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AIBU?

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Original poster

School uniform, they've embroidered her name onto the outside of the jumper

30 replies

Schooljumper · 02/09/2023 22:19

DD starts reception next week. I ordered her school uniform from the website linked through the schools own bedside and picked up the jumpers today from the embroidery shop that fulfilled the order. When filling out the order form it asks for the child's name for labelling purposes.

I picked them up this evening before closing and they've embroidered her full name on the outside of the jumpers in yellow text. The school jumper is green. If she has her hair worn up it will be visible to every Tom Dick and Harry inside and outside of school and it really stands out (?!) Surely that's a safeguarding risk. Everybody knows not to have your child's name on display.

That aside, both jumpers have also got a white line going across the chest area that doesn't come off so there's that fault too.

WWYD? I can't speak to the school or the embroidery shop until Monday at which point she's going to be at school.

OP posts:
Original poster
Schooljumper · 02/09/2023 22:19

I ordered her school uniform from the website linked through the schools own website that was supposed to say.

OP posts:
lovemytribe · 02/09/2023 22:21

That would be a definite no no from me, speaking as safeguarding lead in a school.

Goldshelfie · 02/09/2023 22:22

Our school does this option as well, we chose not to have the name on the jumper. I agree with you that it’s a safeguarding risk, why advertise the name and make it easier for people to pretend to be someone the child knows? It’s in really big capital letters as well, can be seen from quite a distance.

Seems really stupid to me!

Changingplace · 02/09/2023 22:22

How weird, surely that can’t be right.

Whats the uniform alternative to the jumper? Is there a polo shirt/dress option she can wear next week so you can talk yo the supplier about it?

Original poster
Schooljumper · 02/09/2023 22:23

lovemytribe · 02/09/2023 22:21

That would be a definite no no from me, speaking as safeguarding lead in a school.

I'm glad you agree. Thank you. I sent a picture to my friend who also works in safeguarding and she was dumbfounded.

I don't know why they've done that or how many customers they've done it for. I'm going to take them back and ask that they replace them but if the wait time is anything like I waited when ordering them she won't have replacements for about 5 weeks. Madness.

OP posts:
Iam4eels · 02/09/2023 22:24

Uniform at my DCs school is a school jumper with the child's name embroidered under the school badge. You can opt for first name only, first initial and surname, or full name. At the school where I work items from the supplier can be embroidered with names but it's optional.

Original poster
Schooljumper · 02/09/2023 22:25

Changingplace · 02/09/2023 22:22

How weird, surely that can’t be right.

Whats the uniform alternative to the jumper? Is there a polo shirt/dress option she can wear next week so you can talk yo the supplier about it?

Fortunately yes she can wear a polo shirt and dress, hopefully the weather is OK.

OP posts:
UndertheCedartree · 02/09/2023 22:25

I've never known embroidery to be done anywhere other than on the front of the garment, although parents don't usually ask for the full name. However, as there is a fault with the jumpers I'd ask for them to be replaced. Can you just pick up a plain green jumper from a supermarket tomorrow?

Original poster
Schooljumper · 02/09/2023 22:27

Iam4eels · 02/09/2023 22:24

Uniform at my DCs school is a school jumper with the child's name embroidered under the school badge. You can opt for first name only, first initial and surname, or full name. At the school where I work items from the supplier can be embroidered with names but it's optional.

Really gosh that does surprise me.

IIRC the order form didn't give an option to opt out of labelling the name.

Unfortunately I don't know anybody with a child starting at the same school so I can't find out if it's the case for the other kids there or not.

OP posts:
Original poster
Schooljumper · 02/09/2023 22:29

UndertheCedartree · 02/09/2023 22:25

I've never known embroidery to be done anywhere other than on the front of the garment, although parents don't usually ask for the full name. However, as there is a fault with the jumpers I'd ask for them to be replaced. Can you just pick up a plain green jumper from a supermarket tomorrow?

Edited

This is a good idea. I'll do that. It didn't occur actually. It should be ok to have a green cardigan without the logo for a short while if I explain the issue to the school I'd have thought.

