Reception PE in vest and pants?

[philbee]

Is this normal? We've had very little info about anything from the school, but info about uniform / PE kit says shorts etc. for older kids and reception will do PE in vest and pants. I feel like it's a bit undignified and am thinking of giving DD a little pair of shorts to wear. She can dress / undress herself. But I don't know if I'm just being daft. Friends (including primary teachers) seem a bit puzzles by it and think it's a bit outdated.

@Madame Cupcake: DD can do it but a) gets distracted easily and b) with 29 other children trying to change and with the girls are doing a kind of "Who's on your knicker" competition it can take her very long.

I think after the first couple of weeks it got easier.

Also: my friend's DD has to wear shirts with tiny buttons, lots of 4-5 year olds can't re-do the buttons easily. The school accepted Polo shirts on PE days until Christmas as it wouldn't have taken the teacher and TA ages to re-do all the buttons.

They did have this when dd started reception but the vest and pants was only for indoor PE in the hall or gym. For PE in the playground - they wore normal clothes and just changed into trainers.
But this was changed when new (younger) Head took over and a very basic PE kit was introduced i.e. shorts, T shirt and trainers in any colour.

Of course they would get distracted but the more they practise the easier it will get and I do think it is important for them to get changed purely for them to get better at it.

If there is no need to change (ie not proper sports etc) then maybe limit it to once a week and just change into plimsolls on the other day.

I wasn't being funny, just surprised that such a big deal is made out of it - yes it takes them ages but its all part of learning. DS1s school seem to manage and have never made a fuss about the changing other than the fact that half the parents still don't label their stuff! They do only have normal polo shirts so not loads of buttons etc.

DS2's school do sports/games at least 3 times a week and they have proper shirts and ties but the teacher is pretty good at helping them with easier techniques to speed them up and there are a lot less than 30 children.

I think I would find it unacceptable myself as for a child that age, underwear is often an insurance policy - it might not be entirely clean, ours sometimes has the odd hole in it, etc etc - it's a private garment. Swimming costumes are often more robust and everyone in a swimming environment is wearing very little - including adults - so it's fair and equitable.

I would send a PE kit.