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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Uniform/polo shirts

27 replies

bananamam · 23/08/2011 15:16

I am not a fan of polo shirts as uniform, so bought DS all shirts. Now school have issued a letter saying that pe and drama lessons are three days a week. Can all children please wear Polo shirts they're days to "help" with changing?

DS is capable of doing all his buttons apart from the top one. I really don't want him wearing a polo shirt three days a week, nor do I want to buy them and have money wasted on the uniform I have bought.

Would I be ok to leave his top button undone on these days and tell him to just unbotton the top two or three buttons and pull his shirt over his head when getting changed? Thus being just as quick as a polo shirt?

Or should I bite the bullet and waste money on polo shirts?

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LynetteScavo · 23/08/2011 15:25

Does the school have a tie? Were you going to make him wear a buttoned up shirt with no tie?

If you don't put him in polo shirts, and he is the last child changed you only have yourself to blame.

IndigoBell · 23/08/2011 15:32

YABU. School have asked you to wear a polo shirt, and day 1 you are refusing to do as they asked - for no good reason.

There's going to be a lot of things you don't agree with school over the years..... A lot. Mostly tiny and trivial and not worth mulling over.

Original poster

bananamam · 23/08/2011 16:00

The original school uniform never stated polo shirts. It stated either or. He would be wearing a tie. Its part of the uniform. If polos were compulsory surely it should have said on the uniform list? Of course I wouldn't make him wear an unbottoned shirt and no tie! Top button undone only and tie as usual.

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Original poster

bananamam · 23/08/2011 16:01

Ps not day one. We are in Scotland. He started a week ago and lists of what to buy were given out before the summer hols

OP posts:

ExpectoPatronum · 23/08/2011 16:16

I'd save myself the concern and part with £3.50 for a pack of George-at-Asda polo shirts.

There will inevitably be times when you clash with the school about something, your child struggles or you have an issue to do with their learning or progress. Pick your battles.

Original poster

bananamam · 23/08/2011 16:21

I probably will but they are hideous

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goinggetstough · 23/08/2011 16:34

Sew the top button and the cuff buttons with shearing elastic (elastic cotton). This makes shirts no more difficult that polo shirts as he won't need to unbutton the cuffs at all and the top button on elastic gives him more space to do the top button up.

ragged · 23/08/2011 16:36

Just send him in the shirts he has (no tie on specified days) and wait for them to kick up a stink; if he can quickly change they are unlikely to make an issue of it (too many other things on their plates).

Our official uniform is polos and nothing else, but kids go in wearing all sorts of uniform-type shirts. DS preferred dress shirts to polos, too.

2BoysTooLoud · 23/08/2011 16:53

Why do you think polo shirts are hideous?
Nice and comfortable for small kids.
Also if you get cheap ones you won't be so upset when they get covered in black white board pen... which they will...

Original poster

bananamam · 23/08/2011 17:58

I think they just look ugly compared to an actual shirt. DS looks so smart in his uniform. Polo shirts just make him look a bit scruffy. I don't see a major issue with him undoing a couple of buttons on his shirt and pulling it over his head like a polo shirt.

He has to wear a tie with polo or normal short so it doesn't avoid the tie issue. I could have spent a fortune on ugly yellow polo shirts and brown sweatshirts with school logo on and abandoned the tie. But we went with the alternative of shirt and grey uniform. Much smarter. Both ok by the school. I guess I am more miffed that they are now requesting polo shirts. Meh.

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chrisrobin · 23/08/2011 18:11

I can understand why you are miffed and I agree that shirts are better with ties than polos. The only thing is he will be the only one in a shirt on those days so he may feel a little bit self-concious. I was told by DS's school that I had to have tracksuit A (uniform tracksuit) as he was in reception but when he got to school all the other reception boys were in tracksuit B (PE tracksuit for the older years) because it looked nicer- I couldn't afford to buy another £50 tracksuit when he had only worn A once. It didn't bother him at first but after a few weeks he asked why the other boys had cool tracksuits and he didn't so I bought him tracksuit B at the end of term.

bibbitybobbityhat · 23/08/2011 18:12

I much prefer polo shirts to those horrible fake cotton non-iron school shirts. Am really miffed that its been so difficult to find any for ds today.

2BoysTooLoud · 23/08/2011 18:18

I can see a tie would not go so well with a polo shirt.
My ds all fingers and thumbs so given your choice would have gone for the yellow polos!

SuePurblybilt · 23/08/2011 18:20

WTF? A tie with an aertex-type shirt? That must look very odd.

Original poster

bananamam · 23/08/2011 18:24

It looks very odd indeed. Will get some yellow ones and no tie yellow and grey isn't so bad. He will never learn to do a tie only wearing it twice a week

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2BoysTooLoud · 23/08/2011 18:30

If it is white 'dress' shirt with grey is he not allowed white polos? Guess not.
I would in that case do the yellow with no tie.

Original poster

bananamam · 23/08/2011 18:41

If he wears a White one he will have no school identity if you follow. Will get yellow and just dress him smartly two days a week and teach him to do his tie and buttons quickly.....he won't be wearing polos for long

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Pseudonym99 · 24/08/2011 02:04

Patronum - I think if you have small battles, then you gain experience ready to fight the big battles. Plus, if you fight the small battles competently, then the school will learn not to fob you off when it comes to the big battles.

coccyx · 24/08/2011 06:31

surely not. polo shirts every time

Original poster

bananamam · 24/08/2011 06:46

Def not everytime. I just genuinely don't think they compare.

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ExpectoPatronum · 24/08/2011 10:12

Pseudonym - each to their own, really. If the OP feels she will gain confidence and a 'don't mess with me' reputation by sticking to her guns, then fair enough.

But from the perspective of working within education (not within primary, admittedly), we get to know the parents who will create an issue out of every little thing, and probably take them less seriously than the people who only raise an issue when it really is something significant.

Original poster

bananamam · 24/08/2011 11:51

I don't think it's about picking battles. I was more annoyed at them telling me once term had started. And tbh the teachers are not petty enough to think I am starting a battle. Nor am I petty enough to start a "battle" over a tshirt. His teachers are brilliant. It's a small school and the issue has been resolved very easily. Thanks for all replies!

Thankfully they take all issues from all parents seriously. Big or small. And think no less of parents for bringing them up. What an odd thing to think

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ExpectoPatronum · 24/08/2011 13:28

Not odd, just my view born of my own experience, just like your view is born of yours.

Pseudonym99 · 24/08/2011 16:26

I think that some things are important to some people, whereas the same issue somebody else couldn't care less about. I would fight a battle to the death about something I cared about.

AbigailS · 24/08/2011 21:29

I wouldn't worry about it as long as he can dress himself. I expect the letter was because an awful lot of children can't button their shirts and it's amazing hassle for the teacher to do them all.
One thing I am concerned about is the attitude "I think if you have small battles, then you gain experience ready to fight the big battles. Plus, if you fight the small battles competently, then the school will learn not to fob you off when it comes to the big battles." If you are looking for battles and problems you are never going to have a positive relationship with school and your child will pick up on that.

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