No polishable school shoes = no school

[Runningforfun]

ds has been home edded for the past few months whilst we sort out a school that is right for him. He is in year 7.

We found a school, it has places. We bought the uniform and at the final interview we got a start date.

But then after spotting what he had on his feet I was told that he needed to wear polishable black shoes. He wears all black trainers. A particular style that he has worn for school since he was in reception. these are the only things that fit him. He has a very high instep with a H+ width fitting. He is off the scale in Clarks. His feet resemble rectangular blocks with toes on the end. We even looked at and tried on Men's size 7 shoes, ds is a 5.5 but because men's shoes do not come in width fittings, the standard width fitting is too narrow.

The problem is the school refuse to let him in if he wears his trainers but no normal shoe fits him. I have spent days going up and down Oxford Street, and around every shoe shop in various shopping centres and I am at a loss as to what to do.

Any one else know what to do in this situation. Can a school really stop him from going to school because he physically cannot get a particular style of shoe on his feet.

[GoblinLittleOwl]

The reason the school makes these so-called ridiculous rules is that if one child was allowed black trainers for medical reasons then a large proportion of children would wear them, then the trainers would start having flashes on them and appearing in different colours; not the end of the world, but an attempt to subvert school rules; if you choose a school which has strict uniform rules, then you have to support them. Having said that, I am appalled at the cost of these shoes for growing feet.

[Bunbaker]

"if you choose a school which has strict uniform rules, then you have to support them."

The OP clearly is trying to. Have you actually read her posts?

[Suttonmum1]

Take his existing shoes and put polish on them = polishable shoes.

Dreadful if staff can't see the difference between people who don't care about uniform and those who've tried everything they can think of.

[Runningforfun]

"if you choose a school which has strict uniform rules, then you have to support them."

And how do I do that?

When we received our letter from the education authority it informed us that as the nearest school to us with available places was xxx and we had chosen school yyy which was the 2nd nearest school then we would not get help with transport. Both have strict rules about polishable school shoes in their prospectus.
School xxx is 8 miles away and school yyy is 17 miles away. God only knows where the next available school is that has available places and not a strict uniform policy.

I am in south Herts bordering north London I am open to suggestions from those of you that say I should adhere to the uniform policy of the school to come up with an alternative school.

[Runningforfun]

Suttonmum don't think that has not been suggested by dd.

[Lancelottie]

OP, these jazz shoes are thin-soled, intended to be indoor only, and crap support, but are £15, leather and therefore polishable, and might do the job till you've finished arguing with the school.

They are very floppy soft leather -more like sticking your foot in a bag -- so will probably do up round most footshapes.

[Runningforfun]

Lancelottie Ds and dd wear them for dance so very familiar with them.

It certainly is an alternative that they can't argue with. Might try them with those as an option. Ds thinks it is hilarious when I said he might have to wear his jazz shoes as school shoes.

I just don't want there to be any problems when he starts. I don't want him labelled as the one with the troublesome mum. I just wish his feet fitted into shoes.

As for what other children say, I am not that bothered. Ds is supremely confident. When he was about 5 he had hair down his back, still does. 2 older boys came up to him in the park and asked if he was a boy or a girl. When he answered boy they told him their mum said boys shouldn't have long hair. To which he replied "then your mum should get out more"

And the school are worried about the uniform.

I think they might have a little more things to worry about when he arrives.

[WishItWasSnowingNow]

You could try somewhere like Hotter. They do shoes for swollen feet, v wide fitting.

They definitely used to have a branch in Enfield - might not be too far for you?

[Impatientismymiddlename]

www.cosyfeet.com/mens-extra-wide-footwear/cosyfeet-shoes

Try cosy feet on the above link. Their mens shoes start at a size 5 (although most styles start at size 6). The shoes that's they sell are extra deep as well as extra wide so should fit a high instep and wide foot very well.

[LaurieFairyCake]

You can get proper soles put on those jazz shoes by a cobbler and then they would be much more hard wearing

[soaccidentprone]

Could you find a pair which fit, doesn't matter about the colour, then dye them black?

[Runningforfun]

Well back from the Doctors. I have to say that usually when you have a problem it takes 3 visits before you get an answer that actually sounds right. (dp went to the doctors once because he was loosing dramatic amounts of weight. ended up at 9st from 17st in just 8 weeks. They diagnosed him with stress and then maybe IBS, before us doing a bit of research and coming up with type 1 diabetes.)

The Dr wants me to buy him a pair of shoes that fit then when they have taken the skin off his feet come back and he will see whats wrong and write the note.

Think I will just have to ask if jazz shoes with a sole are acceptable if not then it is a choice of home edding or getting a pair made or finding a private school that don't have a uniform.

Thanks for all your help think I will go away and cry tears of frustration.

[stargirl1701]

Scroll down to the section on uniform here:

www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/education_e/education_school_education_ew/problems_at_school.htm

[catkind]

Eh? Would it not be abusive to put your child in shoes you know will take the skin off his feet? What did you say when the doctor told you to do that? Ask to see another doctor? Go back and ask for a referral to a podiatrist?

Would it be worth setting up another meeting with the head specifically for this purpose? Explain all the shops you've tried, explain the problem again. The head probably didn't realise what a serious problem it is for your DS and thought you were just another parent trying to get round the rules. I wonder if someone from Clarks would write you a note to say they do not have any shoes that fit DS and why not.

[frankblackswife]

It's a long shot but would Monkey Boots maybe be the answer? I used to wear them as a teenager and they are super comfy and as far as I recall the tongue is really low and the way the lace up means they can be made narrow or wide.
They still sell them (think I'll buy a pair!)
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A1-Grafters-Monkey-Boot-Unisex-Original-Leather-Wine-Black-Mens-Womens-Ladies-/171245765115?var=470347091584&_trksid=p2054897.l5663

[CMOTDibbler]

Why not order one of the extra wide/deep shoes people have linked to instead of the jazz shoes?

[Runningforfun]

Ds has been very patient with me while I have been examining his feet and googling foot bones. I think I have come up with a diagnosis. Saddle bone deformity. He has this lump on both feet that sticks up and is the bit that keeps rubbing/squeezing the top of the shoes. Another appointment with a different doctor to be made on Monday.

[Whyjustwhyagain]

I like the advice of listing all the shops you have been to, and then passing that list onto the school and asking if they have any other suggestions.

It shows them that you do take the uniform rules seriously, but cannot comply. Hopefully, they will see that you have made a real effort and you're not just being difficult.

[Greengardenpixie]

OMG what on earth have we come to where children can be denied entry to a school because of the type of shoes they wear! An utter disgrace. Thank goodness it's not like this in Scotland. I feel for your position and your son's but more should be done to overturn these ridiculous rules.

[ouryve]

Hotter is worth a look - some of their men's shoes have a very wide, deep toe box.

I sympathise. I have duck feet with collapsed arches and lumps from teenage heel spurs and currently need some shoes that aren't boots, sandals or trainers that I can walk in without falling over or crippling myself. They don't appear to exist.