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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

First and surnames on leavers hoodies is a safeguarding issue

362 replies

SavonDeMarseille · 01/02/2019 09:08

Just found out the Y6 leavers hoodies (FFS since when was this a thing for Yr6!) will have the full names on their hoodies in the year number with their own name above the number and the school emblem and name on the front. AIBU to think this is a big safeguarding issue and should not be permitted. AI also BU or to want to take this up with the PTA who are organising this. Hoodies are worn all week on Yr 6 school trip.

OP posts:
Kewcumber · 01/02/2019 22:51

PTA do not have the class lists

Of course they do in many cases - it's usually the class rep for year 6 organising the hoodies

roundaboutthetown · 01/02/2019 22:52

And if some parents only want first names included, then fine - but why force that on everyone, if most children and parents prefer their children's surnames to go on there, too?

Schmoobarb · 01/02/2019 22:56

And the “OMG what if some random person works out my child’s name from seeing it on their hoody!” idiots with no safeguarding issues re their own children actually make a mockery of the cases where the children’s names being included COULD have serious ramifications.

As I said I’m fine with the full names because for us it’s an acceptable level of risk. If the school changed it to nicknames, to first names, to no names I’d happily accept that too without complaining.

Kewcumber · 01/02/2019 22:59

why force that on everyone

To be kind, roundaboutthetown?

Because those children that this is a problem for have had a shit enough time and it would be kinder to not single them out in front of their classmates. Because having your surname on a sweatshirt is not in any fucking way an essential. Hmm

But sod being kind or thoughtful. Majority rules and fuck those who can't keep up.

Believeitornot · 01/02/2019 23:00

Of course they do in many cases - it's usually the class rep for year 6 organising the hoodies

No they’ll only get names of those who want one.

Kewcumber · 01/02/2019 23:02

It doesn't work like that in our school Beleiveitornot

Class rep for year 6 arranges hoodies - they already have the classlist (being class rep and all) and arranged hoodeis for everyone. Even those whose parents were unable or too disorganised to pay.

First names only

Italiangreyhound · 02/02/2019 01:15

I think it is a thing that could constitute a risk for a child. If you don't want to label that a safeguarding concern the don't but I think it is an unnecessary risk.

I wouldn't go around with a badge with my name one all the time.

Knowing someone's first and surname might enable you to trace them, so yes it could invade their privacy.

It's possible also someone could use the name to strike up a conversation "You're Savon DeMarseille, I know your parents etc."

Just a rather creepy thing to have on you. First names only if necessary (not necessary in my humble opinion).

Vivaldi1678 · 02/02/2019 03:32

Ha Ha, at first I thought this was another Brexit thread!

roundaboutthetown · 02/02/2019 05:32

Kewcumber - but another person pointed out on this very thread that their children had distinctive first names and they wouldn't even want those on there. Plus, if class reps are using people's names on hoodies without their consent, then the PTA is breaching the General Data Protection Regulations. Consent has to be sought and then you can have the discussion as to whether anyone has a problem with first names or surnames on hoodies. Children who share a first name with several other children in their class tend at least to want the first letter of their surname included, so as to differentiate themselves.

N0rdicStar · 02/02/2019 06:04

It is a data protection issue.

When schools are so vigilant regarding disposing of anything with 2 pieces of info regarding a child I don’t understand why schools aren’t warning parents when they send out these consent forms.

30 hoodies off unaccounted for with a child’s name, surname, birth year( easy to work out) and school. Not sure I’d want all that info regarding my child on one.

I don’t like them anyway. They are pricey, exclude those less well off and look tacky.

fiydwi · 02/02/2019 06:19

Fuck me, some of these comments are hysterical.
Good grief!
Our school has been doing leavers hoodies for a while and the way the names are on the number makes it difficult to read.

Some people don’t half go mad, no wonder we have kids who go into adulthood barely able to wipe their own arses. Ffs.
Babying at its finest.

goes off the hunt for the thousands of kidnapped kids after their name appeared on a hoodie 🙄

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 02/02/2019 06:54

Our school does this in Australia, except they're school shirts, not hoodies. Can have full name or just first name if there IS any potential safeguarding problem - children/parents will be able to choose.
Our school is very hot when it comes to safeguarding as we have many split families with issues, so I doubt they'd allow it if it was a real problem.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 02/02/2019 06:57

Also, our school organise the Y6 shirts, not the P&C (PTA), so they would make sure that anyone with potential safeguarding problems would not be on there, or not be identifiable.

