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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 stuff with School logos?

54 replies

4goingon14 · 14/09/2012 11:01

My DD is starting reception this year...only had a meet the teacher thing so far...don't start full time till October. I have bought uniforms for her (grey pinafore with white shirt and black shoes). However at the meet the teacher thingy the Head said that the cardigan with school logo, sports kits and book bag were compulsory from the uniform shop as the Governors have deemed them so. Also that she can only wear a black or grey coat to school?! Why on earth does the coat which is not worn inside make a heap of difference.

My DD will not wear a cardigan...she hates them, thinks they are uncomfortable and itchy...I have an extremely hard time to get her to wear long leaves on shirts even when it is cold out.

Why on earth does she have to have something that she will never ever wear? What will happen if I don't buy it. Ok sports kit....I may have to get. But book bag and cardigan?

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MoaningMingeWhingesAgain · 14/09/2012 11:10

I have just bought stuff in school colours, we only have 2 jumpers with a logo on.

Our PE kit is as cheap as possible - plain white tshirt, black shorts, black pumps. Is their PE very £££?

I would just buy plain jumpers and plead ignorance They can't force you to buy them, and as long as they are suitable, right colours etc they probably won't say a word. She will need some kind of book bag so you may as well get the school one.

No rules here about coats or socks/tights either. But a plain 'school coat' is a widely used part of uniform and nothing to get worked up about IMHO.

Some info on here for a look

Some suggestions - you could contact the governors, and suggest that they review the uniform, there is guidance for them that they should ensure it is not too expensive and to try to avoid having only one supplier (ie the school!)

redskyatnight · 14/09/2012 11:13

My DS also hates wearing his school jumper so he just doesn't wear one (although I do have a 2nd hand one "just in case").

Bookbags are normally essential - the children put them in trays at school so some other type of bag isn't appropriate.

I'd suggest talking to parents of children already at the school (or failing that hanging about outside) to see how compulsory the black/grey coats and logoed items really are.

Original poster

4goingon14 · 14/09/2012 11:21

This is a brand new school, first year of operation. No other parents to talk to...no benchmarks have been set. It is a Catholic school and no parents are on the board of governors...again as it is a new school.

We are planning on moving sometime this year...I don't want to pay out for the logo stuff (which is also horrible imo).

OP posts:

MoaningMingeWhingesAgain · 14/09/2012 11:27

I would suggest getting plain stuff in the right colours. You could say they were given as gifts so What can You Do? As long as you are not blatantly disrespecting the uniform by sending them in Hot Pink coats and yellow jumpers, I don't think they would have a huge beef about it.

I am a parent governor at DDs school, we ask for the logo jumper/cardi to be worn, but as long as it is a plain navy thing it really doesn't matter - the children are still dressed appropriately and look part of the school.

And TBH, because we have no rules about coats or socks/tights, I get the jazziest coats and tights I can find, just because I can

MoaningMingeWhingesAgain · 14/09/2012 11:28

I apologise for using the word 'jazzy' in this way, I know I sound like Miranda's mother. What Fun!

EdMcDunnough · 14/09/2012 11:28

I would get the bare minimum - unless you can imagine that she won't wear any sort of cardigan, mine aren't that bothered with their jumpers yet, it's not that cold - and then when you leave, sell it on to another parent, possibly through the school office.

Ours just changed to logos only, too - it's a nightmare and very ££

DeWe · 14/09/2012 11:39

When they say she can only go out to play (when it's colder) if she puts her cardi on, you'll be surprised how quickly it will go on

Original poster

4goingon14 · 14/09/2012 11:53

She won't put it on...she sleeps with a fan next to her bed in the winter. She really does hate long sleeves and anything even remotely itchy or uncomfortable will come off as quickly as it goes on. She will either go out in a coat, no jacket or stay in.

OP posts:

Houseworkprocrastinator · 14/09/2012 12:27

Have you looked to see if tesco do your school logo stuff. They have started doing it in my area. I would say the book bag is a must as it is to keep the books and papers away from the water bottles and lunches.

I don't think the school can legally force you to buy the logo stuff to enforce school uniform at all but I also thinks it does look really smart.

Paleodad · 14/09/2012 13:53

Another reason why i detest school uniforms. Just another way to shaft parents.
I had always assumed that uniforms in primary schools could not be legally enforced, however i can find no evidence to back that up on the links above, or more generally from an internet search.

DD's school are not as strict as the OP's, and plain un-logoed uniforms in the school colours are allowed. This obsession with logos seems ot be just another way of 'branding' kids.

Original poster

4goingon14 · 14/09/2012 14:28

Paleodad I totally agree with you....to me it is like the Borg...integrate, integrate!

OP posts:

Sabriel · 14/09/2012 14:48

School logoed cardigans are generally cotton fleece, so unlikely to be itchy. At our school they keep on about the children wearing the logoed tops but when I went to order one they are almost £10 each . I buy the plain ones from the supermarket which cost between £2 - £4.50. As my DD is a grubby thing and has to have a clean one on every day she has 5 cardis, and I'm not shelling out £50 for the school ones.

