To be struggling with school uniform costs

[pizzatuesdays]

DD managed to get mud all over her blazer and skirt.

I just can't afford to get them cleaned. So i sent her in without the blazer and a note. She has been put in isolation tomorrow.

I am really sick of it. AIBU?

I think the school are following their policy a bit harshly but I think due to understandable embarrassment you haven’t been clear enough about why she can’t wear her blazer.
I do think an honest conversation with school pastoral support/ year Head might be helpful and probably less awkward than you imagine. Sadly you’re not the only one who will be struggling occasionally. If they are aware they can ensure they don’t make your life more difficult and might have things in place to provide discreet support going forward.
This horrid situation will pass quickly but must be horrid at the moment.

Our blazer is wool and has to be dry-cleaned (sponged down for minor lunch splodges). I don't know any child with more than one blazer. Ours cost £95, and children grow quickly.

I am shocked at the way your school has behaved. Our school expect blazers to be worn every day, but would be totally understanding if someone had an accident (as in your case) or it was lost (as seems to frequently happen).

This is coming across like an infamous poster who also refused to deal with things where possible but asked for 'advice' and ignored it all the time.

Bluntness they do not care about finances, no excuses etc

efficiency I just feel to borrow money for a blazer would be silly. I really do.

I did not post asking for dry cleaning money. Why the hell would I?? I get paid on Thursday. Oh my god some of you are just awful. What even gives you the right to accuse me? I do not borrow or steal. I never have. I work really hard but I had to have some time off so not got as much as normal. But it is enough. I dont want money!

Unless she goes to a private school it's unlikely it's dry clean up only . Can you send a pic of the label ? It's probable it's polyester but they have mislabelled .

If you really can't sort it go and speak to the School . No school is going to discriminate if you genuinely can't afford it . They will have spares in lost property too.

What infamous poster?

Is it so hard to understand?

Im ignoring advice as its not helpful. Its not why I posted.

I think I will delete my account. MN will confirm. Then you will KNOW i did not post for money.

Could you ask a family member to purchase an extra blazer for her?

Of course she doesn't go to a private school

No I couldn't. Because my mum is dead and so is my dad and even if they weren't they couldn't have got it for today.

Why do people keep advising her to wash a dry clean only garment?
Dry clean only blazers are fine to wash in the washing machine, in my experience.

You aren't being very nice OP . I'm an ex dry cleaner and if you post the label I can tell you what to do from a professional point of view .
We are all trying to help you 🤷‍♀️

Have you actually spoken directly to the school at all? You sent a note - have you actually talked to the pastoral care team or equivalent?

Unless it's a private school, I would have moaned from September (at least) against a wool-dry-cleaning only blazer.

I wouldn't be able to survive with one work suit, and trust I could wear the same one 5 days in a row every week, so how could my kids manage with one school uniform? it makes no sense at all.

If the school are absolutely crystal clear about the reason why your dd will be without her blazer for a few days then they are being VVU and yes, punishing her for being les well off than others.

Call and ask to someone in charge of pasterol care and explain that in a pleasant but persistent manner. You cannot change the situation from your end but they can.

If they completely refuse to back down I’m afraid I’d be asking on how to escalate a complaint because it seems so unfair and petty. It will be on her school record I assume?

One caveat...was she jacking about in an area where she wasn’t supposed to be? It’s not that Easy to slip into a slimey pond! Not saying it’s not a fairly standard childish prank but maybe she’s being punished for more than not wearing her blazer? Just a thought to clarify.

Ps .. I know quite a few people who are at private school who are poor !!

Some schools have uniform banks where people donate items that no longer fit their dc. If your school does not have one can I suggest you contact school and ask if you can run this option. You would get pick of
any spare uniform that came in if you ran it. You could ask school to send out letters to parents asking for unwanted items of uniform for this purpose. Everyone wins.

Lay off the op fgs, even if she washed the blazer in the bath it would probably have still been wet today so her Dd couldn’t have worn it anyway.
As an aside my dds blazer cost £80, it says dry clean so it gets dry cleaned - I wouldn’t risk having to buy another one just because I’d put it in the washing machine

pizzatuesdays

I doubt they'd care about finances!

Its very likely they WILL care about finances and will help.

You'll need to ask them though

Because it costs so much to go there !

If the school is being that unreasonable, I'd seriously consider calling her in sick for the rest of this week.

Sorry everyone is being so ridiculous, OP. The school is out of order. I would write to the local authority about it.

It's nothing to do with struggling financially though. I don't know a single child who owns more than 1 blazer, so regardless of parents' ability to pay, if the child came home in a blazer that was beyond handwashing, they wouldn't be wearing it the next day.

My DC's school do have spares for such circumstances as this though.