The uniform difference: Nursery to reception

[mamalife1990]

My youngest is 4 and he is going to reception in September. He has been to nursery this past year. Both my kids go to private school but when they are in nursery the uniforms requirements are less strict. My son wore a branded t-shirt, comfy black trousers, comfy shoes and a jumper.

Now I'm currently in the process of buying his uniform for next year, so I'm looking over the requirements. And I'm still a little bit shocked at how formal the uniform is for a 4 year old. A stiff collard button down shirt. A tie, a v-neck jumper, proper school trousers and black leather shoes.

Obviously my daughter had to wear this exact uniform when she was in reception, but that was 4 years ago and honestly I forgot how bizarre it is for a 4 year old to be wearing extremely formal uniform instead of comfy clothes

That's private school for you. I found it similarly ridiculous (although polo shirts were allowed as summer uniform at ds's school.

Yeah, to be honest the uniform at my kids school isn't too bad. They don't have blazers. But my 4 year old wearing a tie is just a bizarre to me

That’s one of the things people choose private school for.

There’s a standard state school near us that has its reception children wearing ties. Madness in my opinion.

The state school my dc attend makes them wear a shirt and tie for half the year.

I don't love it, however I knew about it when I signed up to the school so I accept it.

A proper tie or an elastic or clip on?

Im pretty sure schools are just keeping tie manufacturers in buisness now.

At 4 children should be doing a minimum of 3 hours exercise a day and this type of uniform is not going to encouraging that kind of life style.

It's ridiculous. So many schools have a practical nursery uniform and then go straight to business wear when they go into reception! They should be in the nursery uniform at least until the end of infants imo. Ideally all the way through to the end of primary (obviously not the same actual uniform, it would be too small! But a bigger version of the nursery uniform!).

DD is at our local state school and has worn a white shirt and tie, and black shoes (no trainers or boots) since reception. Doesn’t appear to interfere in playing or activities at all. My friend sent her child to a private prep which included a boater hat in the uniform policy from age 4.

send him to a state school then where he will wear a polo shirt and trousers.

I don't agree with it but this is just what uniform private schools have for all ages. So I wouldn't expect anything else

Most schools dont though, a polo top is usual not a shirt & tie until secondary.

That is what you chose for your child? You don't have to send him to that school.

So glad our school (state and Scottish) doesn’t seem to care too much about uniform. Kids wear polos, with sweatshirts, joggers, leggings, trainers etc. No logo items actually required, although the vast majority do have the logo jumpers.

So few adults wear shirts, ties blazers and all that nowadays, seems madness to make kids wear them!

Private schools are much stricter than state schools and seem to have stricter policies.

State schools seem to have much more age appropriate expectations!!!

Sadly it’s not just private schools. There’s a primary school near me that became part of an academy trust and one of the most noticeable things they did was completely change the uniform from your standard and more practical polo shirt and jumper/cardigan to full on stuffy shirt, tie and blazer combo. I think it’s madness at any age but especially at primary. Private or not (although you expect it more with private schools).

Children at state schools - and not just independent - wore this uniform for decades and managed to be far more active than children today - it’s not the clothes.

I think there’s something to be said for children learning that different forms of dress are appropriate in different circumstances. School is a formal learning environment and dressing for it arguably helps the child get into the right mindset.

It can be hard though to teach a small child to tie a tie! I remember with joy seeing the post PE lesson efforts with ties appearing round more than one small neck, rather than the collar of the shirt !

I don't have the stats to argue about whether it's most/some/very few at a national level, but it's certainly the case that some primary schools have a shirt and tie uniform from reception. I'm in London so maybe it's area specific.

But 4 year old shouldn’t be in formal learning environments. In England the early year’s curriculum is primarily learning through play.

It’s shirts here too from the first year of primary, not private school either.

Parents as a whole react more positively to it. I know one state primary that has immaculately tailored wool blazers, pleated skirts and straw hats - it's one of the main appeals according to the parents. I reckon it made them think that they will have 'nice' children instead of the local kids in their trackies and polo shirts.

I think it's a load of old bollocks, but I guess the application and oversubscription numbers bear it out.

Fortunately from september some of excessively outrageous uniforms will be restricted.

Isn’t that mostly just around affordability and branded requirements, it doesn’t actually stop a school from having a shirt and tie?

A primary could chose a tie, jumper and PE top as its three items.
But not a blazer, jumper, tie, kilt, hat, pe top, pe jumper, bag etc.

No 4 year old needs a formal shirt, tie and blazer lol