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?

@mattressspring

My problem is encouraging bullying because of appearance

I dont need help though.

I think standing up for kids who want to be different or individual is the right thing.

I wouldnt make my child be different but nir would I make them conform to a ridiculous standard

The black / blue trousers will be absolutely fine.

Any 4 yo targeting another 4 yo for not wearing grey trousers really actually would need significant help.

My local state comprehensive does stipulate which retailers trousers and shirts should be purchased from: The uniform is a non-negotiable requirement of all students in Years 7 – 11

The issue is everyone is so compliant and just goes along with it while moaning to each other and worrying about money. The government has been pretty wet about the whole thing, it should be very clear that state schools should have simple uniforms where you can buy the items from any high street school uniform retailer - none of this stipulated items nonsense except maybe a PE top.

And blazers and ties should be banned altogether.

I can't be arsed to read the whole thread but i wouldn't send my child to be the only one in the wrong uniform. Id exchange or sell the ones id bought.

No blue or black won’t be ‘absolutely fine’ The school uniform is grey.
Some people are just so entitled.

I bet you are the one who parks on the double yellows outside the gates to do the school run whilst everyone else walks the 5/10 mins from their legally parked car.

My DCs junior school got round this by allowing black, grey and charcoal trousers. A head teacher with common sense 😂

How is this still a discussion. She got the wrong colour trousers. She buys the right colour. Done.

Send him in black until you can pick up grey. Any supermarket will do a double pack for less than a tenner. IME unless your child is going to a Private school they're not hugely fussed about trouser colour. They 100% won't give a shit what shop they come from.

School telephone number won't be 07XXXXXXX it will be 020 XXXXX or maybe 023 as you are in London.

You aren't going to out anyone by sharing the school you know.

OP, I don't know why you keep going on about not knowing. You know now. Fix it and stop acting like a petulant child.

Except she doesn’t know now. It sounds highly unlikely the only acceptable trousers are from M & S or Next, so would that parent even be correct about the colour. Don’t know about central London primary schools any more, but where I live in Scotland now, the primary uniforms are literally specific colour polos and sweatshirts with the bottom halves taking care of themselves.

The child is not asking to be different, the parent is making that decision on his behalf!

You are one of those crunchy Mums arnt you?

@Topgub

I think standing up for kids who want to be different or individual is the right thing.

Oh for fucks sake. That's not what is happening here. Nothing like it.

OP wants to tell school her DC will not comply because OP bought the wrong colour trousers.

She does know they are grey. That's all she needs to know. School are not allowed to stipulate which shop they are bought from, any grey trousers will be fine.

Would it really be stressful for a reception child wearing the correct polo, or whatever, if they were wearing black trousers instead of grey?

Grey or black is the most common - this should be a good question to ask on the the WhatsAPP group. Some primaries may say grey black or blue

There is no enforceable school uniform in primary school, unless a private school.

Its a 'We would like your child in this' so let him wear whatever.

She does know they are grey. That's all she needs to know. School are not allowed to stipulate which shop they are bought from, any grey trousers will be fine.

A random parent saying it on a WhatsApp doesn’t make it true, especially as you are also doubting what same parent said about the specific shops.

Why do people keep repeating this? It is not the case. A school, primary or otherwise, can set its own policy on uniform as it wishes. The school is perfectly entitled to enforce specific uniform expectations as long as they are mindful of affordability and minimise the branded items required.

Yeah, you can only object to encouraging kids to bully or thinks its ok for adults to bully of you're a crunchy mum

🤣

The idea is ludicrous. As the idea that it's comparable to parking.

There is no need for a uniform to be a particular colour. The kid won't die if he's in black trousers.

The op hasn't actually said they're refusing to get grey or are 'taking a stand dying on a hill'

They're just, rightly, pissed off with the lack of info.

I would be too and kid would be going in the trousers we had. Unless they themselves expressed a preference not to.

If they were bullied I'd expect the school to deal with that.

If there is no information about trousers on the school website, then surely any trousers are fine? Maybe they have decided in a cost of living crises, trouser colour doesnt matter - which is entirely sensible!!
The only info you have is from a parent who is likely telling you what they have. I wouldn't go buying replacement uniform if that was the only source I had - I think that is mad! If the school tell you otherwise after school starts, get grey ones in Asda then, they are cheap. And let the school know they should update their website (this can be said nicely - it doesn't need to be a 'hill to die on' 🙄).

That policy also states "Schools should make sure their uniform policy is published on their website and is clear and easy for parents to understand."

Its moments like this we really need a like button 😁

Indeed, the school is at fault here.

However there seems to be a received wisdom which has been repeated several times on this thread that primary schools can't enforce a uniform policy, which simply isn't true. They do of course have to tell parents what that policy is!

I was going to post exactly the same, the school phone number isn't going to be a mobile one
You need to search for a landline number @LegoVsFoot , have you done that?

I would be too and kid would be going in the trousers we had. Unless they themselves expressed a preference not to.

If they were bullied I'd expect the school to deal with that.

That is the most disgusting thing I have read on this thread. I knew this discussion wasn't worth my effort a while back, but the lack of empathy and understanding here, simply to prove a point, it's just so saddening. I hope you are just being elaborate to prove you were right, I would hate to think of a parent who cared so little about their child to be so dismissive of bullying.

Have a look in charity shops. I think you’ve made a mistake and need to rectify it. You don’t want your child wearing different colours and standing out to be commented on. It’s an easy mistake to fix. Even try and speak to where you bought it from you never know.

Can’t believe we’re 13 pages in and still going, on a thread which is unbelievable but also very easily sorted.

Has anyone else ever come across a school with no contact phone number, and no uniform policy online, or in any literature given out to new parents?

The situation is very easily remedied but OP continues to refrain from this.