Going to school in PE kit

[LLWK]

DS1 is due to start reception this September. In normal times, PE kit would be kept at school: shorts, t-shirt and plimsolls for indoor; joggers, sweatshirt and trainers for outdoor. Due to the Covid situation and wanting to minimise items at school, we've been asked to send them in on PE days (twice a week) wearing joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirts and trainers, with shorts underneath on indoor PE day. I can see the logic for outdoor days, but for indoor lessons it seems a bit odd. I'm not sure how comfortable shorts under joggers will be all day; they'll still have to change by taking joggers and sweatshirts off; and I'm not sure of the wisdom of doing indoor PE lessons in trainers that are worn to and from school, and therefore possibly with mud and dirt on them.

This isn't the biggest issue on the world, and I do understand the school's desire to keep things simple right now, but it seems less than ideal to me.

In my experience indoor PE tends to be gym or dance and therefore barefoot not in trainers.

Indoor PE barefoot for ours, they have trainers for outside.
Our PE shorts are super thin as well, fine under joggers (we have trackpants with side zip, not the regular bulky joggers).

The impression I got was that for indoor PE they’d be wearing trainers - otherwise what’s the point in wearing trainers to school? It’d be as easy to have them in normal uniform (with PE shorts beneath) and just take shoes and socks off. I must say I’d expected indoor PE to be done in bare feet in any case!

Isn't it just a case of they've said they can wear trainers because they cant wear school shoes with joggers but they wouldn't usually allow it so they've mentioned it's fine on those days and they'll be removing them for the PE lesson?

@LittlemissAWOL

Isn't it just a case of they've said they can wear trainers because they cant wear school shoes with joggers but they wouldn't usually allow it so they've mentioned it's fine on those days and they'll be removing them for the PE lesson?

Yes, it probably is! I guess I’ll find out in a few weeks. As I say, not a big deal but it seemed odd.

My ds's school has pe ready days already. I think they're a good idea. As a teacher, I think they're a BRILLIANT idea. Especially for a reception class!

My son starts reception in September. We had the email confirming start dates and information (assuming nothing changes between now and then).
Ours have to wear full uniform (for boys trousers, proper shirt, tie and jumper) every day, which pleased me as I would knit want him going to school in his pe kit (shorts and a polo shirt). Uniform policy says nothing about jogging bottoms for outdoor pe and the uniform shop doesn't sell them, so I don't think they are allowed.

School halls are in demand. If the children are in trainers they can move outside if the hall is unavailable, or just if it's a nice day.

Flip it on its head - where is the value in introducing a 3rd variation in uniform? Isn't it just logistically easier to have just A and B? And not that it matters, but I don't think joggers and Mary Janes are the best combo.

It all seems a lot of faff for YRs to me though. Ours just had shorts, normal school tops and bare feet to start with, and gradually moved into outdoor PE and full changes of clothes through YR. YRs should be spending a lot of their day running around outside anyway.

In Ireland our school kids wear PE uniform to school on PE days. I never really got why English schools insist on them changing, it seems impractical.

Shorts under joggers does sound odd though. Perhaps they are worried that kids will get too hot in joggers (hence shorts as an option) and as the weather gets colder again they'll move to just requiring joggers?

@Murmurur I agree, it does seem a lot of faff! I'd have throught that shorts, normal tops and bare feet would do the job fine for indoor lessons.

@SionnachRua the joggers are normally (ie non-Covid times) required for outdoor PE, and shorts for indoor. That'll still be the case in September, but with them having to wear shorts under their joggers all day, until it's time for PE. So if they don't wear joggers and sweatshirts for indoor lessons, I'm not sure of the point of wearing them to school that day!

Our school (DTDs will be in year 11) have asked us to do the same, no changing rooms and no showers, pretty sure none of them actually showered anyway!!

Our boys (secondary) are required to wear joggers not shorts in lessons because shorts are an additional risk in practical subjects and science experiments.

In primary this might be cooking, DT, even some art activities might include hit or sharp things. School would prefer the tops of the legs to be covered in case of spills.

In any case, as others have said, two variants of uniform is enough for people to cope with and this gives maximum flexibility.

(Before you ask you need shorts on gym equipment otherwise you slip off)

hot or sharp things

Both of those risk assessments sound utterly barmy deplorabelle you do not need shorts to avoid slipping off gym equipment, and a few mm of polyester is not appropriate safety wear for hot or sharp items.

shorts are an additional risk in practical subjects and science experiments.

?? Shorts or skirts (often worn short) are a pretty normal uniform surely. I don't think covid has raised the hazard implications of naked knees.

Are you sure its not a misunderstanding? i.e. shorts to be worn on pe day, but if the kids feel
cold, they can put the joggers on top? So you don’t have to wear both, but you can

@Newdaynewname1

Are you sure its not a misunderstanding? i.e. shorts to be worn on pe day, but if the kids feel cold, they can put the joggers on top? So you don’t have to wear both, but you can

No, it's explicit that shorts should be worn under joggers on indoor PE days.

I assume the plan is to have PE outside if possible (as per guidance) but if necessary move indoor ...prepared for all eventualities

@Norestformrz

I assume the plan is to have PE outside if possible (as per guidance) but if necessary move indoor ...prepared for all eventualities

Could be, although they're specific about "indoor" and "outdoor" days. Either way, I'm sure we'll manage!

This is what dds (yr6) school are doing at the moment.
At least 1 day a week dd has to go to school in her pe kit and trainers. She goes in shorts if its sunny and leggins 🙄 if its overcast or raining.
She wears trainers everyday anyway.
Her shorts are tight cycling shorts so would be comfy under her jogging bottoms but other parents baggy shorts and they wouldn't be comfy iyswim.

*leggings
At least if they go in their pe kit it can't go missing. 🤷‍♀️

Our school already has a distinct uniform for PE days - branded polo shirt, branded sweatshirt and branded tracksuit bottoms. Non PE days it’s standard grey trousers/skirts, grey socks/tights and black shoes, with plain white shirt, school tie and branded pullover or cardigan.

For some inexplicable reason they have introduced a temporary uniform this year from Sept-Dec comprising standard grey skirts/trousers and branded pullover/cardigan, with standard grey socks/tights as norma, but then trainers rather than school shoes and plain white polo shirts (no need to buy branded ones which I’m happy about) instead of shirts and ties.

I suspect it’s to save parents forking out for 2 types of uniform when some may be out of work etc, but they could have avoided that by just going with the PE uniform, and then the regular uniform comes in after Christmas. As it stands now, we have this weird hybrid where they’ll be doing PE in skirts and tights and trainers. If they have to go barefoot then that means removing tights which is a faff for the younger girls. 🤷🏼‍♀️

@XFPW, it’s these strange hybrids that make little sense. I wouldn’t fancy PE in skirts, tights and trainers, and your suggestion seems much more practical. For my DS’s school I just think normal uniform on indoor PE days would be more logical, if necessary put shorts on, and all do it in bare feet.

Lots of schools do this normally even without covid, especially for Tinies