BlimeyCalmDown · 02/02/2019 07:22

I'm uncomfortable with it especially the surname being on it, as you say we tell them not to give out personal details on the internet but it is okay to do it in real life.... I've definitely known some vulnerable children that would fall for the line of someone knowing the/their family etc

N0rdicStar · 02/02/2019 07:28

It's not safeguarding that worries me but identity theft which schools appear to heed in all other areas.

That and singling out physically and in print the children who for whatever reason can't have one. Nice.

Shockers · 02/02/2019 07:45

At DS2’s high school, the school coat came with his name embroidered under the badge. He wore it for a few weeks, until a man approached him when he went into town after school to buy something. The man said, ‘ Hi Xxxx, how’re you doing, I haven’t seen you for ages.’ When DS looked confused, he said, ‘ It is you, isn’t it- Xxxx surname?’

Luckily, at this point I’d walked up behind DS because I was meeting him to buy said article. DS turned round confused to me and said, ‘Mum?’ and the man looked flustered and said that he’d got the wrong person.

He’d called DS by his full name.

I bought him another coat and explained exactly why to the school. I noticed that they changed the policy to just embroidering surnames the following year.

MsTSwift · 02/02/2019 07:53

Dear me. If it is an issue fill in the form with first name only or the nick name it’s not hard. Why should some awful people (those that pose a risk to these poor kids) get to ruin everyone’s fun? The kids here loved their hoodies and wore them all summer.

MrsDrSpencerReid · 02/02/2019 08:00

Another Aussie here, our school also does a school shirt not a hoody, that they wear to school for the whole year.

It has the kids names listed in their class, under their teachers name. I’m sure we had the option to decline having DC name on there.

We even had the option to order more than one so they could wash one, wear one. They’re a very big deal to the kids!

N0rdicStar · 02/02/2019 08:12

I’m sure they are a big deal to the kids, even more so for those that can’t have them. The last day of primary school is emotional enough anyway. Being the only one without a hoody because your parents can’t afford it, won’t buy it or can’t duse to safeguarding is shite and would make the last day even worse.

Saying my kid is alright Jack is a bit shitty.

Then there is the data protection issue.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 02/02/2019 08:32

Shockers - that IS crazy.
We are even warned not to put DC full name on the back of backpacks here, so that people can't do things like that. Preferably not to put their name on the outside of the backpack at all, in fact. Ditto with school hats, jackets etc. - fully labelled, but on the inside where it can't be seen by randoms walking along.

Glad you were with your DS!

Weetabixandshreddies · 02/02/2019 08:42

How can a potential abductor work out 1 child's name from a list of 30? Do they call them all out until the child answers?

babyboyHarrison · 02/02/2019 08:49

I think having names on clothes and bags is a safeguarding issue. Children tend to be more trusting of people who know their names which puts them at higher risk of kidnapping. I appreciate the risk is tiny but equally I don't need my kids to have their name plastered on their clothes so why risk it. It may not be such an issue at this age but it is a risk that can easily be avoided. I don't give my kids clothes/bags with their names on for this reason so I don't see it just relates to vulnerable children.

gamerwidow · 02/02/2019 08:52

At our school the the Y6 parents organise the hoodies and the y6 leavers celebration and the PTA give a donation towards it.
That way the parents can sort it out amongst themselves what is an acceptable use of the money.

roundaboutthetown · 02/02/2019 09:04

Most leavers' hoodies have a list of names on - it's very unusual to have the specific child's name in big writing above the tiny names in the number. I would not want my child's name highlighted in big writing above the list as I think that is a bit weird (it's not like they will forget their own name without a reminder in future years...), but have no problem whatsoever with their name being included in small writing in the number along with many others. It's not as if local newspapers don't publish class photographs of new children every single year, schools put photographs of children in their classrooms on their websites, etc - all with parental permission and vulnerable children excluded.

There comes a point where secrecy and paranoia are harmful to everyone, not helpful. Do not treat all children as though they are in danger of serious harm because someone with a good magnifying glass can follow them around for long enough to copy a few names from the back of their hoodie, then go home and research who they might be so that they can steal their identity... Frankly, it would be easier for a oarent of another child in your child's class to do that to you, because you have actually given away enough information to them already - like inviting their kids to your kid's birthday parties, having your kids tell their kids what their middle names are, or what their mummy's name used to be, or what their first pet was called... If people with no good reason are that bloody paranoid, they should just stop talking to anyone about anything, just in case.

Schmoobarb · 02/02/2019 09:17

The thing is a few people have explained why the hoodies may present a risk for THEIR CHILDREN and other people have suggested alternatives which might mitigate that. Extremely valid concerns and a sensible solution.

Most people however are just being ridiculous and parroting nonsense about data protection, privacy, safeguarding etc and not to mention the OP indulging in a spot of PTA bashing as well.