To think uniform for a preschool is a bit much?

[Frazzels]

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

I find it works well as DCs know they wear specific clothes for preschool which gets them ready for school. I only replace uniforms when outgrown, which is annoyingly frequently at a young age, so if they get stained or marked then they continue to wear the clothes regardless.

My daughters preschool has optional uniform, my daughter requested it aged 3. I have 2 pinafore dresses, 6 polo tops (£2.30 for two in tescos), 2 cardigans and I’ll probably buy her a few cheap summer dresses. I buy everything in a size too big at this age, so it’s easier for her to go to the toilet, and she should get away with wearing some of it in September aswell. I actually think it’s a good idea, it means all the nice clothes I buy her don’t get trashed.

My DS’s pre school has a uniform and I thought it was a bit much at first but he has 2 polo shirts and a school jumper. It gets paint on/food down etc then washes well and it means hopefully he won’t mind wearing school uniform come September!

LaCastafiore my children are at a non uniform school and there are no clothing or hair related rules except for sports lessons. None. Not one.

Obviously the school has policies and rules against racism, sexism etc etc which prevent offensive slogans. There are rules about sports lessons - no jewelry, activity appropriate clothing.

I have asked my teenaged daughter about whether teachers ever have to pull anyone up about inappropriate clothing, and she looks at me as though I've asked her whether her teachers ever sprout a second head and fly around the room. Her question is "why would they, they aren't interested in our clothes? That would be really weird."

The amount of time teachers waste in some secondaries addressing uniform infringements is astonishing - I used to teach a core subject and my head of department had perfected the art of avoiding teaching bottom sets by keeping them in the corridor until all their uniforms were absolutely perfect, ties adjusted correctly, jewelry removed, non uniform trainer wearers sent to the office to borrow too small grotty black plimsolls, anyone with non regulation hair ranted at and sent to isolation, shirts buttoned to the top and tucked in, blazers on, skirts unrolled...

His bottom sets were fully on board and played along, hamming up the infringements. Hours of fun.

you are lucky Ginnylamb because the schools I experienced had to police jewellery, short skirts, crop tops, boys wearing shorts, apparently they now have to deal with leggings worn as pants, inappropriate footwear, inappropriate hair colour and the list goes on!

I tried both, and I do love school uniforms. They are one of the best things in this country.

LaCastafiore what's an inappropriate hair colour for sitting in a classroom? How do shorts in summer or leggings worn as trousers stop you learning?

There are rainbow haired kids but most are quite boring considering they can wear what they want. They've never worn uniform so there's no novelty and most just wear jeans and t shirts, and don't bat an eye or care either way about what anyone but their best friends wear or do with their hair.

The amount of time teachers waste in some secondaries addressing uniform infringements is astonishing

I taught very briefly and couldn’t get over this. What a waste of everyone’s time.

Thankfully DS’s primary doesn’t have a uniform.

Ginnylamb
some school don't accept bright green or pink hair.
Also a school required appropriate and respectful clothing. The majority can understand what that means, but there's always a few who try and confuse a school with a nightclub or a rubbish truck. You don't go to school in your pjs, you don't go to school in a batman outfit.

It's also completely naive to pretend that kids and teen do not care about brands. Couldn't be far from the truth - I have experienced it myself!

The OP is about nursery aged children though. They don't care about brands.

LaCastafiore I live abroad now. Kids who always wear their own choice of clothes care vastly less about brands than children who are subjected to the high pressure fashion show of a uniformed school's Mufti day! I've never seen anything like the outfits (thongs showing above hip grazing jeans and playboy crop tops on 11 year olds) that children who usually wear school uniform turned up in when given two hyped up days per year only to wear their own choice of clothes to school.

Green hair is harmless, what does it matter? It's a non issue if there's no rule against it. If there is a rule against it then time is wasted enforcing the rule. That's daft, given its so utterly irrelevant to learning.

The OP, as Laurie says is about preschoolers anyway.

@Ginnylamb sounds like you are discribing the school all my kids went to in the US, there was no clothes envy or anything innapropriate worn, the only requirements were no underwear on show and no alcohol logos or swear words on hoodies or tee shirts the whole school wore jeans/chinos and hoodies or shorts and tees. Trainers and flip flops were the norm. Hats were removed on entering buildings and respect and manners were taught in Kindergarten.
One boy refused shoes altogether, no one batted and eye. The teachers were concerned with learning and attendance.
I now have the last child in UK highschool. She looks a mess in her uniform even though it is all correct. It just doesn't suit her at all.