OP posts:
WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 02/09/2023 22:31

YANBU. I would not like that at all. Worth telling the school about your disdain.

By the way @Schooljumper You can edit your posts now... As long as you do it within 5 minutes.

(I just mentioned this, as you corrected yourself on one particular sentence, on your second post.)

UndercoverCop · 02/09/2023 22:33

Ours has this option but it states in capital letters that they will only embroider initials so do not request full names.
I wouldn't be happy with that, plus the items are faulty anyway.

UndertheCedartree · 02/09/2023 22:34

Schooljumper · 02/09/2023 22:29

This is a good idea. I'll do that. It didn't occur actually. It should be ok to have a green cardigan without the logo for a short while if I explain the issue to the school I'd have thought.

Show quote history

Yes, I'm sure they'll understand.

BranchGold · 02/09/2023 22:39

It’s a popular option for parents who’s children constantly lose their school jumper and it never ends up being retrieved from the lost property box because another child’s taken it home.

So having a name embroidered at the front doesn’t make it an attractive option to remain in 2nd child’s uniform rotation. It’s a surprisingly high number of parents who will remove the name labels at the back of a tag when given the opportunity.

Agree though if you aren’t happy with the jumpers to get them returned.

Hellocatshome · 02/09/2023 22:39

That's crazy. My sons under 15s football team are not even allowed their surnames on their football shirts for safeguarding so the full name of a primary age child is very odd.

PodgePie · 02/09/2023 22:44

All of my DD’s sports kit has her full name on - I don’t see the problem. However, if it worries you then take it back & explain to the school that you are buying her a cheap sweatshirt in the school colour for her to wear until the replacement arrives.

Anontocomment · 02/09/2023 22:51

Sheesh. My DD is 22 and we knew when she was in reception not to have names.

Definitely get them replaced. If the school insists, I would (a) ask to speak to the safeguarding lead and explain your concerns and (b if they insist, just use their intials.

But full names on school uniform is a big no. The schools here even have solid unbroken fences for safety, ffs.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 02/09/2023 22:56

When my children were at school there was an option to have their names embroidered on the front of the sweatshirts under the school logo.
I chose not to, not because of safeguarding but because it meant the sweatshirts couldn't be worn by siblings or become hand me downs.

CoteDOpale · 02/09/2023 23:00

Eesh, no, agree it’s a safeguarding risk.

Just skip the jumper and if the school question it just explain that the manufacturer f’d it up and you’re waiting for a new one.

Neverhot · 02/09/2023 23:06

All the shops around here do the embroidery of full name on the front as that's what the schools request we do.

Jessica60 · 02/09/2023 23:35

I have my child's first name only embroideredon the front under the badge. Never thought of it before but would that be a safeguarding issue?

MumblesParty · 02/09/2023 23:48

You need replacement jumpers, but you’ve got time because assuming you’re in the UK I think the forecast for next week is pretty good. I’m in the midlands and jumpers definitely won’t be needed next week.

MerryMarigold · 02/09/2023 23:48

If you ordered it with the full name to be embroidered, they probably just put it where they always put it. I think it's going to be difficult to get your money back on that one. Were there no examples of where it would go? Where were you expecting the name to be put? Why did you use the full name?

letmesailletmesail · 03/09/2023 00:29

For those asking, the reason why it's a safeguarding risk tied into basic "stranger danger". If your an average 4yo, you don't really know who or what a stranger is. You're starting school and meeting all of these new adults anyway, teachers and so on in the school and then, as you make friends, their parents and you're expected to do as you're told by then. You may have learned that, if you don't you get told. This means that, if someone knows your name, you're probably going to do what they say. It's much easier for people to know you're name if it's on the outside of your jumper. It can also be used by someone less opportunistic who, having seen your first & last names does some google searches and finds out more about your family.
The chances of this happening are tiny but it does increase the risk.

Mariposista · 03/09/2023 00:46

On a positive note - it’s going to be far too hot to need a jumper next week so plenty of time to get it sorted out if there has been a mistake!