Kids school uniforms - shorts and skirts?

[rhaenyraT]

Dd just started reception so I’m new to this. Had a message a few days ago reminding parents that girls wearing skirts and dresses must wear shorts underneath (this was never specified in the initial uniform instructions). I will get dd some cycling shorts but haven’t been anywhere yet where I can pick some up cheaply. Teacher ‘reminded’ me again today. Is this a thing in schools? I’m presuming it’s for modesty reasons but they are 4! Is it a big deal? Obviously I’ll do it but if it’s so important I’m not sure why it wasn’t mentioned in the initial welcome pack.

My daughter was in reception 20 years ago and this was a thing even back then. It's certainly not new.

Ok well I’m new to it so I didn’t know.

I automatically brought my DD shorts to go underneath her uniform when she started reception last year - they don’t have any sense of their own privacy at that age and spend large parts of their day sat crossed legged on the carpet. You can buy skorts for this very purpose

If she’s wearing tights she won’t need to, but yes, if she’s wearing socks, she should wear shorts. Kids will be either sitting on the carpet, or being active and running around. It’s just to stop everyone flashing their pants 20 times a day.

If its not in the uniform policy you can refuse. Just don't reply and if pushed, just say you can't see it in the policy.

See if they dare put the word "modesty" in an email.

We’re well into October, either tights or shorts.

I don’t get this, why not have the uniform be shorts or trousers then? Why have a skirt, then shorts as well?

I am a mum of 2 boys so have no idea if this is a thing at their school, but I have seen girls in playsuit type equivalent of summer dresses. Although that seems painfully impractical when they need to go to the toilet.

School Skorts at M&S

I'd just put tights on her from now on and grab some cycling shorts next spring. Surely she'll be getting a bit cold now in just socks?

My DD is in year,2 and doesn't wear shorts under her skts skirts or dresses.

Nobody is looking and they can't see anything anyway, her knickers cover up her private parts.

My dd is twenty two and was told off in reception for not wearing shorts under her dress. I was absolutely furious. I made a formal complaint but in the meantime I didn’t want my four year old being told off so I bought ‘boy leg’ knickers on school colours. I’m,still furious now thinking about it.

I do this but I don’t think I’d be happy with the school insisting, that doesn’t seem right!

If you can sew, you can make divided skirts quite easily. Probably not a solution if the uniform is strict.

I can see why they have the rule but I see young women wearing shorts that are barely covering more than big knickers,

Yeah if not wearing tights then shorts under skirts/dresses.

It’s been unseasonably mild here so she’s been bare legged until now but I think it’s due to start getting colder tomorrow so she can wear tights. I just don’t see the big deal to be honest. Have many a happy memory of carefree cartwheeling with knickers out when I was a kid.

Why would showing your knickers be a happy memory? Shorts mean they can cartwheel to heir hearts content without showing their knickers and getting bullied for it

Because I was innocent and carefree and showing my knickers obviously didn’t mean anything bad or weird then. More focused on having fun.

If she is wearing shorts then she doesn't need a skirt. I'd just put her in shorts or trousers and she can run around and play however she wants.

We used to do PE in vests and navy knickers ! 60 years ago 😱.
I also remember being smacked on the leg when the teacher caught me saying sshhh to a boy - we’d been told not to talk ! Still remember the injustice!

I completely agree ! We were just blissfully unaware. Different times

It's still very much skirt and socks weather here too, DD would melt in tights at the minute. She's in Y4 and does wear shorts under her dresses/skirts as a matter of preference but I would find it a bit weird if the school insist, especially if it wasn't part of their uniform policy.

It's not specified for our school , but next do have a skort range for 3+yr olds a skirt with fitted shorts underneath

I’ve never heard of a shorts under skirt policy either. DD just gone into year 1.

I worked in reception till two years ago and it wasn’t a thing. So clearly not everywhere. It is one of those things that evolves naturally in my experience.

Why the dare bit? What’s wrong with modesty?