To think this a ridiculous uniform list for 4 year olds

[FinnFrey]

Been chatting to my SIL, she is sending her DD to a private school next year (gets 60% off as her husband works there). She mentioned the uniform list and I asked to see it. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a list with so much stuff for 4 year olds, any item marked * can only be bought from the school wear shop.

AIBU to think that this is quite a bonkers list? Is this just an every private school thing?

Right down to only being able to buy the hair accessories from once place and which length of socks they can wear!

This is just the girls list, boys is similar (trousers and shorts instead of pinafores and dresses and a felt cap instead of the girls 2 hats).

I went to a state primary in the 70s and had to wear a blazer and straw hat. Seems odd now.

Well good luck to private schools with that stupid list with the vat coming... They'll back pedal soon enough.

My school was like this in the 60s. The list was enormous including a chemistry overall and an art overall. In the seven years I was there I had five different hats.

It’s what I would expect from a private school. I went to a selective but not private school in the nineties and there was a ton of uniform, most of which didn’t get worn.

I mean it's a lot, for sure 😂 but some things are repeated like blazers and cardigans are repeated.

Different hats for winter sports makes sense too.

The specific red gloves sounds like a nightmare - it's hard enough supporting kids to find / look after all different patterns - what do you do when they're all the same 🥴

My private school had similar as well as what we called "French smocks" for messy play and stuff. So chic.

Seems normal size list tbh

My Ds attends a normal council run kindergarten where we live. The list is about as long, even though there’s no uniform, so items on list can be from anywhere

For example he has an outdoor list for forest and outdoor , gym list, hygiene kit, regular spare clothes. Each has several items.
It’s something like:
His regular: he has to have full spare clothes so T-shirt, trousers, jumper, socks x2, underwear x2. Indoor slippers with solid sole.
Hygiene: face cloth, toothbrush, box tissues,
Gym: shorts, T-shirt, gym shoes
Outdoor: rain dungarees and coat, wellingtons. Swapped with snow trousers, thick waterproof coat and snow boots in winter. Rucksack, sit mat, water bottle, snack box. Sun cream. Swim clothes and towel in summer

All of the above we have to have double for basically as they have to stay there. Bar the snow gear we just bring back and forward daily due to cost.

Different hats for winter sports makes sense too.

Does it? I did tonnes of sport at school without wearing a single hat ever 😱

My nieces go to private school and that is either their list or almost identical, another niece went to a different private school and had a similar list.

The rest of the cousins all went to or still go to the local primary where nothing is compulsory but they do have a few logo items and we were great at passing them down (there is 20 years between the oldest and the youngest and the uniform is still the same and unisex.

My dd went to pre prep and had simular (20years ago).
Pretty much all school crested stuff bought in the secondhand shop and ended up back there. The uniform was ££££ new but lasted years and years it was such goid quslity abd looked good for years....hence the school secondhand shop did a roaring trade.
And as kids got older no kids actually wanted new and very few parents bought brand new.
The kids in new uniform stood out like sore thumbs...the stiff blazers looked uncomfortable!

State schools are meant to be cutting back..... unfortunately not all of them are yet 🙁

Normal for private school. There will be a second-hand shop and if your dsis has any sense she’ll use it.

Why does a primary school need uniform with strong branding?

What you describe as being practical is exactly the kind of things the kids naturally ended up wearing at DD’s non-informs state primary. Leggings/jeans/shorts/T shirt/hoody/trainers. Totally practical, costs whatever the parents can afford, no bullying around clothing.

As in, a cape like they wear in Call the Midwife? There is a prep school near me where they have to wear a duck egg blue wool blazer. Four year olds. Nothing could go wrong there then.... 😁

My DC are at private school and it looks completely normal to me. It’s part of the costs you weigh up when choosing a school - and yes, there is a very good second hand shop available.

No it isn't!

Pretty normal but unusual to call it an Infant School

The reality is that although it seems bonkers it’s stuff you’d have to buy in one form or another. My kids go to state primary and have all needed pretty much everything on that list apart from a blazer. It’s not logoed but is vaguely school colours. Eldest is at secondary and although school uniform is much more detailed it’s actually easier as wears same thing every day. The other children have options and they can come up with unsuitable combinations which is a picnic a to debate on a school morning.

Why? Infant schools exist and in the private sector they’re called pre-preps. There’s one round the corner from me, takes kids up to age 7.

@BlackberrySky @Iloveeverycat My DD went to Godstowe in HW and had a navy wool cape. They are just great. Go over the blazer. It’s tradition but other schools are available.

I'm not sure how you're arguing this.

My children in junior school need the following ...

Trousers/shorts
T shirts
Sweatshirts/jumpers
Coat/rain jacket
Hat/gloves
Trainers
Socks

Am I missing something? Is there really a need for more than this?

We don't have a uniform - granted - but if we did I'd expect the same with a crest/in a particular colour.

Really?? Mine have to wear a branded jumper and PE shirt and that's it. Plain grey trousers or skirt and plain white polo shirts. Black joggers or leggings for PE.

No specified bags, rucksacks, swimwear, hats, scarves, coats, shoes etc...

of course you don’t need a branded uniform.
my kids school has a very light touch uniform.

but having worn a much more elaborate one myself I have a soft spot for the branding through braid and tape and embroidery etc. and loved my felted wool blazer because it was like a walking pencil case/filing cabinet that meant I always had all the things I needed to hand. But think the same could be done with a twill work wear jacket.

my point was that I think there is a place for elaborate uniforms, but think that schools that do have them, might want to think about what items are a uniform .

i don’t think leggings and sweatshirts are clothes I’d want to see kids wearing, I want thicker, warmer, more robust materials for trousers- chinos or corduroy, and I prefer actual jumpers, I loathe the school sweatshirts at our school.

but that’s my opinion x

Totally standard for private school. The school want their pupils to stand out from the rest and the parents can afford it

But aren’t we all entitled to spend our money as we please?

my child went to state school so we only had to buy a branded jumper but I love the branded uniforms and kit. Each to their own. If you can afford it why not?