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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

Worried about my son and his uniform

41 replies

november90 · 22/05/2021 04:15

He's starting school in sept and he has an issue with textures - he hates jumpers and I don't know how he'll tolerate his uniform!
Anyone have any ideas how I can prepare him for this? I'm dreading the tantrums every morning 😰

OP posts:

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fitzbilly · 22/05/2021 04:20

What does he wear now to keep warm?

I'm a teacher, the is a variety of jumpers and sweaters you can choose from usually.

SakuraEdenSwan1 · 22/05/2021 04:45

My son has SPD and is the same, but elasticated trousers, cut the tags off all items, let him wear his new uniform for full days in the holidays to get him use too it.

DNTSleepingDragons · 22/05/2021 05:10

Most schools don’t insist you wear jumpers. Is it a polo shirt or school shirt they wear? I know you can get extra soft uniform items (possibly from m&s) as my friends son has the same issues.

itsgettingwierd · 22/05/2021 06:01

I was going to suggest looking at the m and a range and Asda have started to do a sensory range too.

If he can tolerate collars use a plain round or b neck t shirt.

Asda sensory range jumpers have wide shoulders and buttons which make it more comfortable around the neck and getting over the head. Or you can buy a v neck.

Or use a zip up fleece in school colour?

He'll be 4. As long as he's in school colours it's fine as he's got so many more important things to worry about and learn at that age and you can support the tolerance of clothing and find what works as he grows.

NothingIsWrong · 22/05/2021 06:31

My son can't stand the school jumpers and just doesn't wear them. He'd rather be cold. He's got a decent thick coat for playtime and just wears polo shirts otherwise.

AuntieStella · 22/05/2021 06:44

Don't anticipate a problem before it happens. Or at least not around him - he'll pick up on worries like blotting paper.

He'll have a shirt under the jumper, so perhaps he'll be ok

I'd get him a special 'summer' jumper (blame the weather) and get him into it now in a totally matter -of-fact way. He might surprise you.

But if he doesn't, then buy just one school jumper and send it in in his backpack. If the teacher wants him to wear it (class photos?) then she can deal with getting it on him. He'll have a coat outdoors, classrooms are warm and you can get him vests. He'll be fine.

JustOneMoreRun · 22/05/2021 06:45

Our school allows cardigans jumpers or fleeces. Our child who hated the feel of jumpers wore the fleece as it was much softer on his skin. I’m sure the school will work with you to find something that works. I would try him now with the options to find something that work so you can run it past the school before the end of the summer term so you can relax about it - otherwise heightened anxiety levels are also going to contribute to feelings about starting in September. Good luck with it all. Starting primary is a big milestone but I found it delightful to see how the kids grew in their first term at school.

ImitationofBeing · 22/05/2021 06:56

I washed the uniform regularly prior to starting school because my child finds older worn in clothes easier than starchy new ones.
So he didn't have that 1st day at school look about him. More of a dishevelled lived in look

Do they have a polo shirt under the jumper? My son could not stand the cuffs on the jumper so wore a logo polo shirt. No one complained. So don't be scared to speak about adaptions to the SENCo staff member of the school.

picturesandpickles · 22/05/2021 07:00

I think I would buy a jumper now to see how it went before it gets near to school time, it might be fine.

This is another reason why uniforms are so shit, wish we were more like Europe/US and didn't have them.

historygeek · 22/05/2021 07:02

Schools are often pretty flexible for reception. At DS' school they can wear joggers rather than school trousers. I also got him a v neck jumper as he gets a bit gaggy with anything touching his throat.

Botherfreedays · 22/05/2021 07:05

I wash the uniform with ridiculous amounts of fabric conditioner which seems to help.

Borka · 22/05/2021 07:06

My DS was allowed to wear a sweatshirt in the uniform colour, as he has similar sensory issues. Also pure cotton trousers from Eco Outfitters, after discovering that the synthetic ones irritated his skin and he was scratching until he bled.

picturesandpickles · 22/05/2021 07:06

It is also still the case I think that uniform is non-enforceable in primary, so whilst people used to pretend it was necessary to wear it, in truth I just sent mine in a vaguely similar coloured jumper.