Kids who always wear their own choice of clothes care vastly less about brands than children who are subjected to the high pressure fashion show of a uniformed school's Mufti day!
I had the completely opposite experience, when the clothes mattered EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I haven't seen anything inappropriate on mufti day, because it's a a change of the usual uniform, the kids are happy with anything private and much less fussy.

The youngest kids are not about brands (and I could argue with that) they are about completely inappropriate outfits, onesie, fancy dress, wrong fabric and items they can't deal with themselves when they need the loo. It's even worst than the right brand of shoes or jeans.

Life was much easier for me in uniform schools, and same for my kids.
I wouldn't take a school seriously if they accept pupils bare feet and with green hair, it's ridiculous.

I think uniform for nursery and primary school is ridiculous and old fashioned. Small children need to be comfortable and uniforms are usually made of nasty cheap nylon and polyester, the waistbands don't adjust with a button in the elastic and the trousers have no cuff so you can't buy larger for them to grow into!

My DD's doesn't have a preschool uniform luckily. She wears soft joggers (fleece lined in winter, thin cotton in summer) and organic cotton tshirts with wool sweaters/cardigans. It means I can dress her appropriately for the weather!

The youngest kids are not about brands (and I could argue with that) they are about completely inappropriate outfits, onesie, fancy dress, wrong fabric and items they can't deal with themselves when they need the loo.

None of that is an issue in my DS’s nursery class. And I’d say parents are much more tuned into what they can and can’t manage for the loo than whoever sets the uniform policy.

LaCastafiore you clearly have a totally different experience to Laurie and I. I am sure it depends very much on where you live and what people in your country and area are like generally. I wonder how much time you have spent as an adult observing uniformed school Mufti days though - they bring out the worst in some kids even if not in your individual ones.

Green hair is irrelevant to learning - we live somewhere that gets cold in winter and most children travel by bus to school do I've never seen barefeet, that might have health and safety implications perhaps, but how can hair colour matter?

With regards to preschoolers - anyone with half an ounce of sense puts winter clothes away in spring and summer clothes away in October so there is nothing wildly not weather appropriate available, and let's the children dress themselves. If they can put it on, they can take it off to go to the toilet. Parent obviously insists on appropriate outerwear and extra jumper or vest or whatever if necessary. Who actually cares if it's a batman outfit if they're 3?

What's wrong with an apron with sleeves for messy activities and normal, comfortable clothes underneath?

Ha Ha Ha Ha.
I'm guessing you've never worked in a Nursery then BlueBerryPorridge

I went to non-uniform primary. You would be bullied for not having branded trainers or jeans. There were inappropriate clothes all the time, particularly in summer. (Bandeau tops, hotpants).

it is obviously fairly pointless, but I guess the ones attached to a school that most of the kids go on to can make more of a 'being part of the community' point.

our preschool doesn't have uniform which is fine, as are the very cheap simple ones.

Several private schools round here have little pinafores/tights/cardigans with buttons etc from age 2! That is just selling their brand.

My DC nursery uniform is polo shirt, sweatshirt and joggers but all pieces have the nursery school logo. Which can be expensive if buying spares but I bought some cheap plain joggers and polo shirt from Asda for when the others are in the wash.

DS's nursery has elasticated waist navy trousers, a navy sweatshirt and a white polo shirt and black trainer shoes. He has 5 of each of the clothing items, three clean, one in the wash, one on. We often get through two sets by the end of his breakfast! He loves his uniform. DH is a teacher and DS thinks he is like 'the big boys and girls' because he has seen the Y11s at DH's school. He looks very cute. The girls can wear the same, or a skirt or navy pinafore. Most wear trousers.

DD is at a private nursery (she is two) and can wear anything - she is wearing shorts and a t-shirt at the minute because she won't wear anything else- but when she goes to the nursery attached to the same primary as DS she will have a uniform.

It'd be a right pain in the arse if my DS had had to wear uniform to preschool. He only did 5 sessions a week and did other clubs around it. I wouldn't have wanted him to wear his school uniform to his other clubs so wouldve been multiple changes of clothes. As it was he had a couple preschool logo tshirts and rest of time wore his own clothes or the tshirt from his sports club that day.

YABU whats the problem? My dc required one for preschool, its gets them into learning this is school, gets them ready for reception and is comfortable suitable clothing. The preschool attire here is a polo tshirt, sweatshirt then joggers/skirt or shorts/summer dress.

Completely disagree. My daughter’s clothes are beautiful and I don’t want them ruined. Also she absolutely loves her school clothes! She feels like a big girl 🙂 They’re super comfy and in some cases more comfy than regular clothes!

MummyParanoia101
Agree
It’s easier you don’t have to buy many clothes too for them too, only for weekends and holidays.