Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think uniform for a preschool is a bit much?

102 replies

Frazzels · 28/04/2019 12:30

The preschool I'm looking at sending DD to in september has the same uniform as the primary school that it's attached to. Full compulsory uniform. I've come across nursery uniforms before but they've never been compulsory and usually just a jumper, maybe a polo shirt. It's a good school, I already have one DC there I just find this a bit odd, do 2-4 year olds really need to be head to two in uniform? And if DD is still as fussy with clothes as she is now it's going to be a struggle. I can hardly get her to wear anything but pyjamas and wellies

OP posts:
CrumpetandSausage · 29/04/2019 21:29

There’s nothing like wrong with a flexible school uniform for preschool. My dd’s preschool was attached to a private school but the uniform for preschool was much more relaxed and they could wear trainers. Made life so much easier by reducing the choice of clothing they could argue about down to skirt, summer dress or pinafore. Both refused to wear trackie bottoms or shorts. They were perfectly comfy in their uniforms.

RippleEffects · 29/04/2019 21:35

They've introduced a uniform light version of the school uniform for nursery at DD's primary. It's all available in Aldi/ Lidl except sweatshirt/ cardigan which is £5. It's easy wash stuff and stops some of the rediculous things children were turning up in. Onsies, princess outfits, football kits in mid winter.

BallsOfFluff · 29/04/2019 23:54

The nursery DD goes to (also attached to a primary school) has a non-compulsory uniform but they do encourage it. If not, they have to be dressed in school colours. Black school shoes too.

I think it looks lovely. She looked so sweet on her first day (if way too small.)
It stops any messing about with impractical outfits, is cheap and easy to replace (the majority of her stuff is from Asda) and actually helped DD to settle in and be a 'part' of her school.

BattenburgIsland · 30/04/2019 00:08

YANBU
But then I really hate uniform full stop.
Our local primary doesnt have a uniform. It has a logoed jumper you can get but you do not have to have it. I think that's great. Sadly cannot seem to find a non uniform state secondary school outside of London.. apart from Stieners which are fee paying.
I dont see the point of uniform at all. I dont think it's an equaliser because some kids will look fine in it and others ridiculous. It's not cheap. It's not practical. It wastes time for teachers who have to penalise students over petty attempts at rebelling. I just think it's a pointless waste of time.

TantricTwist · 30/04/2019 00:35

I love School uniform. No pfaffing around in the morning.

NewSchoolNewName · 30/04/2019 01:09

It’s very normal around where I live for nurseries attached to schools to have uniforms.
Usually along the lines of polo shirts, trousers and sweatshirt (sometimes with school logo) in the school colours.

Nat6999 · 30/04/2019 02:20

My DS preschool uniform was none compulsory, they could wear whatever bottoms they liked but had a polo shirt & sweatshirt. I used to send him in elastic waisted joggers or track suit bottoms with it. It was practical & meant that his own clothes weren't ruined by paint, marker pens & all the other stuff they used. He loved his uniform.

TheOrigRightsofwomen · 30/04/2019 07:13

I'm pretty sure a State pre-school can't make uniform compulsory.

MinervaVause · 30/04/2019 09:35

YANBU but then I dislike uniforms anyway.

My kids primary doesn’t have a uniform and the high school they will be going to (in another country to where we are now) doesn’t have uniform either.

For kindy where they were constantly coming home covered in paint/glitter/mud, I just used to buy bundles of clothes off FB. $10 and there used to be enough clothes for about 12-15 outfits. Can’t get uniforms for that price.

CostanzaG · 30/04/2019 09:40

Life is so much easier with a uniform! No arguments in the morning about wanting to wear shorts when it's snowing!!

LaCastafiore · 30/04/2019 09:48

I love school uniforms - my kids (and I) have been to schools with, or schools without. Uniforms win without contest.

It's easier, for the kids/the parents/the school, more practical, works out cheaper, no faff nor arguments - apart from the sad face-parents in the DM Grin

the kids get quite proud to wear a uniform in preschool, so I think it's a great idea.

HexagonalBattenburg · 30/04/2019 09:55

My kids preschool had a uniform - just a coloured polo shirt and sweatshirt but it was bloody handy to remove any thought process about which clothes you didn't mind getting trashed that morning.

