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.

This 😂😂😂

Ah yes, how they look. 100% that's the important thing for me when considering if the school is right for my child. 🙄

the truth is these items are in many cases much cheaper than if we were to buy other items that are designer brands

Because those are the only two options of course 🙄

Op would like our school who decided to switch the kids from non-branded to school logo-ed jumpers and cardis.
Unfortunately it was just as the cost of living crisis started. School is in a deprived area as well. £15 for a school jumper!!! And they are poorer quality than supermarket ones!

Your kids can still look smart and be dressed appropriately without being covered in school badges.

Why don’t schools just have embroidered logos that can be sewn on or even pinned onto whatever sweater or coat they’re buying?

Which part of "accessible for all" are you struggling to comprehend?

Found this article. If schools aren’t following the new legislation parents are recommended to contact the school governors.

A new law to protect parents in England from unnecessary school uniform costs comes into effect from September 2022.

State schools will be forced to remove unnecessary branded items from their uniform requirements, allowing parents to shop around or hand clothes down more easily.
An issue for some is that September's new rules come with a loophole.

It means schools which need to secure a new uniform contract with a supplier have until December 2022 to put that in place. They then have until the start of the September 2023 school year to introduce those garments.

The new legislation requires branding to be kept to a minimum, but does not ban it, so some children will continue to wear some items with school logos, for example blazers.

Read the full article on the BBC here.

Tbh the FSM kids often have all the branded stuff because it is provided to them free of charge by the school. So it’s not necessarily the worst off who won’t have it. I do think it would be better to provide a grant and spend it on a coat to be worn at school and home though

FSM is only a fraction of those struggling, the cut off is very low. There are a lot more working poor.

There is a difference between "some children wearing official school stuff" and "going an extra mile to invent school-like clothing that doesn't even officially exist (for children)".
The first is normal, the second is "trying very hard". And that extra effort is what makes it odd and potential bullying point.

Generally, you sound a bit obsessed with having your child looking neat. As a child of a clothing focused mother ("I'm going for a special math awards event." "Great, what will you wear?"), I want to mention that it can be very annoying for the child if overdone.

I hate school uniform. It costs a fortune. We'd be better off if the kids could wear what they already have. Plus I hate them all being forced to wear the same. It's unimaginative and dull.

I think it's more important for children to get a good quality education than look "cute" or "matching".

OP in the nicest possible way it's irrelevant that you think its really smart to have all matching because the school don't offer this, it's not available, it does not exist , you can't have it.........

Thank you, I think optional is the key word here. I'm not talking about enforcing these things but I like having the option there.

Completely agree with the preloved uniform sales/swaps every school should be doing this.

The fleeces aren't popular here either but I like having the option and like the idea of her wearing them as they cover her neck indoors even during the winter.

A lot of schools have these branded items and people actually wear/want them our of pride!

Regarding the comments about people not being able to afford these items, that's really sad and I do really feel for those children.

However, we cannot change other peoples circumstances nor can we shelter children from real life. Some people have more some less.

I do a lot of charity work and volunteering myself and I would always to my best to help them!

However the fact someone can't afford a coat is not something I'm to be guilty for or not allow my child to have because of someone elses circumstances.

This post isn't meant to be anythibg but a normal suggestion.

You can't take it out on others because someone else can only afford one jumper for their child. Let's help them of course but I’ll be buying my child what I feel she needs.

The schools have sales, second hand jumpers too I'm sure.. and the parents should assess their priorities.

Why suggest something ( unlikely to be taken up by the school anyway as they are moving away from expensive branded school items) which distinguishes those who have less? We can make changes so this is less noticeable

*Regarding the comments about people not being able to afford these items, that's really sad and I do really feel for those children....

.....and the parents should assess their priorities.*

So it's the parents fault. Got it.

If you want your child to have a fleece buy her a fleece. All the angst just because there isn't a branded one...

So who else responsibility is it to clothe their kids?

In special branded fleeces and pretty checked dresses etc?

No one. Because absolutely none of that is necessary for an education and I would prefer that parents were able to buy basic trousers and plain polo shirts and feed their kids breakfast than have to have their kids go without food just so that they look "cute" and "nice" like little matching dolls in expensive branded fleeces.

Clothing kids in a generic fleece available anywhere at a range of prices that they can also wear outside of school versus an expensive school branded one so they can fit in with other children are two different things.

When I read the comments of @Schooldinners1 I’m so pleased DT’s spent from age 4-18 in a non uniform school. They learnt so much about not making judgments about what others are wearing.
Its about time the UK moved to non uniform schools like much of the rest of the world.

Agreed with your last point. Some of OP’s comments are borderline disturbing and gross. School uniforms aren’t meant to make children look appealing to the eyes or cater to whatever creepy old-fashioned uniform fetish people like OP have going on. Ick.

I’m 100% opposed to uniform coats, anyways, especially since they often aren’t weather appropriate and are in dark colours that don’t let the wearers stand out when walking outside in the dark.

Lots of kids at our primary school have the fleece (including my DC as they asked for it).

We have the option of logo or supermarket as long as it’s the right colour. Our school has a second hand uniform sale at the end of every year.

I teach Year 1.

I absolutely hate it when kids have the school coat. Inevitably there are a few in each class and they're forever getting them mixed up. Even if parents do name the coats (becoming rarer these days!!), 5 year olds don't care whose coat they pick up when they want to get out for break time. And then I'm supposed to spend my time sorting it out when Johnny comes home with Sarah's coat and his is missing?? Buy a coat that your child can recognise then!!!

I also totally agree about visibility. Our school coats are royal blue but would be terrible to see on a dark winters evening walking home from school.

I would never buy my DC anything branded unless it's absolutely necessary. Always something they can recognise from the heap of clothes on the floor when 30 kids are changing for PE.

I have to say the DC’s state school has a very strict uniform which includes compulsory logo coats and bags. It works very well as all DC look smart and there is no brand competition.

It’s great having all students look identical- they have a reversible cagoule for winter, a lighter raincoat and then a fleece jacket for summer. I don’t get the argument about cosy- most parents here were previously buying expensive branded coats whereas the school ones are available for less than £30.

It is strictly enforced and DC who don’t comply will be placed in detention.