn't be a good match for a child with SEN anyway.

Those admission criteria are for children with SEN but without an EHCP

"Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Children with Statements and EHCPs
All governing bodies are required by section 324 Education Act 1996 to admit to the school a child with a Statement of SEN that names the school. Under section 37 Children and Families Act 2014, the school named in an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) must admit the child. This is not an oversubscription criterion – schools must admit such children regardless of whether they have places available. Admission authorities must not imply in their published admission arrangements that they have discretion over the admission of children with Statements of SEN or an EHCP.

Children with Statements of SEN/EHCPs are not admitted through the admissions arrangements and are placed in schools through the statement/EHCP process.

Children with SEN but no Statement/EHCP
It is unlawful for an admission authority to refuse admission to a child who has SEN, but has no Statement or EHCP:

on the grounds of the child’s challenging behaviour (except in very limited circumstances); or
because it believes the child requires a statutory assessment or requires additional support.
Any such refusal to admit can be challenged at an Independent Admission Appeal Panel. If the appeal is unsuccessful, an application for judicial review of the panel’s decision or a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman may be appropriate. See our How-To Guide on Appealing an Education, Health & Care Plan or a Statement of Special Educational Needs for more information.

In line with the Equality Act 2010, children with disabilities must not to be treated less favourably than others in the admission process. A school should make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to prevent discrimination. Any complaint of discrimination in admission arrangements should be made to the Independent Admission Appeal Panel"

It sounds like they may be practised in putting off parents with children with SEND. Some schools genuinely believe in being inclusive and have a strong reputation for providing for children with SEND. Others pay lip service while making themselves as unattractive as possible. Awful though it is for them to do that, if that is the case, you are better off knowing now and avoiding the school rather than having to deal with their attitudes later.

Sorry with the above criteria for the last 3 intakes we wouldn't have got in as we're 0.9m from the school and the last admitted child was 0.7m/0.8m/0.85m from the school.

I thought that if a school was named on an EHCP, they had to admit the child?

If you have an EHCP that names the school, then those SN criteria aren’t for you. An EHCP would put you above LAC/fostered.

OP, the experts on the SN and Primary boards will be able to help in more detail but PP are right - if you name a given school on your DD’s EHCP then it is incredibly difficult for the school to prove that they cannot meet her needs. I strongly suggest that you pursue this.