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Original poster

To wish schools would scrap Christmas jumper day?

408 replies

Notspeakingup · 04/12/2021 17:59

DC2 has a couple of little classmates with difficult home lives, one in particular without much money. There are some Christmas jumper days coming up and I have been thinking about how tough it must be to always be the child with no jumper.

I know as children grow up you can't avoid the inequalities but it would be great if we could at least stop it being an issue at primary school. (And of course there are the families who buy jumpers when they can't really afford them).

OP posts:
Whatinthelord · 05/12/2021 07:35

@LazySundayPlease

We were told on Tuesday last week that Friday would be 'bright clothes' day and the following Friday 'Christmas jumper day'. Absolutely ridiculous when we have 2 children in the school.

I 100% agree. Our usually very sensitive headmistress has really lapsed by not putting her foot down on this with the PTA (run by someone who doesn't even have children at the school anymore!)

I actually wonder if more diversity in PTAs would help.
ChimChimeny · 05/12/2021 07:43

@EssexCat

I agree. Our PTA run a swap shop and sell them for £1 (or donation for those more or less affluent to donate accordingly) which is a really good and much less wasteful idea.

Or they just wear non uniform on that day.

I want to suggest this to DD's school because we are in a very mixed affluence area, how does it work please??
phishy · 05/12/2021 07:53

Op, any chance you and a couple of others could pitch and send the kid/s a jumper? Doesn’t solve the wider issue I know.

I agree that inequality in childhood is worse. I grew up poor, I didn’t have the ability to deal with it in primary school.

Elephantsparade · 05/12/2021 09:01

I thought about ths overnight and decided the outragoues thing is that universal credit and wages are so low that parents cant afford a jumper that would pass as festive (without being an explicity christmas one). Winter isnt a surprise on the way 'dress up as an explorer' is. Its heartbreaking that the society we have results in this.

Angel2702 · 05/12/2021 09:19

Our school ask for donations each year of outgrown jumpers. They pass them on to pupil premium children free of charge and sell some at the school fair. They are also allowed to wear their favourite winter jumper or decorate with tinsel etc, doesn’t have to be a specific Christmas jumper.

I’d far rather they scrap they dress up days every half term, that costs a fortune and far more difficult to cobble the specific costumes with no budget.

3WildOnes · 05/12/2021 09:22

My kids school have a Christmas jumper stand at the Christmas school fair where they are £1. We always donate last years and try and pick one up for this year.

curiouscatgotkilled · 05/12/2021 09:23

Our school do Christmas accessories, can be a jumper or Xmas pjs or just some tinsel. Much easier and inclusive I think.

grey12 · 05/12/2021 09:30

We don't celebrate xmas at all. And felt a bit bad that DD would be left out.....

But at school they gave her some reindeer antlers headband! Wink it actually looked cooler than the jumpers!

And they did a class photo that day!!!!

grey12 · 05/12/2021 09:31

[quote Notspeakingup]@Dozer I completely agree. Uniform is a leveller.[/quote]
Uniform is f expensive!!! I could do a much nicer and kid friendly wardrobe cheaper from Asda and Primark Hmm

aModernClassic · 05/12/2021 09:34

My DD's school is doing a Christmas jumper swap this year. You bring in an old one and pick one that someone else has donated. Not only does it stop families having to folk out for a new jumper, it's better for the environment too.

LemonDrizzles · 05/12/2021 09:42

Or just make it fun shirt or fun jumper day.

sofakingcool · 05/12/2021 09:50

My DS's old primary school used to do a Christmas jumper swap stall at the Christmas fayre (pre jumper day)

You brought in a jumper and were given a ticket, the on the day could exchange that ticket for a jumper. Worked really well and saved parents having to pay out for the next size up

Dozer · 05/12/2021 09:56

Organising second hand sales, a ‘rack’ of unwanted items etc is either pointless ‘wifework’, or unnecessary extra work for school staff.

Families with difficulties may well not get attend at the allotted time(s), contact the organiser or whatever.

The benefits to DC of wearing festive stuff in school are tiny. Relative to the negative impact on already worse off DC.

There are plenty of alternative, fun things that schools can do that don’t involve any money, time or action from families.

cliffdiver · 05/12/2021 09:57

I teach in an area where many parents aren't in a position to spend money on a a Christmas jumper, or can't/don't engage with school communications re special events.

It's upsetting for children who don't understand why their parents haven't sent them in wearing a Christmas jumper.

I have about 6 jumpers DDs have outgrown that I'll give to those in my class who don't have one to wear on the day.

If I don't have enough, instead as a class we'll make something individual that is Christmasy so those who don't have a jumper will have something to wear (headband etc).

It's heartbreaking seeing children crying because they feel left out.

ElfontheShelfisLookingatYou · 05/12/2021 09:57

Totally agree!!

