To say DS won't comply with school uniform?

[LegoVsFoot]

For context, school has been terrible about communication so far - not responding to any emails, cancelling a registration day only an hour in advance, etc.

I checked the uniform policy - nothing on website. On the uniform retailer page, there were guidelines, but nothing about boys' trousers and nothing for sale, so I figured there were no restrictions. I bought DS some plain trousers over the summer.

It's now about a week before school starts and a school Whatsapp has been set up. I asked about the uniform just to make sure and a parent with a child already enrolled has replied saying they're only allowed to wear grey uniform trousers from Next or M&S.

It’s too late to return what I bought and I don’t have the funds to buy all new clothes simply because school didn’t bother to tell parents the uniform.

AIBU to send him in in what I bought because there is no information stating differently?

I’m sure if they’re grey, they’re fine. No-one is going to be checking the label!

There's no way they can enforce that.

I wouldnt even mention it.

If they're grey trousers it won't matter. They won't check the labels!

Seems a bit unusual that you didn’t get any info on the uniform policy.

Did you misplace the info?

Id also imagine the other mum would be making up the ‘next & M&S’ bit but they need to be grey.

Have you got grey trousers?? Don't worry about the brand!!!

Primary or secondary?

How old is he and what colour are the ones you bought?

This can't be right. The whole point of uniforms is that they are not distinctive and commercially branded. Why would they insist on only two shops. Ridiculous!

Parent who sent that message just wants everyone to know she gets her uniform from more expensive retailers and not aldi.

Grey school trousers are grey school trousers wherever they are from.

They want proper school trousers rather than skinny cut or another style. If you’ve applied your common sense you’ll be fine.
Are you truly certain you haven’t had a uniform list until now? That does seem strange and worth mentioning.

If they are grey trousers don’t worry. If they aren’t grey then see if you can get some from somewhere for his sake not the school. Second hand? Don’t worry about the brand.

I don't think schools are allowed to stipulate a brand like that any more. So probably coming from the other mum as others have said

How would they know? Plain grey trousers of the right length are all the same. On those groups I find there are always some parents who deliberately or not do, enjoy being the know alls and scaring new parents. At our secondary lots of the kids wear black leather type trainers, I know this as I have an older child there. From the whatsapp group for new year 7s there are some saying has to be proper school shoes etc and how they will be sent home if not wearing them - complete rubbish.

It's primary school
They're not grey, I bought blue and black
I didn't misplace any information, there wasn't anything written
The mum also said the trousers used to be available on the website but aren't anymore 'and school hasn't offered any information on this'
Lots of other parents had questions about last minute buying so no one had any guidelines, it wasn't just me

The school is rated outstanding but this just seems to be the latest in a series of poor communication and inconveniences

They won’t accept the wrong colour, see if you can exchange instead of return.

When you say there was ‘nothing on the website’ do you mean there was no uniform info on the website at all, or just nothing specific on the style of trousers?

Either way, I suspect the other parent has phoned the school and asked and someone there has said “Oh, just grey uniform trousers - places like M&S and Next do them” and the parent misunderstood and thought those brands were a rule and not a suggestion.

Nobody is going to be checking the labels on the kids’ trousers to see where they bought them. Provided they’re school trousers and they’re the right colour, it will be fine. You said yourself that the uniform retailer info page didn’t say this, so why would you believe a random parent over that?

You can't send him in the wrong colour trousers - it's not fair on your DS to stand out like that.

For primary you just need supermarket trousers. I'd try and get away with the black for now, but I'd not send him in blue. Have you taken all the tags off already?

If your son’s uniform meets all the criteria on the uniform policy page on the school website, you are fine. This other mum is either incredibly anxious or incredibly competitive, but either way I’d ignore her.

Tbf if i wasn't sure on uniform i would go with grey as stabndard for primary not blue/black. Most shops will let you return unworn stuff after the 28 days for either excbange or voucher, can you return and at least buy grey?

You should be able to exchange them, as long as they've still got the labels on.

There was uniform info but trousers not mentioned
Not from the UK so not familiar with uniforms
As mentioned there is no school phone number and emails are not answered

Do you have any clothes from M&S or Next? Cut off the label and sew it onto the trousers so he can show them

But yes that's incredibly annoying. If they want specific things then they need to actually, you know, tell parents about them.

I agree, it’s not fair on your DS to send him in the wrong colour. It’s not about doing it for the sake of following rules, more that you don’t want him to feel awkward. Starting a new school is tough enough as it is! It’s strange that you didn’t know what colour the uniform was - didn’t you look round the school or haven’t you seen the children in their uniform walking around your town?
At this point I’d try to buy him just a couple of pairs of grey trousers from Sainsburys or somewhere. Schools often have 2nd hand sales too so you could ask about that (although maybe not if their comms are terrible that’s not a good sign!).