Aibu-Allowing d's to wear knee high boots for school

[Shippers87]

Posting here for opinions as I'm annoyed at the attitude of the teachers at my dd's school.

She is 6 years old and we bought her some black flat boots that sit just under the knee for school on days where it is cold/wet/windy as frankly the Mary Jane style shoes that are normally sold for girls are not suitable for this weather.

School assistant has kept asking my dd where her shoes are and went on to say she can't wear her boots.

It does not say this in the school uniform rules. Nor are they not practical as she is comfier in them than normal school shoes.

So I said next time they ask for my dd to tell the teacher that I let her wear them.

They have now told her that she has to wear her pe pumps inside. Which has made her feel sad.

Can they do this ?

I know there is no legislation saying that UK school children have to wear uniform but I feel this is a bit petty seeing as in this day and age you can wear knee high boots in certain workplaces

I don't pick her up/drop her off due to working full time so am thinking of writing a letter as I am unable to speak to them after school

Primary schools can't insist on uniform, which is why there isn't a school voucher scheme for them.
Therefore I send my daughter in boots when it's wet or snowy.

Boots are practical when it’s rainy and cold. My daughters have worn them all winter. Just one more reason why school uniform is ridiculous. Ugh. YANBU.

My DD wears black Clark’s high boots to school in winter, never had any comments from school.

Speaking from experience, sitting on the carpet/cross legged for assembly in knee high boots is really uncomfortable after a while, even in my super comfy boots, they also aren't practical for running around playing in.

Lots of girls in my school wear boots in and change at school.

And for everyone who is commenting saying would I send her in a different colour jumper or own clothes, I am trying to stick by keeping her smart in BLACK boots not tan brown or pink.. so re school rules even though it only states black footwear with no open toe sandles.. it's not really breaking them

I can't see what's wrong with plain black boots, I really can't. They sound warm, smart, comfortable, practical and waterproof which ticks all my boxes for school footwear. If I were you, @Shippers87, I'd go and have a chat with someone at school and find out what exactly the problem is with the boots. If it just says black footwear in the school uniform policy, I can't see how the boots are a problem.

Put some knee high boots on, sit on your floor coverings cross legged for an hour, run around the garden chasing your DP come back in sit on your floor again cross legged for an hour, kneel down and play Lego for half an hour, sit at your table for another 5 hours then tell us they are practical for an infant in school.

@student26

just like they will when they have a job with a uniform policy.

Yes, it's vital that we prepare 6 year olds for the world of work.

I detest rules for the sake of rules.

We had to change into plimsols 20+ years ago!

Same here 40+ years ago. Shoe bag hanging on your coat peg.
Arrive, hang up coat, change into your black pumps (anyone?) put your shoes in your shoe bag.
Comfy feet all day, and nobody trailing mud around the school.
I think wearing knee high boots all day sounds uncomfortable and a bit sweat inducing. Each to their own, but boots are not really for indoor wear unless they are of the fashion variety.

I can’t believe people are saying that boots aren't appropriate for school! You must all be living in Florida or Australia or summat. I couldn’t let my dd wear shoes all year round, her feet would get soaked with the rain or the snow. And if she wears wellies when it’s really awful, the school don’t actually let her put her PE sneakers on....so she refuses to wear wellies....

Mari - the boys dont wear boots though?

We just wear wellies to school if its wet and change into school shoes when they get there. Admittedly not scotland/the north so completley normal around here.

You're going to be one of those parents...

Why are boots not allowed? I was always brought up to question things and if there is valid reason than that is fair enough

They do a lot of sitting on the carpet. Not at all comfy in boots.

And what was wrong with wellies to wear to school then shoes when she gets there?

Nearly all the girls in my dds school have black boots for the winter and snow boots/wellies for really wet days. It’s impractical to walk a distance to school in shoes in the dead of winter. That said, the whole school all change into plimsolls as soon as they get in. Maybe just stick a pair in her bag for changing.

My 5 year old wears knee high boots when it's raining nothing has been said. The only message we have had is if you send your child in Wellington boots please send in their normal school shoes. Most of the girls wear knee high boots in bad weather.

It doesn't matter what anyone on here thinks about your school’s uniform policy, OP. And it’s irrelevant what’s allowed in other schools.

Why not go in and speak to the head teacher and say what you’ve said here. That your DD wants to express herself by wearing boots and that she refuses to wear shoes that are more suitable for the cold weather because she’s “girly”.

I’m sure they’ll be sympathetic.

She's only 6yo and already you're setting her up as the kid whose parent flouts school rules. Well done OP.

that she refuses to wear shoes that are more suitable for the cold weather

Which shoes are more suitable than boots for cold and wet weather? Genuine question. This makes no sense.

Boots simply aren't smart enough for school or any professional setting IMO whether knee high or not. Thankfully, the DC's schools all have very strict uniform policies that specify polished smart black school shoes, along with blazer and tie to be worn at all times.

I believe it's a parent's duty to make sure that their DC obey the uniform policy as not only does it set a good example towards school rules, but it also gets them in the right mindset for work. To that end I make sure before they leave the house that DD and DS are wearing their uniforms smartly i.e. top buttons done up, tie pulled up and blazer on.

"Pumps make her feel sad."

Fuck me, what an overreaction.

so re school rules even though it only states black footwear with no open toe sandles.. it's not really breaking them

School are telling you that you are breaking their uniform policy, so yes, you are.

It sounds like your daughter is being brought up to be an entitled snowflake.

Wow, that's a stretch that only a rigid thinker could make. By allowing her dd to wear "black footwear with no open toe sandals" the OP is bringing up an "entitled snowflake" I've never heard such nonsense. The only entitled snowflakes are the posters who think that putting energy into policing what a 6 year old wears is going to save the world. How about putting all that time and energy into figuring out how to feed the starving or curing cancer or pretty much anything that actually matters instead of First World Problems like what type of shoes a child is wearing?
It seems that Parenting Shaming is alive and well on Mumsnet once again.

WhatToDo I hope that shaming everyone around you makes you feel good, because it certainly doesn't make anyone else feel good, but I guess that's your intention. I'm so glad that I don't have to deal with you (or your children) in RL.

“it's better just to comply with the regulations than cause a fuss for nothing isn't it?”

Because this is really how we advance as a society. Blind following of stupid rules that only exist for the sake of stupid rules.