Worried about my son and his uniform

[november90]

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 😰

Marks and Spencers has a sensory range that has no prickly labels etc. Well worth the investment in x PS write his name on EVERYTHING! (deffo child too - everything flippin walks/runs/is half-inched!)

Have a chat with the school and see what they advise. They should make allowances for SPD although you might need confirmation from his consultant.

How strict are the school about uniform?

My DC’s primary school have jumpers / sweatshirts as part of the uniform, but the children don’t have to wear the jumpers if they don’t want to. DC1 refuses to wear a jumper to school and it’s never been an issue.

has he a Dx? Autism? ADHD?

My DS had never worn a jumper before school, we had issues with tight things going over his head, so he always cardigans, soft knit or occasionally sweatshirt fabric ones. I just couldn't find a non girls cardigan for him. If your DS is going to infants I assume, the M&S do unisex sweatshirt cardigans, but totally out of stock in the colour I needed at the time. So I bought a very big sweatshirt and he's been fine, his school has sweatshirts not knits for infants. At nursery I just never put him in the knitted jumper ( his nursery had a uniform) he just wore the shirt and blazer.

Bit different since mine moved up to a new junior school who have shirt and tie uniforms (till the ties went because of Covid - and I pray they never come back) but I just had a quick chat with SENCO and class teacher and explained that DD had motor skill issues, very poor finger strength and was coming out of lockdown where she'd been wearing nothing more challenging than a t-shirt to get dressed in. Asked if they were OK if we wore polo shirts rather than school shirts so she was able to cope with the buttons on them easier and they were fine with it.

Granted our school is one that gives minimal shits about uniform as long as it's vaguely right coloured.

@picturesandpickles

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.

The idea that uniform cannot be enforced in primary schools is a long standing myth. The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 gives head teachers wide powers to set and enforce rules. That includes enforcing uniform rules.

What is it he doesn't like about jumpers?

I don't think DS2 has worn a jumper at school yet. He just wears his polo shirt, plus coat when it's cold in the playground.
He wont wear a vest either - but a polo in summer, maybe adding a vest for late autumn/early spring should do most of the year no problems.

My ds school is so warm they take there jumpers off as soon as they walk in the class and just wear there polo

How strict is the school uniform?

DDs school is just grey or black trousers/joggers/skirt/dress/shorts, white polo top, royal blue cardigan/jumper/sweatshirt, or royal blue gingham summer uniform.

There's no branded items needed which gives lots of flexibility. She likes plain leggings, a polo shirt and a sweatshirt fabric cardigan in the winter, then shorts and a polo shirt in the summer.

That's for all the supportive replies everyone, I appreciate it so much!
He doesn't have a diagnosis of any behavioural issue. He was discharged from speech therapy with no concerns at 2 and his nursery haven't raised anything so I'm hoping we won't be going down that road! I do think he has sensory processing issues though and he is extremely stubborn 🙈
I'm gonna order a uniform from M&S for him to feel and get used to... I have spoken to his teacher who said if he wears shorts all year he won't be the first and a lot of children don't wear jumpers.... but I don't want him to be cold so I really would like to try and encourage him/help him get over his issues with it!

I have friends whose children refused to wear long trousers even in the coldest weather, right up to Y11

There are LOADS of full time shorts wearers at my kids' school - I think it must be a mark of pride for some of them how low the temperature will go on their kneecaps.

I've never known a school like it for lads in shorts - you normally have a couple in a year group but there are about 5-6 of them!

Not sure if this will help you but my dc wouldn't wear anything they didn't like before school and I dreaded this. We were at a private school that had a very nice uniform complete with woolly boater hats that was compulsory or else. (Or else you leave!)
Prior to school, hats usually got thrown on the floor and all tights were toooo itchyyyyyyyyyyy

Until school. When everyone else had a hat on there were suddenly a lot less hat throwing incidents although even now dd will throw her hat off the minute they're through the door and she's 8 now but at a new school that is more relaxed. Anyway they have never worn tights to school only ever socks and a skirt and the boys wear shorts throughout the winter they're uniform weirdly anyway Even in winter when it's minus figures there's my dd in socks and a skirt with no jumper, of course.
The thing is it seems to be the case that when dd doesn't want to wear something she seems to also be absolutely fine with being cold vs being forced to wear anything so now I just roll with it. And on top of all this, because of covid dd is now picked up from outside as well but nothing and I mean nothing is getting her in the uniformed winter tights or the itchy jumper good luck OP

My 6 year old son was always like this, school has actually improved this a little, I assume from seeing other children wearing stuff, but he still will only wear the school fleece and flat out refuses the school jumper, I always buy the easy to pull on trousers/shorts. There's a ton of full time shorts wearers at his school.