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Original poster

“No onesies please as it makes the children in school jealous”

954 replies

Lemons1571 · 30/01/2021 15:43

A message from the head of our primary. Please could all parents at home please ensure their primary children are fully dressed in day clothes ready for their class 9am zoom. No onesies. Apparently the children actually allowed to go to school are annoyed seeing their classmates lounging at home in onesies / pj’s / loungewear.

Ummm, I’m sorry, I thought I heard you issuing instructions on what I must / must not do in my own house. What possible authority does a school have to do this? Kids forced out of face to face education. Being shown some lovely examples of the artwork done by the kids at school over zoom with the caveat “oh don’t worry I know you can’t do this at home”.

Read the room ffs. Just another request to put other people’s children before my own. As it happens my primary child gets dressed of his own accord, but if he wanted to wear a onesie then quite frankly anyone else’s opinion can fuck off.

Physically going to school = uniform worn as per school rules.
Physically barred from school = my house my rules.

No doubt I’m overreacting but it annoyed me!

OP posts:
Frodont · 01/02/2021 11:40

@Hedwigtheowl

YABU They are using DC in school as an excuse: a polite way of saying get your DC properly dressed and in the right frame of mind to learn.
Then they should say that, rather than cowardly hiding behind kids and pretending they are jealous.
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 01/02/2021 12:01

I wonder if this one of those policies aimed more at older students, but has to be applied to the whole school or all schools in the area. Like when I had to sign an agreement that my four year old wouldn't smoke or bring alcohol on the school bus. The same behaviour policy was in place from Reception class to sixth form, in a country where 16yos could legally drink and smoke.

NoSleepInTheHeat · 01/02/2021 12:01

[quote wildchild554]@NoSleepInTheHeat again needs to be brought up with school ours has a system where we can message the teacher for help. I do understand parents are busy with work etc, I do work full time from home and both kids have SEN, one with autism and one with global development delay, which we don't know the cause of yet, so both need extra support which they are getting either by myself, or remotely from the teacher. If there are any issues with the education being provided remotely it's best contacting school.[/quote]
I'm not sure what you mean. There are no specific issues I could bring up with the school, the fact that my 6yo are not listening/focusing as well during a zoom call than during a face to face lesson is just human nature, isn't it?
The fact that they can't ask live question is because it would be unmanageable with all children needing to mute/unmute etc.
If I message the teacher saying that my DC sometimes stop listening to the zoom lesson I'm not sure what he can do?

Basically, home learning can't be as good as live learning, nothing to complain to the school about, but doesn't mean we shouldn't say it.

wildchild554 · 01/02/2021 12:13

@NoSleepInTheHeat you don't know till you speak to the teachers what help they can offer. My kids school has implemented extra help on top of what we already have to help kids for my youngest son who is autistic. They don't have to as there isn't an ehcp in place yet but they are. He couldn't cope with group zooms so in his case they are doing 1 to 1 zooms instead for shorter periods and the rest is online work. So worth speaking to school ;)

Frodont · 01/02/2021 12:28

On teams you type a message in the chat for the teacher.

MarchingOnTogether · 01/02/2021 12:29

I hate lockdown, homeschooling is really tough! The only thing that is good (for me) about this shit show is we can roll out of bed at 8am, have bacon sarnies for breakfast and stay in comfy pjs all day.
I'd be gutted if we had to get dressed just to sit in the living room. But luckily our "live" sessions only include the teacher on camera. Kids cameras stay off and mics are off unless they are asked a question so I can't see it becoming an issue.
At the end if the day these are not normal times, we're all doing the best we can and I don't see any need to put added pressure onto parents, many of whom are probably hanging by a thread by now!

Original poster
Lemons1571 · 01/02/2021 12:30

@NoSleepInTheHeat

At school they have a teacher and face to face lessons, I think that makes all the difference.
At home most DC get parents who are busy working and video lessons with no chance of asking live questions.
Very hypocritical to pretend they are getting the same education

I one million percent agree with this. It’s not even the teachers fault (our primary teachers are muddling through seeing to both online and in class). I think it should be recognised that it’s just not possible to exactly recreate the support and guidance at home when parents are working flat out doing their own jobs.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lemons1571 · 01/02/2021 12:37

I would also agree with the poster that said it was possibly said as humorous and I took it the wrong way. It was a pointed kind of humour with which the head said it, you know? It just gave me the rage, in a kind of

“OK FINE IM ALREADY WORKING A FULL TIME JOB PLUS TRYING TO SORT OUT HOMESCHOOLING FOR MULTIPLE CHILDREN AND KEEPING THE HOUSE GOING, BUT NO IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE EVEN LESS SLEEP AND GET UP EVEN EARLIER SO WE CAN ALL LOOK OFFICE SMART FOR OTHER PEOPLES BENEFIT”

Straw that broke the camels back I guess!!

And breathe....