So it might be worth checking out your legal options.

Wellysock · 22/05/2021 07:10

Sensory issues here too. A fleece worked wonders, elasticated trousers, thin PE shorts, comfy trainers (school is pretty relaxed), comfort pure fabric conditioner and letting him check for seams etc all helped.

The Asda sensory range sounds great.

Cowbells · 22/05/2021 07:50

Give him a soft cotton vest with the label cut out underneath school shirt with label cut out. (Unpick it. The ridges left by cut-out labels can be even scratchier.

If school allows sweatshirt instead of jumper, choose that.

If it's a strict uniform, cut the label out of the jumper and wash it with loads of conditioner.

Sajani · 22/05/2021 08:32

I was concerned about this with my son going into a school nursery (jumper, polo, school trousers) and got him used to it over the summer. I could then observe which bits bothered him and make the adjustments.

He’s now going into reception and there are changes to the uniform (shirt, tie, different style jumper). I’ve already bought it and working on it, at the moment we’re battling with the shirt/tie being too restricting at his neck so we’ve got M&S shirts which have a Velcro top ‘button’ so can be loose and I’ve adapted the elastic tie to be clip on so the feeling of something being around his neck isn’t there.

UserAtRandom · 22/05/2021 20:37

My son was the same and just never wore a jumper. He didn't mind the polo shirt so much (I think because it was looser and short sleeved).

Bimblybomeyelash · 22/05/2021 20:44

My child’s school is very flexible with regards to uniform. Children who don’t like the polo shirts wear the t shirts instead. Children who don’t like the jumpers wear the fleeces.

EnamelWoman · 22/05/2021 20:54

My son hates wearing socks & shoes (always chooses bare feet /sandals). However he wears them to school without a fight (mostly) because he also doesn't want to be different from the other children. Might it help walking past the school so he can see the children in the playground /at pick up time to see that lots of them will be wearing a jumper?

Original poster

november90 · 23/05/2021 10:57

Wow thank you so much for all the replies!!! I'm hoping when he sees others he will follow suit, I think I'm just making a big deal out of it in my head because he's such a pain to get dressed 🙈
I might buy a make cheap uniform in the interim for him to try... but worried this might have the adverse effect if he won't wear it 😬

OP posts:

thethoughtfox · 23/05/2021 12:09

M&S do a Skin Kind range of school uniform especially for children with sensory issues: soft material, no scratchy seams or labels.

Original poster

november90 · 23/05/2021 12:20

Thank you!
The thing is I just don't know how to even get a jumper on him without him freaking out or me bribing him with smith toys and being skint forever 🙈😂

OP posts:

Sajani · 23/05/2021 12:56

@november90

Thank you! The thing is I just don't know how to even get a jumper on him without him freaking out or me bribing him with smith toys and being skint forever 🙈😂

I don’t know if it’s an option, but if the uniform is polo shirts a lot of places seem to do long sleeve versions now.

Every time I see them I think they look a bit odd, but could be a lifesaver on cold days because you could then layer them?

Mumofsend · 23/05/2021 20:20

I battled uniform with my DD for 9 months and now she just goes in comfortable clothes in uniform colours. A calm child is a child who can learn.

CoffeeWithCheese · 28/05/2021 12:55

Get second hand well washed stuff that might feel a bit more comfy for him? M+S do a range, Asda have started to do a range but that's more easy-dressing stuff.

Otherwise do what parents of jumper refusers everywhere do - it goes in in the bag, it spends the day at school in the bag, it comes home in the bag or around the waist as a superhero cape.

This winter just gone because of the covid rules with windows being open I sent my kids in with uniform polos over a long sleeved thermal top in the school shirt colour - that might be a solution if he won't entertain a jumper... or a fleece in the school colour instead?

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