Book bags they do need, unfortunately.

Sports kit? Don't most primary schools just have a plain T shirt and shorts in specific colours?

As for the plain coat, (a) I don't think it's any of their business and (b) Asda were doing plain coats for £10

Original poster

4goingon14 · 14/09/2012 15:11

The cardigans are horrible acrylic, they had them at the parents information day. The t-shirt for the sports kit is logoed and the shorts are burgundy?? Which I cannot find anywhere on the high street for a 5 yr old girl.

In the spring and fall my daughter likes to wear a light loose coat to and from school not a heavy school coat.

Oh I tell you...this will drive me out of the country.

OP posts:

ByTheWay1 · 14/09/2012 15:17

Ours has logoed cardi/jumper - in a sweatshirt fabric. £11/£14 depending on size

Worst thing is - every 5 years or so they change the bleeding logo!!! ("tired", "needs modernisation" - bollocks - "we need more money" more like!!)

Mine has one official one - it is in a right state - bought big and lasted 3 years - but it is "uniform" so they don't complain - school is so bloomin' hot that they take them off anyhow!

EdMcDunnough · 14/09/2012 16:54

Yes we've only bought two each - instead of the several hundred we used to have from Asda etc at £2 a go - so if they get dirty or holey, they'll still wear them. Tough really. The kids won't mind, the school can get stuffed. [bitter]

pointythings · 14/09/2012 18:27

I hate the way schools use parents as cash cows. I think it's time we had legally binding rules to prevent schools forcing parents to buy from overpriced cartels suppliers.

Panzee · 14/09/2012 18:34

I have been reading another thread that says uniform cannot be enforced at primary school. Is this true? It would help you if it was!

amck5700 · 14/09/2012 18:57

I hate this thing for making children wear dark coloured coats - why don't we just dump them in the middle of the road with a sign saying please run me over. Luckily at my boys school there has never been a policy on coats. I always bought them bright jackets so that they could be seen. Of course now that they are almost teenagers it has to be black apparently!

Personally I'd forget about the cardi - watch and see what the other kids are wearing and judge from then.

No1 son has just gone to high school - strict uniform policy which included "black shoes, no trainers or trainer type shoes or boots" He already had a nice pair of black boots, but as these were not standard I paid 40 quid for a pair of shoes. Then I turn up at the school on Day 1 to see a girl in his year wearing bloody purple and white trainers!!! She is still wearing them and so the uniform especially of the older kids is becoming a bit lax. I couldn't care in one way, but it annoys me that some of us tried hard and followed the rules and others didn't give a damn.

So, personally i'd wait and see - she wont necessarily need a cardi Day 1 anyway.

Original poster

4goingon14 · 14/09/2012 19:19

The thing is I could buy this logoed cardi...but she won't wear it. IMO I would be wasting my money on something that my child will never ever wear.

My understanding is that they cannot enforce uniform policy in state primaries but in voluntary aided schools (church) which this is they can...and before anyone says...well you chose the school. I most certainly did not chose the school and I would never send my child to a catholic school, but our borough is stretched and it is the only place they had, so I am effectively forced to send DD there.

We are looking to move.

OP posts:

amck5700 · 14/09/2012 19:29

I would say that as long as she is not wearing something else instead of the official cardi then what can they say? Get the doctor to write a note saying she'll faint if she gets too hot :o

Original poster

4goingon14 · 14/09/2012 19:33

amck5700 She will faint!! Although the cheap acrylic that that cardigan is made of will probably bring her out in hives, she does have very sensitive skin!

OP posts:

Rosebud05 · 14/09/2012 22:52

I can completely understand your frustration, but it may be that you're getting a bit worked up about this unnecessarily.

If you're planning to move within the year, it's a short-term issue for you. Just buy something approximating to the uniform and send her in that. Ditto sports kit - an approximation will do. She will need something to keep books, letters home etc in so you may as well buy the school book bag.

Have a look at the children going into and out of school - are they all wearing regulation coats? I would use this as my guide.

I hate this branding of children. I have no objection to a 'wear grey bottoms, white top and navy cardi or jumper' approach but find the logo obsession unpleasant and a bit creepy.

EdMcDunnough · 15/09/2012 06:42

State primary schools can enforce it.

It's decided by the governors - but they are still allowed to exclude children and you really don't want the EWO on your back.

If in doubt, email the ACE (education advisory service) and they will tell you the ins and outs - I did last year, and they said that sadly, they can enforce it.

EdMcDunnough · 15/09/2012 06:43

Oh but if there is an item of uniform that she is not actually wearing, I don't think they can make her put it on.

Just as long as she isn't wearing the wrong item, iyswim. So don't buy the cardi.

blackpoollights · 15/09/2012 07:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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