OP posts:
NoSleepInTheHeat · 01/02/2021 12:45

@wildchild554 I appreciate the advice, thanks :)

motherofluvlies · 01/02/2021 13:01

Our school have issued that cameras are off on the children's end so the teacher is unable to see what the child is or may not be wearing,for obvious reasons ..the children can see the teacher but not vice versa ..I am comfortable with this arrangement

LizFlowers · 01/02/2021 13:27

Marchingontogether; "The only thing that is good (for me) about this shit show is we can roll out of bed at 8am, have bacon sarnies for breakfast and stay in comfy pjs all day."
.......
Quite right though I would prefer 9-10am than 8. Mine never got up by 8am at weekends or during holidays and I'd treat it like that. Neither did any of us go to bed early. They would still learn but we'd organise lessons at our own pace.

Iwantacookie · 01/02/2021 13:34

I've just checked ours it says "dressed appropriately" it's just like the whole arguments for school uniforms. At the end of the day as long as the work is being done to a good standard who gives a shit if they are in a tuxedo, animal onesie or regular clothes.

Pissedoff1234 · 01/02/2021 15:05

@MarchingOnTogether

I hate lockdown, homeschooling is really tough! The only thing that is good (for me) about this shit show is we can roll out of bed at 8am, have bacon sarnies for breakfast and stay in comfy pjs all day. I'd be gutted if we had to get dressed just to sit in the living room. But luckily our "live" sessions only include the teacher on camera. Kids cameras stay off and mics are off unless they are asked a question so I can't see it becoming an issue. At the end if the day these are not normal times, we're all doing the best we can and I don't see any need to put added pressure onto parents, many of whom are probably hanging by a thread by now!
Yes exactly this. All of mine are extremely focused regardless of their attire and getting fantastic feedback from their teachers. It may help some children to get dressed and others it won't bother.

When the kids were back at school from September to December I went back to work. I did most of it during the evening so was often in my PJ's. No one moaned and I did my job as good as ever. I probably even worked for longer as I was comfy.

The home learners for my primary school are doing recorded lessons so aren't getting the same as those at school. Mine are lucky as I've been furloughed so can spend all day helping them and have a good level of learning myself. This won't be the same for all.

Same storm, different jobs.

Pissedoff1234 · 01/02/2021 15:05
  • boats
Boobahs · 01/02/2021 15:18

@LizFlowers

Don't worry Boobahs. No school will be expecting your eldest to turn up to a Zoom today, with or without a onesie.

I hope they are both better soon and you have some peace.
Flowers

Thank you x
LizFlowers · 01/02/2021 15:24

I feel I shouldn't be commenting on this thread in the way that I have. I'm by nature quite anti-establishment but the fact is my child rearing days are over (I'm still a loving mum, I hope, but not to a school child and have no grands. yet), so what do I know?

Yes I do think the 'onesie' comment from school is ridiculous but hey ho, not my business.

strawberriesontheNeva · 01/02/2021 15:32

Our school have requested that children are dressed for school, no pjs etc it doesn't bother me. I don't want my dc to lazy about all day in pjs.

Uptoongirl · 01/02/2021 15:38

After seeing my 7year old face drop when he realised on his zoom call last week that 4 out of his little gang of 6 were in, if he wants to wear his onesie I have no problem with that. It was heartbreaking (I had warned him but hadn't realised how many were in). We don't actually get any zoom lessons just a once a week class catch up...some weeks anyway.

I do think there is a bit of a difference between senior and primary school mind. I would encourage a teenager to be up and prepared for the day in a different way to younger children. That being said I am often in my dressing gown and my kids are wearing onesies, not because we aren't dressed and washed but because it's cold at the moment, even with the heating on especially if you're sitting down for extended periods of time.

thirdfiddle · 01/02/2021 17:33

To the pp who asked, my kids choose what they want to wear to school on casual days, so not really "send them in". They wouldn't want to wear a onesie as the classrooms are too hot. DS's reception teacher used to wear a sporty onesie sometimes on casual days.

JustDanceAddict · 01/02/2021 17:41

The head of sixth form asked all pupils to wear their usual ‘smart casual’ wear at home (at least on top half). Three weeks into term they’re still in hoodies... the staff must’ve given up on that one.

Benjispruce2 · 01/02/2021 17:50

My DD’s 6th form aren’t allowed cameras on.

Ewanthescreamsheep · 01/02/2021 19:13

But how on earth can they tell the difference between someone wearing a onesies vs a zip up hoodie, when all that they would be able to see is head and shoulders?

LizFlowers · 01/02/2021 19:35

@Benjispruce2

My DD’s 6th form aren’t allowed cameras on.
Excellent!
EffYouSeeKaye · 01/02/2021 20:09

@Ewanthescreamsheep

But how on earth can they tell the difference between someone wearing a onesies vs a zip up hoodie, when all that they would be able to see is head and shoulders?
I can see more than the head & shoulders of most of mine. Depends on where / how they are sitting. Or if they get up to get scissors / rubber etc. Or just randomly decide to do a handstand Confused
LizFlowers · 01/02/2021 21:18

EffYou, they must be little ones - sweet! You wouldn't insist on school uniform for them at home anyway, surely.