School Hats - Afro Hair

[DoItAfraid]

It’s that time of the year and we are getting sunscreen and hat reminders as usual.

The school hat we are instructed does not fit my girls who have Afro hair. Never in a million years will that hat fit over their curls.

Y4 and Y1 now - I have raised this EVERY.SINGLE.SUMMER.

Suggestions? I have already offered to buy different hats in the prescribed colour btw.

I am SO over the lack of awareness.

*instructed to buy

I suggest that you make a formal complaint via the school's complaints policy about race discrimination in the uniform policy.

Discrimination in uniform policy is quite a hot topic for schools so hopefully it will prompt some action.

Is it the type of hat? What would you have them wear on holiday?

I appreciate the struggle, I have mixed race children and have to try and tame it down to fit in hats: sun hats, swimming hats etc,

What have you done previous years?

Buy them the hat that fits and send in an email saying why, not asking permission, just they will be wearing these as the one listed does not fit afro hair and they either need to give flexibility for people to buy the ones that fit or they need tk list alternatives that don't discriminate.

You have a right to let your Dc wear alternatives if the instructed ones doesn't fit because of their hair. If the school give you sh*t then raise a complaint based on discrimination.

Could they have a sun visor rather than the hat?

Would a sun visor work?

I think choose the nearest thing to the uniform hat you can possibly find and use that, then write to the school explaining that this is what you will be doing as they have a right to wear appropriate sun protection for their safety. I would also give them the name of the supplier and suggest they add the one you’ve chosen to their uniform list as an act of anti-racism.

I really don't get why schools aren't more culturally aware in this day and age. And they are especially shite not to have sorted this if you've had to raise it every year, OP.

I'd be really pissed off if I was in your shoes.

I bought my DD a hat from here last summer, she was so pleased with it! lovedandcurly.com/

I think you need to up your complaining to the school. It's discrimination pure and simple.

I have already offered to buy different hats in the prescribed colour btw.

What do they say? Is this a private school? Are we talking boaters and felt caps?

I can't imagine a state school specifying hats like this. For a start some dc have much bigger heads than average.

I agree with this advice. My dd is mixed race and since she was 5 years old, I've had to buy hats for much older children or even adult sizes. Yes but the most similar hat you can that fits your DC. Send them to school in that.

*buy

Eh, I've never been told what type of hat to buy!

What did they wear in the other years?