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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:
Carycy · 04/10/2020 18:57

Not for primary school. If my child gets sent from home again he won’t be doing any schoolwork full stop this time. What a working parents supposed to do? What lap top are children going to be on? Our only lap top is used for work. As far as I am concerned if they send them home school is out.

Cheeeeislifenow · 04/10/2020 18:58

That's so ridiculous.

ChemiseBleu · 04/10/2020 18:58

Be grateful your school is willing to do video lessons at all!

Original poster
BrainAyche · 04/10/2020 19:02

I guess it does make sense that it helps put them in the school mindset, and avoids inappropriate clothes. But last school year, the kids that went back to school after lockdown didn't have to wear uniform. And do they really think so little of the parents that we can't figure out what 'appropriate clothing' might mean?

We can probably get away with just putting on the polo shirt. He hates his school jumper/trousers.
The non-uniform days at school go noticeably smoother when he's able to wear what he wants (has very strong preferences and sensory issues when it comes to clothes)
it just seems unnecessary and controlling to insist on this.

I'll encourage him to put the uniform on, but if it causes the usual morning meltdown then screw it, I have to pick my battles.

I should add I just had a high-school child do two weeks of distance learning and they weren't told to wear uniform or even required to appear on camera.

OP posts:
Veterinari · 04/10/2020 19:02

It's for 3 reasons:

It maintains the sense of belonging and community
It stops teachers seeing kids in inappropriate clothing
It psychologically sets children up to be prepared to work rather than hang out at home.

Rewis · 04/10/2020 19:03

Seems unnecessary to me, but then again I don't really get school uniforms in general.

Lalallama · 04/10/2020 19:03

Uniform at home sounds ridiculous to me, but I'd go with it so your child isn't the only one not wearing it.

To be fair, I'd happily dressmy children in full tuxedo, bow tie and ball gown if it meant they could have video lessons. They've had no proper remote learning at all (one primary and one secondary).

Whatafustercluck · 04/10/2020 19:04

I went for yabu. Mainly because it's probably to do with getting into the right frame of mind for learning, keeping routine etc. And having not got dressed up to travel to work in 6 months I can definitely see the psychology in this in terms of motivation. I'd probably find it a bit of a faff too in all honesty but I do understand where they're coming from with this.

RosyPickle · 04/10/2020 19:06

YABU, I think it sounds like a really good idea actually.

Aragog · 04/10/2020 19:07

I teach and agree its just not necessary.
When I was teaching form home before the summer I wore casual clothes. I didn't need to wear my 'work clothes' to get into the right frame of mind and be able to work efficiently.

How on earth do school think they can even enforce it?

Bwlch · 04/10/2020 19:09

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

Why is that the question? Whether they were then or were not is irrelevant

.

trogladite · 04/10/2020 19:13

In our responding to bubbles going down staff meeting last week we unanimously agreed that kids (primary) should be in uniform as its sets the tone for the work ethic and actually this will help make things easier for the parents as the kids will be more attuned to "this is the time to do my school work" rather than eyeballing all the toys

AlwaysLatte · 04/10/2020 19:14

How silly.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 04/10/2020 19:15

@newmumwithquestions

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!

It's not appropriate to be in pyjamas while attending a lesson. It wouldn't be in person, a video call shouldn't be any different.
ineedaholidaynow · 04/10/2020 19:20

Interesting that some posters are on here saying parents are perfectly capable of deciding what appropriate clothing is and then saying what is wrong with pyjamas! This can be a safeguarding issue, bearing in mind your child is being beamed into other people's homes.

DS's school has been delivering live lessons to children who are currently isolating at home due to symptoms whilst also teaching children in class. It would make sense that all children are in uniform

modgepodge · 04/10/2020 19:24

I definitely wouldn’t be happy teaching kids who were in PJs, upper end of primary girls in little
Shorts and vest tops?? No way. Some boys might just sleep in boxers! Yes, 5 year olds in full length pjs might just look like they’re in a tracksuit but there’s DEFINITELY potential for inappropriate clothing there. Most schools will have a blanket rule on this to avoid awkward situations and/or accusations.
Personally think school uniform is overkill but wouldn’t make a fuss if it was my child.

Wolke · 04/10/2020 19:27

I'm surprised people are so amenable to video lessons full stop. If the kids are at home then surely most people will be trying to work from home. If I'm working from home, there's no way I could supervise or facilitate video calls for the kids. When we tried video calls during lockdown with secondary age pupils it was a disaster, students wandering off, not on mute when they thought they were etc.

ConquestEmpireHungerPlague · 04/10/2020 19:29

It's a safeguarding thing, if they're visible on camera. A right drag for you, though.

UtterlyDone · 04/10/2020 19:31

During lockdown we had to dress the children in either a polo shirt, or tshirt in the school colours and appropriate trousers or skirt for photos. Was nice to see the videos and photos teachers were sending they were wearing their "normal" stuff they teach in; smart dresses, trousers and appropriate tshirts. Even the headteacher sent a video to the whole school and was wearing her usual tailored trousers and plain coloured tshirts.

I liked it, it felt like everyone following the same rules, and acting appropriately. I just stuck DD in her PE kit (easier and quicker to wash than full uniform) and that was fine.

Minimumstandard · 04/10/2020 19:34

Luckily no school age DC here, but if I did have and they were sent home, I would be saying no video lessons full stop. It's intrusive and I'd be trying to work. So the school uniform would be a non-issue Grin.

If DC's nursery closes, they'll be in front of Cbeebies for around 5 hours a day minimum on my working days while I tap away on the laptop. I imagine it will be the same for many working parents with older children.

peppermintteadrinker · 04/10/2020 19:37

@Wolke

I'm surprised people are so amenable to video lessons full stop. If the kids are at home then surely most people will be trying to work from home. If I'm working from home, there's no way I could supervise or facilitate video calls for the kids. When we tried video calls during lockdown with secondary age pupils it was a disaster, students wandering off, not on mute when they thought they were etc.
Totally agree. We had a ridiculous questionnaire through about schools plans for another lockdown. Stated parents must be available at a specific time evry day and lessons would run online during normal school hours. How do they imagine u can do that as a lone parent of primary aged child teaching my own online classes as a lecturer? Dreading any such scenario tbh.
sausagepastapot · 04/10/2020 19:39

I'm with you op, thats fucking ridiculous.

Lulu1919 · 04/10/2020 19:41

From past experience it might be to stop children joining in still wearing pjs or skimpy tops etc ?

ohnothisagain · 04/10/2020 19:41

For young primary school children, the video is really important. Our school did a full zoom curriculum all the way through lockdown. I don’t think my 7 year old (and definitely not my 3 year old) would have engaged as well with non video lessons!
it was a lifesaver, and means my oldest started year 3 actually ahead of the curriculum rather than 3 months plus behind.

ineedaholidaynow · 04/10/2020 19:45

Video lessons are down to Government guidance, schools have to deliver the curriculum if schools close/bubbles burst. In the summer the curriculum was suspended so schools didn't have to deliver anything. Now they have to carry on as if school is open, so sending a few worksheets to complete won't cut the mustard this time.

My DS is Y11 if his bubble bursts I want his school to deliver as much as they can. To be fair they had live lessons in the summer term, so assume they will carry on doing the same.