I don't mind something xmassy and the school can have a box with something xmassy for those that don't have but a jumper is so specific.
I we have got jumpers in the past but not now and don't want to buy them

rooarsome · 05/12/2021 09:59

We are in this position right now and I'm desperately scouring marketplace for second hand jumpers. As well as that the teacher xmas fund for one class is £10min and the other is £15min. Everyone who has paid is announced in the WhatsApp group. I feel absolutely ashamed but we have had a tough few months.

ancientgran · 05/12/2021 10:00

@JustLyra

I mentioned this upthread (it's what I always did for the DC), but the idea of DIY Christmas jumpers for free seems to have got lost in the outrage about having to buy them. Again: you don't have to buy them!

You still have to buy the stuff that goes on the DIY jumpers - which for people who can’t afford £2 in the charity shop is still an expense they can’t afford.

Plus that then opens those one or two children up to sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the hoardes pf shiny new jumpers

I said earlier what they did at a school DD taught at. No one wore bought jumpers, making an old jumper into a Christmas jumper was a school activity, tinsel and glitter provided but children could bring in stuff and I think people would send in old tinsel and baubles so there was lots to choose from.

Unclaimed jumpers from lost property kept for kids who didn't bring a jumper.

Everyone could join in, it was fun and it was either cheap or free.

qualitygirl · 05/12/2021 10:02

We are in this position right now and I'm desperately scouring marketplace for second hand jumpers. As well as that the teacher xmas fund for one class is £10min and the other is £15min. Everyone who has paid is announced in the WhatsApp group. I feel absolutely ashamed but we have had a tough few months.

@rooarsome that is bloody absurd!! Teacher Xmas funds!!?? They should be bloody ashamed! Who is stipulating/organising that!!??

ancientgran · 05/12/2021 10:08

@Restart10

It's really sad and I think many posters are missing this point.

Agree. For those who feel why should the majority miss out, shame on them. And those kids who come in with tinsel stuck on, they know the difference from the nicer jumpers. It's just so unecessary.

I think it is most heartbreaking for the children who have parents who don't care e.g. the drug addict/alcoholic/selfish parent who aren't able/willing to find a charity shop jumper, borrow one, speak to the school. Those are the children who miss out on so many things.
ancientgran · 05/12/2021 10:10

@rooarsome

We are in this position right now and I'm desperately scouring marketplace for second hand jumpers. As well as that the teacher xmas fund for one class is £10min and the other is £15min. Everyone who has paid is announced in the WhatsApp group. I feel absolutely ashamed but we have had a tough few months.
I'd be inclined to contact the Head or governors, anonymously would work. I think £15 per head for a present is ridiculous and I'm sure the Head could make a ruling on that.

The kids get to senior school and suddenly teachers seem fine with getting no presents or small tokens from one or two children. At least that is my experience, big deal at primary but not at senior school. I'm sure primary teachers could be the same.

HighlandPony · 05/12/2021 10:17

It’s a bit of fun. What would really help skint parents like me is to ditch school uniform altogether. I can buy a used Adidas sweater on eBay under a fiver but the official school jumper is £25, I can buy 5 polo shirts in asdas for £3.50 but one single official school one is £14.99. School uniform doesn’t reduce bullying or make everyone the same. We can all spot the kid in the handed down gear with the too short sleeves a mile off. Us skint folk are quite good at getting things done. Most charity shops have a Christmas section these days but last year I made Santa hats out red and white felt and sewed them on a jersey with horses on. We can’t embroider those bloody school badges on things. That’s what really hits our purses

sofakingcool · 05/12/2021 10:20

@rooarsome

We are in this position right now and I'm desperately scouring marketplace for second hand jumpers. As well as that the teacher xmas fund for one class is £10min and the other is £15min. Everyone who has paid is announced in the WhatsApp group. I feel absolutely ashamed but we have had a tough few months.
£15 minimum?!! Bloody hell

I work in education (not a school teacher) and would be so embarrassed if the parents all chipped in that much for something for me

mogsrus · 05/12/2021 10:26

Christmas jumpers!! Absolutely vile hideous things

thedefinitionofmadness · 05/12/2021 11:10

@rooarsome

We are in this position right now and I'm desperately scouring marketplace for second hand jumpers. As well as that the teacher xmas fund for one class is £10min and the other is £15min. Everyone who has paid is announced in the WhatsApp group. I feel absolutely ashamed but we have had a tough few months.
Oh roarsome - there is no shame in not being able to cough up that much for someone who however lovely is a decently paid professional just doing their job. They don't need a £450 gift.

I'd post on whatsapp "I simply cannot afford this at the moment". Everyone will be relieved. I'd also speak to the head the person organising needs to be told to leave off the extortion

CatsLikeBoxes · 05/12/2021 11:21

Our school is doing a 2nd hand sale of Christmassy clothes a few days before Christmas Dinner day, and that's just an own clothes day which you can choose to be Christmas-themed if you want.