School should have optional school coat, fleeces and more

[Schooldinners1]

We are moving this summer to a new area so new schools.

Our current school has opinions of school branded cardigan, jumpers, fleeces, a school coat, backpack and other bits.

You can wear your own coat though that's fine.

The new school doesn't have all these options to make it “accessible for all” and you can also wear supermarket options.

Is it only me who finds it really smart to have all the matching options, I love my kids in them currently. I don't know why they can't just start making them for those of us happy to purchase these.

I saw they currently have the fleeces for teachers and their staff. Surely they can make miniature versions for the kids.

They're not compulsory to buy but parents can if they want. Those who don't want to/struggle to afford aren't required.

Right but if the school doesn't offer them and you make your own you will make your daughter a target for bullying because it is a ridiculous thing to do.

Much prefer branded items to a minimum for cost and inclusion, it's nice for kids to get to pick their own coat/bag, gives them a bit of a chance for individuality amongst their uniform. Plus I like my kids to have bright coats so they're easier to spot on the walk or cycle home so unless it was going to be bright with reflective stripes on it it's a no from me.

I was one of the poorer kids and school and non-uniform days were a genuine nightmare - I used to pretend to be ill to get out of them.

So why don’t you just buy a fleece that can be worn in and out of school .

uniform policy is now logo / branded items should be to a minimum

Ah I do love the checked skirts and pinafores I think it looks so lovely and smart!

Uniforms do make a difference, or at the very least a strictly enforced "smartly dressed" policy. I'm very pro uniforms providing they are affordable for all OR the school has funds/second hand stalls to support families who can't afford the full kit.

A lot of kids have been in that situation. I think everyone shouting down the cost of uniforms forgets that kitting your child out in bully proof clothing for the year is infinitely more expensive!

I actually love uniforms, I think when they look neat and tidy ready for school it is lovely.

It's nice to be smart and the truth is these items are in many cases much cheaper than if we were to buy other items that are designer brands.

You could even be spending even more on clothes keeping up with trends.

A good school fleece/coat avoids all of this who's in fashionable stuff business.

Coats nope. I like my primary kids in bright coloured coats so they are more visible when walking.

Plain coloured cardigans look smart anyway.

One advantage of permanent non uniform is that the children don’t care what others are wearing - rarely branded items but basic jeans, T-shirt and hoodies. It saved me a fortune as I bought clothes which were wore during the school day, weekends and holidays.
In school with mandatory uniforms, a non uniform day is treated as a major fashion event and as you say a nightmare for those without the latest brands.

What you personally find cute isn't a very sound basis for a uniform policy though, is it? You sound like you're dressing your children up like dolls - I'm not sure how old they are but they are not going to thank you for this.

Ds primary school had a fleece & a reversible coat but they weren't compulsory, I bought them when he started but never replaced them when he grew out of them.

Don’t buy designer brands then - they were rare at DC’s school.

Actually in the old school one of the teachers had two little twins and she made school costs for them. Everyone said how cute it was they were like little versions of their mummy.

Some kids had the coats. No one said anything. Bullying someone over the fleece that staff do wear too is ridiculous.

Can I just add in the school there are many kids wearing Oilily, Stella McCartney, Moncler etc coats so I don't think the £25 school coat or £13 is really going to be up there with showing off.

School coats are a waste of money in my opinion.
You don't need them all year.
They get outgrown.
You still need a separate coat for out of school.
Plus they are easily lost/stolen by other children.

Go private if it matters so much to you. At DDs indi school only school coats are allowed.
However the reasoning for not mandating this at state school is to prevent identification of those kids whose parents can't afford them. Surely this is obvious?

Just buy a fleece in the school colour. then you can wear it out of school too. Presumably if no one has school branded fleeces then it will look a bit odd to have one made up.

They also cost £27+ where as you can buy two plain grey ones for half of that. The quality isn't that good either.

They could look just as smart in a plain coloured skirt and learn just as well.

However compared to the neighbouring private school they get off lightly. The Prep school girls have flowery summer dresses!!

It's nice to be smart and the truth is these items are in many cases much cheaper than if we were to buy other items that are designer brands.

Do your children wear the school branded ones outside of school. If not really isn't cheaper because you need to buy 2 coats, 2 fleeces, rather than just one that can be used for school and outside school

Ugh.

And how are checked skirts and pinafores (are we still in the 1900’s!) practical for racing around the playground, playing football or doing handstands let alone comfortable for sitting in lessons all day?

Hmm

Exactly, you need both school clothes and home clothes when a plain fleece could double as both.

Wind up post alert ⚠️

I can’t decide if you are on a wind up or genuinely living in a glass house .

My Ds goes to a none uniform school - he has sensory processing so he would create more problems in a restrictive uniform . you can’t imagine how challenging it is .

Others have commented on how been poor affected them .

can you not see life isn’t as simplistic as a nice uniform