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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Primary School closed bubble expected to wear school uniform at home for video calls

269 replies

BrainAyche · 04/10/2020 18:26

YABU - they should wear school uniform at home for video calls
YANBU -let them wear their own (appropriate) clothes for home learning

My primary age child's school bubble has closed. They'll be having some video calls/lessons with school, and he's just told me they will have to wear uniform for the video meetings.
AIBU to think that is a bit daft? Unnecessary? OTT?

While I generally agree that uniform for schools is a good idea, for us personally, it is a faff and not having to nag my awkward child to put it on and hang it up every day would be a tiny perk to the challenging two weeks that is ahead of us.

AIBU to think stuff it, and let him wear what he wants?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 04/10/2020 18:29

Whats the uniform? Stick the top on with casual from the waist down? Sounds bloody stupid to me though

TeenPlusTwenties · 04/10/2020 18:29

My guess is they have done it to:

  • help the children continue to feel part of school
  • help keep normality and timetable
  • save issues with inappropriate clothes
CitizenFame · 04/10/2020 18:29

Yes, YABU. Unless you’re trying to teach your child that he can ignore rules so long as he feels they’re daft and “a faff”?

Chilver · 04/10/2020 18:30

YNBU. It would be ridiculous to make them wear uniform!

Michaelbaubles · 04/10/2020 18:30

How the hell are they going to enforce that? I’m a teacher and I think that’s utterly bonkers. Switch your video off and let them wear what they want.

dementedpixie · 04/10/2020 18:31

They are daft and a faff though.

katy1213 · 04/10/2020 18:31

Ridiculous. Your house - your rules.

Pipandmum · 04/10/2020 18:33

Our school didn't require this during online lessons during lockdown. It seems a bit much but if it was the policy I wouldn't have a problem having my child dress in uniform.

BikeRunSki · 04/10/2020 18:34

It’s so children don’t rock up in PJs!!

I’ve been wfh since the beginning of March (we were debt home before lockdown officially started) and I find I have to put work clothes on to properly have my “work head on”. Otherwise everything just blurs together. When I am at home all day, clothes are the only distinction between work time and home time.

LouHotel · 04/10/2020 18:36

Is it to help the kids distinguish between home time and school time which is completely muddled in a lockdown scenario.

I hate working from home for the very reason I never feel fully in my role.

AmyandPhilipfan · 04/10/2020 18:38

I think it’s fair enough, but I also wouldn’t worry about having to hang it up or keep it too clean all week. I’d probably tell mine to wear the same set all week - no one will be able to see too closely!

Cocomarine · 04/10/2020 18:38

I think it’s a lovely idea. Everything that @TeenPlusTwenties says, plus it can put you into learning / concentrating “mode”.

Most children will find it a bit of fun to go and stick their uniform on, and even a bit of a giggle to wear it.

MsAwesomeDragon · 04/10/2020 18:41

I've had conversations with all of my classes that if their bubble has to isolate and we need to do video lessons I expect them to be appropriately dressed. Some of them interpreted that as school uniform, but I really meant "put some clothes on so I don't see your PJs or naked chest (boys)".

It may be too get the children into "school mode". It might be so they don't waste time commenting on other people's clothes (dd would be obsessed with what her friends were wearing and wouldn't get any work done). It might be because they know some children in the class only have one warm jumper and it's their school one, so they don't want that child child or embarrassed. Did it really matter? Is it that much more of a fad to put a school jumper on rather than a home jumper?

RizzleDrizzle · 04/10/2020 18:41

@TeenPlusTwenties

My guess is they have done it to:
  • help the children continue to feel part of school
  • help keep normality and timetable
  • save issues with inappropriate clothes
While I appricate that’s probably the case

The question is were they required to wear uniform for video calls before Easter and the entire summer term?

It may be that they think their helping by in a difficult period of rather than have to faff around for appriote clothing the uniform is there ready to go because they’d have been having to wear it.

Also is it just his bubble that’s closed are their younger and older siblings that are perhaps still having to get up every day and wear uniform and is it to prevent the it’s not fair Freddie is staying home and not having to go to school, at least if he’s in in uniform it shows he’s the same.

LolaSmiles · 04/10/2020 18:42

I think it's a bit silly as a gut reaction.

The only thing I'm wondering is if they'd have potential issues with some children not having appropriate clothes or being dressed in their pyjamas. That might lead a school to say uniform, but then they may as well say school polo shirt must be worn and not worry about anything else.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 04/10/2020 18:44

Dc1(10) had online maths lessons before summer break. The guidance given just said appropriate clothes not pyjamas & it had to be in a communal space (kitchen, living room, dining room etc) with an adult present in the room at all times (not in shot). Asking for uniform is probably to stop pyjama wearing. Can he not just stick his school jumper on over his T-shirt (or school shirt & jumper) when it's video call time then take it off & fold ready for the next one?

whirlwindwallaby · 04/10/2020 18:46

I think it's silly. But I wouldn't single my child out. If it's just a matter of putting a polo on like you put on a scout shirt for a couple of hours, then hang it up again if clean, then I'd just do it for the meeting.

Theworldisfullofgs · 04/10/2020 18:48

Its about feeling like you are at school and belonging.

minisoksmakehardwork · 04/10/2020 18:48

During the Lockdown earlier this year, the curriculum was suspended and schools provided the best they could. Attendance was not compulsory and families were not fined for non-attendance.

If/when there are lockdowns now, schools have been told they have to continue teaching as they were in the classroom, and attendance will be counted.

By asking students to wear uniform they are demonstrating that they are ready to learn, that they are taking their schooling seriously - yes, even the younger ones. By asking them to wear uniform they are telling parents that school work this time round is not just something they can dip in and out of as they choose.

Schools will be held accountable for online attendance I am sure.

newmumwithquestions · 04/10/2020 18:49

So what if they are in pjs though?

In lockdown with us both working and constantly on calls anything went. If that was pjs all day then so be it. if my DDs bubble breaks it’ll be the same. Getting dressed is so far down the list of priorities! Getting though each day with everyone alive and fed was enough of a struggle.

And seriously what could school even do? Your home your rules!

Jellycatspyjamas · 04/10/2020 18:50

I don’t see what’s wrong with casual clothes - or pyjamas if I’m being honest, but my DC are still young and pjs are no less decent than their T-shirt’s and jogging bottoms would be.

For older kids I can understand a dress code (no slogan tops E.g.) but still wouldn’t be fussed about school uniform.

CountFosco · 04/10/2020 18:52

save issues with inappropriate clothes

I am struggling to imagine clothes that you could buy for a primary aged child that vould be described as 'inappropriate'. But most importantly surely they shouldn't have the children visible on calls anyway, my DC had all school lessons without video.

When I am at home all day, clothes are the only distinction between work time and home time.

But have you always changed clothes for the evening? That seems like a lot of effort for no gain. I've always worn one set of clothes all day (except for exercise), just like I did at school and university Confused.

Dahlietta · 04/10/2020 18:54

It's a bit daft really. I would just go full newsreader.

NailsNeedDoing · 04/10/2020 18:54

I think it’s a good idea. I saw a lot of parents doing this during the big lockdown and thought what a good idea it was then. For some children it will make no difference, for others it will help them feel like they are still part of school, help them focus and concentrate as they get in learning mode, and then can differentiate between school and home/free time.

If you can’t be arsed to bother then don’t, but YABU to think it’s daft. It wouldn’t exactly take a huge effort to show your dc that you respect what the school asks of you.

ohnothisagain · 04/10/2020 18:55

Ours did that - we had zoom lessons all through lockdown. it really worked to keep the kids in “school mode”.