Having seen some of the ridiculous impractical designer outfits that the kids at school nursery get sent in in - I'd advocate it. The only one I wouldn't was the localish infant school who have yellow sweatshirts as their uniform... that's just cruelty to parents trying to get the bloody paint, mud and marker pen out!

Original poster
Frazzels · 30/04/2019 10:11

The polo shirts are white so I can't imagine they'll stay that way for long Grin I don't particularly dislike uniform, it is much easier sometimes, but most of my experience with primary schools and uniform has been quite relaxed about it, especially my oldest's old school, she wore trainors nearly every single day right up until year 6 so this is very different compared

OP posts:
Normandy144 · 30/04/2019 10:22

I like and value the use of school uniform for reception year and up. However anything before that is unnecessary. Pre-school, is just that, it's before mainstream school. I don't feel the need to send 2.5 and 3 years olds fully dressed in uniform. As for the mess, yes it's inevitable but for that reason i don't send my children dressed in their Sunday best.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 30/04/2019 10:23

DS's nursery (so from age 3) has compulsory school uniform. The polo shirts are really cheap in the supermarket and come up a treat with some Vanish. They do have dark green jumpers/cardigans though, which also wash well (and hide most stains).

Trainers are not allowed unless discussed with school (so if school shoes are outgrown right before the summer) but all shoes need to be black.

I think they look really smart and also part of the school as a whole. Luckily school also have boxes of donated school uniform, so you can get jumpers etc for free and then I pass them on again when DS outgrows them. Lots of people do this so it cuts the cost, especially for the smaller nursery and reception sizes.

justmyview · 30/04/2019 10:26

White polo shirts? For a pre-school nursery? They're having a laugh

I'm not keen on uniforms for children so young, but it's interesting PP have said they got over their initial reservations

Geminijes · 30/04/2019 10:34

White polo shirts? For a pre-school nursery? They're having a laugh

I found white polo shirts were easier to keep clean and bright than coloured polo shirts. You can soak white in Oxi Action and use bleach to remove stains. Plus dry them on the line in sun light and they stay looking good.

LaCastafiore · 30/04/2019 10:35

why are people so anti-white tops for kids?!?

It's the only colour that you can bleach! I haven't had one stain yet that hasn't come off - even if it means leaving a load soaking in a bucket overnight before putting it in the wash. It takes no effort whatsoever.

Colour tops are a nightmare, they should be banned for tshirts/polos or shirts uniforms.

LaCastafiore · 30/04/2019 10:36

cross post with Geminijes
Grin

HoneysuckIejasmine · 30/04/2019 10:41

DD's preschool has a uniform but it's just a polo/jumper. Not many kids wear it tbh but I will get it for DD as they do prefer them to, and it makes it easier for them to identify her when we're out and about.

BlueMerchant · 30/04/2019 10:44

I think it's a great idea. It helps the little ones feel included in the whole school community when attached to the 'big' school and I think it actually helped my two DC to feel they were like one of the bigger kids and feel important. I also think it helps if they are used to wearing the uniform when they are transitioning up to reception and the uniform is non-negotiable. It's one less 'new' thing.

BettyDuMonde · 30/04/2019 10:51

DD’s school doesn’t do this, because it’s oversubscribed and there is no guarantee a nursery child will get a school place.

Some kids start the preschool in January, so it’s unreasonable to expect parents to buy specific clothes for two terms.

happymummy12345 · 30/04/2019 10:58

My son has one. I'm glad because it means his own clothes don't get ruined. Plus the material means they dry very quick and without creases.
There is the option of branded from them or cheaper plain options in the same colours from supermarkets or other clothes shops.
My son loves it and always says on nursery days "I wear my uniform". He loves it

justmyview · 30/04/2019 12:09

@Geminijes @LaCastafiore

Ah, good point you can bleach white tops. Yes in that case, white makes far more sense

LaCastafiore · 30/04/2019 12:24

1part Milton 3 part water in a large mixing bowl with boiling water soak for 2hrs then wash on a white wash, white are whiter than new Grin