Excellent complaint letter ReanimatedSGB.
My DS was threatened with isolation for wearing trainers a few weeks back. Only he had broken his toe and the local hospital couldn't find a boot to fit him, so taped him up and said to wear soft, wide shoes. He has tapered toe loafers as school shoes and couldn't get his foot in there as it was so swollen.
His school is strict, so I anticipated problems. I got the hospital doctor to write a note on headed paper, then made copies at home so that DS didn't take the original in. Made a note in his planner and rang the school.
And he was caught by the head, who threatened isolation. DS said he had a note and without even looking the head told him "a note from Mum won't cut it". DS has ASD and was distraught, went into full meltdown, which head assumed to be a tantrum. Thankfully another teacher who knows DS intervened and defused the situation. But then I had to battle 2 weeks of school refusal. Over shoes FFS!
We also had issues with the PE shirt(s). They have shirts for indoor and outdoor PE, all have to be logo'd so they're only available from one supplier.
DS is small. The shop doesn't even make a PE shirt in his size, so we ordered the smallest one they made, back in July. They said they didn't normally carry it in their shops because it was so small, but it would be in by the time school started.
Of course, it wasn't. They gave the kids a pass for the first two weeks, then started handing out sanctions for kit violations. I had already spoken with the head of PE and had been assured it was ok, but overzealous teachers wouldn't accept it and sanctioned DS anyway.
I had to email again, giving them 3 options - 1. He wore his outdoor PE shirt. 2. He borrowed one from lost property if they could find one small enough. 3. I provided s plain polo shirt in any colour they deemed acceptable. I attached my email trail with the school supplier who were unreservedly apologetic, and offered to speak to the school on our behalf (and who gave me a discount when the bloody shirts finally came in). Finally they said it was ok for him to wear his outdoor shirt.
But really?! 2 different PE tops and sanctions for not wearing the 'right' one?! They can see how small DS is and knew I couldn't just buy a shop one as it would be a dress on him (and they're not allowed to tuck them in). How on earth would wearing a slightly different looking t-shirt have effected his ability to do general fitness exercises (which was his first PE rotation)? It wasn't even me bending the rules to suit us - it was the bloody school supplier! When the shirt finally came in and I was working, I sent DM to get it (and suspect that's why we got the discount as DM can be good at complaining). The manager felt terrible that a supply cock up had caused a new yr7 with SEN to be sanctioned.
Don't get me wrong, rules are rules and all that jazz, but they should serve a purpose and they should enhance learning. I'm sitting in my office now in a Joe Brown's dress and funky fur topped ankle boots. DS's school wouldn't call that office wear as it's above the knee and shows a bit of cleavage (gasp!). I've worked in offices where I've worn jeans and converse, as an outreach worker where casual clothing was encouraged to put clients at ease and in corporate environments and I've never had a dress code as strict as at DS school.