What do you think of a Nursery having a uniform?

[caroline29woohooo]

Just been to look round a nursery that is attached to a junior and infant school. My 3 year old will be starting in jan just for 5 hours a week to play and socialise with kids. I have been told she will need to wear a school uniform...shirt and tie etc (same as all the school kids) Not sure what I think of this. It's gonna cost a fortune as I'll need more than one won't I? Anyone think uniforms are a silly for pre-schoolers? Maybe it's me just not being used to it. What are your thoughts?

[Dizzybintess]

This was DDs uniform in nursery, its not a private school. the tie was elastic and it was fine x

[Dizzybintess]

mine is in a Church of wales school they have always worn uniform and I found it easier than wrecking lovely clothes. They have to wear ties and tunics and cardigans and tights and school shoes.

[originalmavis]

Just as dangerous - twaaaaaaaang!

[ceeveebee]

Yes they were elasticated ties, not real knots!

[originalmavis]

Ours cost a fortune but they didn't attempt to wrangle the kids into ties until year 1. What a mad idea! I assume it's those elasticated ones?

I thought the idea was that the kids wore clothes that they could get off and put on by themselves. I don't think that the average 3 year old could master the Windsor knot!

[SittingDrinkingTea]

Shirt and tie is bonkers for nursery. Even the v v expensive private primary near me which has its pupils decked out in uniform straight out of the 1930s (think straw hats for girls, caps for boys and knee socks with ribbons) has their nursery children in polos and joggers or pinafores.

[ElizaSchuyler]

The problem is treehouse that if you live in area where it is the norm for 3 year olds to attend school nursery full time you have to be brave to go against the tide.

Many of our local playgroups for example closed as there were not enough children to keep them going. At 3 my dd became too old for toddler group. The only alternative is childcare nurseries but they can be very expensive.

[originalmavis]

DS had a sweat suit and white polo shirt at his nursery. The juniors at the prep had same but different coloured joggers/jumper.

[TreehouseTales]

Yet another reason not to send to a school nursery...

[TreehouseTales]

Completely bonkers. Not the thing at all here. Own clothes in preschools and nurseries. I dont think I'd have sent mine to a more school like environment.

[ElizaSchuyler]

Every single state & private nursery around here has a uniform of polo shirt & trousers/skirt/pinafore.

However the local state Catholic primary & nursery has a shirt & tie combo. Another Catholic nursery/primary the ither side of the city is the same.

I think ties in nursery are bonkers personally.

[Littlefish]

If your child is accessing the 15 hours NEF, it has to be provided completely free. They cannot insist on a uniform.

[TiggyD]

I work a lot in a nursery attached to a naice (but not as naice as it thinks it is) school. The uniform is a pain in the arse.

1. Some parents don't label their stuff. Things get lost in a regular nursery, but if there are 30 identical coats the staff have no chance.
   

1. How are children going to locate their coats? 30 identical coats on pegs. Some children can't read their name and most children can't be bothered to hang their coats on the right peg, making it even harder when they go back and want to put them on again.
   

1. It's 'one size fits all'. Not literally, but the design is the same. Some children have big heads that are a struggle to pull through the hoodies, but that's the uniform they have to wear.
   

All that means the staff have to devote a couple of hours a day sorting out coats, jumpers and finding missing stuff, instead of teaching. And it's more expensive.

[KathyBeale]

I think uniform is completely unnecessary at nursery. At the most it should be a polo shirt that'a optional.

I can't tie a tie - I've never had to wear one!

[ceeveebee]

The nursery my twins went to has a full on uniform - shirt, tie, blazer, cap or straw hat, checked pinafore or trousers, regulation coat and raincoat - it is in a very affluent area and think they are trying to appeal to the type of parents who like everyone to see how rich they are - we kind of went there by accident as we relocated and was the only place with vacancies - it was a lovely nurturing place but very full on!

[motherinferior]

I hate uniform at any age. Secondary is the least awful as they subvert it. The idea of tiny children in uniform is horrid.

[Abecedario]

Nursery teacher here. My current school has an optional uniform for the nursery of joggers, blue polo shirt and sweatshirt with school logo on. Lots of parents do send their children in uniform or part of it, but a fair few don't. I don't tend to notice much either way except the odd tut when a child comes in in something clearly expensive and unsuitable (I work in a naice school with children whose wardrobes are probably worth as much as my car) for the day the child is going to have.

Last school the 'uniform' wasn't optional, but it amounted to a polo shirt, dark trousers, skirt or dress (or shorts in summer) plus a red jumper or cardigan - could be the school logo one but could also been the plain supermarket ones. That applied to reception too, then the more formal uniform from Y1 upwards. Lots of parents there chose to send nursery /reception children in the more 'proper' uniform either because they just thought it looked cute or because it was passed down from older siblings.

To be honest, I'd be worried the school didn't have a good early years ethos and that the setting might be more formal than I would like. Nursery children should have free access to the outdoors - in all weathers, they should be exploring and experimenting with paint, chalk, sand, water, dough, mud, flour etc etc. They need clothing that's fit for purpose. And more importantly should be developing independence in helping to get themselves dressed and undressed, toileting, changing for PE if that happens, or for things like dressing up in the role play corner. A full on shirt and tie uniform is not supporting them in that - too many fiddly buttons.

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

It looks really sweet

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

Ours is attatched to a school and has a uniform.

[dementedpixie]

And ours is attached to a school

[dementedpixie]

Ours had a polo shirt and jumper but it was optional so they could wear their own clothes anyway. Our primary school switched away from polo shirts to shirt and tie which I thought was bonkers. Apparently the majority of parents wanted it that way

[notangelinajolie]

Yes all the nurseries attached to schools in our area wear school uniform. Mine went over to the school several times a week for activities/assemblies etc. I think it is a good thing because it helps the children get used to going to school and stops first day tears when they do eventually start in Reception Class.

[Joinourclub]

I think it is usual for nurseries attached to primaries. But most are not attached to primary schools so it is unusual for nursaries overall. I think it is a bit silly really, especially shirt and tie. I'd really struggle getting my 3 year old in a tie! But nurseries attached to schools have advantages to independent ones so I guess it may be worth it.

[MollyHuaCha]

When I looked around DS's school they had shirts and ties for girls and boys from reception onwards. I was told that after each PE and swim class, the teacher & TA spent 10 minutes each tying ties. When we joined the following year they ditched this uniform for more comfy polo shirts. I think it had been at the request of staff!