Primary school uniform and logos

[renlo]

My DD starts school in September. It's a state primary school and we knew they had a uniform which didn't bother us. Today, however, we got the joining instructions along with a list of compulsory school uniform items which includes navy polo shirts with the school logo, sweatshirts, cardigans, book bags and PE t-shirt all with the school logo. All these items are only available from the John Lewis in town.

I don't have a problem much with the other items but really object to having to pay £9 each for a logo'ed polo shirt when I can pick up a pack of three for the same price or less elsewhere, especially since we're likely to need about 5 of them and she'll probably go through them fairly quickly! I have rung the school office to ask if the polos must be logoed and they said yes as this is the school rules.

My question is, we're intending for my daughter to wear pinafore dress anyway so could we get away with a plain navy polo under the pinafore? Noone should be none the wiser on whether the polo is logoed or not (except when she takes it off for PE). Moreover, can the school insist my daughter wear a logoed polo shirt and would they be justified to exclude her as a result? I have read the home school agreement and it doesn't mention anything about being in the correct uniform, it's just stated in the admissions documents.

It seems absolutely ludicrous and having spoken to a few other mums with kids at other schools in the area, it's clear that they have more flexibility with logos on items, so not quite sure why ours is so strict and what if anything they can do to enforce it.

Does anyone have any experience of this + any advice on how to handle?

Thanks in advance.

Yes, don't just dye a normal polo shirt, as the stitching will stay the same colour, however if you get the faded ones with a logo on from the secondhand shop which no-one wants, put 6 of them through the washing machine with some dylon it will return it to the original navy.

Even better, just buy a couple, get on the PTA as soon as she starts and ask to do the secondhand uniform sales, that way you get first access to all the handed in uniform!

Just noticed they aren't 100pcent cotton so not sure if would work. At least ours are cotton so can dye to refresh them. That is poor value, what about children with sensitive skin?

join the PTA!

I used to buy 1 logoed one for the school photograph, now I do not even bother with that! Plain white from Tesco/Asda does the job!

Gipsy, I am a lunchtime organiser and I lose fights with yogurts very often! Especially when it starts to be hot as it has been lately they are a real nightmare and just explode in your face when you attempt to open them!

But, BoffinMum, that DirectGov page shows that (up to a point, at least) state schools can insist that pupils abide by the uniform policy, once adopted.

Within reason - if someone says they can't afford the items, then the school has to suck it up, or cough up and buy some for the child concerned.

As a teacher, I have only once questioned the children's uniform, and that was when ofsted were in. Personally, I'd risk it. Any school willing to exclude over none-logo school wear is not worth its salt.

Just buy plain ones and maybe get jumpers with logos on. Although I've stopped buying DS (yr1) jumpers with logos on as he frequently loses them - i'd rather he lost a £3 one from asda than a £12 one with a logo on.

DS needs new school shoes also, but I'm not buying a new pair from clarks now which he will have grown out of by september, so he's just wearing his black trainers instead of black shoes instead.

The school can't exclude or anything for not wearing the uniform.

I guess for me the issue is that my girls wouldn't be happy if they looked different, certainly by yr 2 they would be very aware of that. Maybe some boys wouldn't care, or if the uniform rules are often flouted, but at our school it is nearly always worn, though in various shades!

Sounds quite pricy - but i would just get them, because you wouldn't want dd to be told off by her teacher for wearing incorrect uniform. My niece of her first day of school went in wearing her skirt and jumper only to be told she was supposed to be wearing the tracksuit bottoms, she had to change there and then into them and was humiliated. I would just bit the bullet and get them - under pinafores they are unlikely to get dirty and you can reuse them for sibling etc. - also i haven't seen navy poloshirts in any school shop where i live - so maybe it's the fact the colour is unusual that you have to but them from the school.

DS & DD's school has an embroidered badge (£1) that you iron-on to supermarket jumpers and shirts.

Two logo'd, three pack of plain.

Log'ed ones on PE days plain under pinafore.

Chances are no one will notice or care very much if they do. you won't be the only one.

No one wears our logo'd polo-shirts they are expensive and don't stay white.

Ours are white and don't stay white long. Ds3 has had 11 since he started school last August although the mos recent ones will do the start of next year. Most children wear the logo ones and the children that don't stand out. Logo uniform is compulsory at ds1 and ds2's secondary school.