From MNHQ - we need your comments....

[rachel(mumsnet)]

Radio Newcastle have been in touch about a story in the local papers and we need your thoughts on the matter:

A three year old boy has been banned from nursery because of his hairstyle. His mum had taken him to a barber's for a tendy 'tramline' hair style. The nursery claims it has strict rules regarding dress code and he cannot come back until his hair has grown out.

The mother said that the the haircut was his idea - he saw someone in the barber's with a similar cut and was so excited she couldn't say no. Although he's only three, he likes to gel his hair before he goes out each morning.

"I didn't think for a second that a nursery would be so strict about
appearance.....The nursery is stopping the kids from having any individuality at all".

Should parents say 'no' when it comes to children expressing themselves through their dress and sense of style. Should nurseries have such a strict dress code?

Your thoughts on this would be v much appreciated
Cheers,
MNHQ

Tatt how you look does matter though

to those who are shallow and superficial, it matters. It wouldn't if we raised children better.

tatt surely all societies place a great importance on looks? I think it has nothing to do with how we raise out kids as such, it's a natural human trait.

Each society, each culture has its own set of values and codes and how you look plays an important role within them.

It matters in the animal kingdom to.

i agree with peahead and soupys bastard lovechild, word for word.

deffo deffo.

(Carrie from MNHQ, I heard you on the radio last evening on the programme with Mariella frostrup.)

He was on the BBC News this morning. Poor little thing had an earing too. I suspect he's mum's little trophy child - a doll to dress up.

Very well said PPH.

ScienceTeacher - WOW! You got that from a snippet on the news? My, how perceptive you must be......

I guess she'll say the earing was his idea too and she had no influence whatsoever over these choices?

I disagree with that tatt. How you look does matter, and plays a huge part in all societies, and in the animal kingdom as kitty said. It's not just important to shallow superficial people.

I'd agree to an extent that it's important how a 3 yo looks.
Obviously a kid in torn, dirty, ill-fitting clothes, grubby skin and matted hair will stand out for all the wrong reasons. But could you imagine a child like that being suspended??
And this boys hair will not send out any negative messages to his little 3yo chums - just some adults, who, quite frankly, should know better.

I wonder how long it will be before some nursery has a dress code for parents doing the picking up and collecting.... no fleeces, full make up must be worn, no plastic carrier bags....
so, the nursery claims it has strict rules about dress code. As long as these rules were communicated to the mother, I think it's a fair cop. She was wrong to let her child flout them.

However, I question whether it's right to have nursery dress codes like this. Agree with PPH, if the haircut was not a health and safety risk, what is the harm?

Dress codes have more relevance for older pupils who get to and from school without parents - a way of helping the school present a good image to the general public. This would not apply to three year olds under the care of their parents

I don't see why a nursery should refuse to take a child on grounds that his haircut isn't suitable. As long as he wears the uniform, there shouldn't be a problem.

I think the school should concentrate on providing a good early years education rather than worrying about hair styles or uniform.

The little boy is too young to make a decision like a haircut. He should not be punished for his mother's (weird... but legal) decision. He is three years old.

I think the idea of three year olds having a strict dress code is vile. My son was allowed to wear anything he liked to nursery. I don't like uniform on three year olds, its too formal.

I would like to see nit infested kids get excluded. Or older children who totally wreck the lessons of other children by distruptive behaviour.