Having a bit of a disagreement with the school. AIBU

[Blueystolemyinsanity]

in our school half way through year 5 and 6 it’s actively encouraged that we allow the children to gain some independence in walking home from school - I have no issue with this and it I want My daughter to feel confident by the time she gets to secondary school.
I would not say I was an over anxious parent as in my children have always been able to do things everyone else does.
the school is situated on a road and the gate leads directly to a zebras crossing, it’s a fairly busy road but speed limit is less than 35.
2 years ago they introduced school coats with logo but they are very dark blue and once the clocks change it will be dark when DD leaves school. I want her to be able to wear a brighter colour winter coat

AIBU ? Or have I some how shifted in to a lunatic anxious mum 🤣🙈

Hi vis, hat, vest, armband, bag
Lots to chose from

Can she not wear any coat she wants, once she is outside school premises?

Mine wouldn't have worn a high viz vest at that age. The infants wear them, so no chance.
YANBU. Maybe florescent strips sewn onto the bag and coat. With a flashing light keyring attached.

YANBU, there is no reason for dark coat.

What about improving the coat with reflective spray colour for textiles? Young me would consider it cool (opposite to wearing hiviz vest or having to put extra armbands on).

I'm a little confused. In the UK no speed limit anywhere has divsions of 5 so how is the speed limit outside a school less than 35mph. For a school I'd expect 20 maybe 30mph??

If I was her age I'd have worn something like this over my coat - still see through so uniform still identifiable...

90s are back in fashion so this might be something she'd wear?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SS7-Womens-Holographic-Waterproof-Raincoat/dp/B07D23XK2R/ref=asc_df_B07D23XK2R/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=345458871819&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2188319101220602124&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046885&hvtargid=pla-721380638052&psc=1

Or 3M jackets are quite good but not see through.

My advice would be to look for something waterproof and lightweight that can be worn over the school jacket.
Would you child wear something like this on their walk home:
https://provizsports.com/products/reflect360-childrens-explorer-star-beanie-black?country=GB
Might be easier than trying to change the mindset of an entire school.

As everyone else has said, my kids wore flashing reflective arm bands and on the zip you can buy dangling reflectors etc

I would inform the school that their coat is dangerous.

Even 10 years ago when mine were in primary, the school coat had several reflective stripes on.

Not unreasonable at all OP, put your child in whatever colour coat you feel happy with. Or to avoid wasting the school coat buy a high vis vest to go over the top as already suggested.

I think its ridiculous that schools are imposing this kind of costly school uniform but that's another issue.

High vis vest is the way to go.

Just pop a high viz vest over the top. She's still in her uniform jacket, but staying safe (and she can remove the high viz once she's in the playground if anyone complains ,which I would doubt?) Our school give out high viz vests as its pitch black here at 3pm soon, and the kids are expected to wear them daily from October to Easter.
You could also add reflector strips to her bag or give her a small torch.

As others have said- I bought an inch wide band of self adhesive reflector strip and stuck it around the hem of my child's coat. Worked a treat- in fact, I did it with my winter coat as well as we are often walking through an unlit village at night.

Most schools don't have a school coat? What reason makes wearing a school coat more important than safety on the road?

I had all these things. Shoes were a choice of three styles from Clarke's, socks and PE knickers were navy blue.

You can get rolls of reflective material for £1 online (the silvery grey reflective bits on a high via jacket).

could you buy that and sew it yourself / take to some one who can sew it on the coat?

I’d pick her up anyway on the later days.

Never heard of a school coat - I’m guessing it’s not compulsory so just buy one that you like OP.

I assume private school (mandatory coat and later finish ) my all my children are at private school they will not change a uniform policy they are notoriously strict I have 2 high-school year 9 & 10 ,one year 3 primary and another that has started the nursery, i have never known they to be lax on uniform ..however they won't stop you putting reflective strips on the coats and this is what I do it makes they visible & lots of parents have asked me where to buy it, I think I got it from amazon last year and got a huge roll for about £20 & have done 8 coats and a puppy harness so far x

The op has said it’s a state school