Uniform and SEN

[Jibbajabbajobba]

Has anyone managed to get their school to relax uniform rules. Our school is obsessed with blazers being on and my ADHD child has some sensory issues which means the blazer is frequently removed and so he gets detention as a result. It’s so wearing. I’d like to know whether other schools adopt a more flexible approach or whether I need to just make him suck up the detentions, which seem pointless and a waste of everyone’s time. It particularly gets my goat when it’s hot because I know his medication probably makes him feel even warmer.

Schools must make reasonable adjustments. Have you spoken to the SENCO?

Many times. Nothing changes. I know he finds the blazer distracting and annoying. I don’t understand the obsession with it from the school, it’s such an unnecessary battle to keep picking when there is so much other stuff going on.

If speaking to the SENCO hasn’t worked, have you spoken to the HT and followed the formal complaints process? Remind the school they must make reasonable adjustments, including to the uniform, under the Equality Act. To not do so is discrimination and if they do not comply you will be forced to pursue a DD claim.

I don’t know where the sensory issues start and him just being “difficult” take over. I think I’m so used to the school telling me he’s being defiant I feel like I’ll be on shaky ground and they will think I’m just being a massive pain too.

Would the school perhaps allow him to wear PE kit instead, as a reasonable adjustment? I can see why it might be difficult to allow one student to not wear their blazer, but he would stand out less in PE kit (and it would probably be more comfortable!)

I don’t see how making reasonable adjustments such as allowing a disabled pupil to not wear a blazer might be difficult? Just like some DC wear ear defenders/noise cancelling headphones, others wear glasses/use a wheelchair/have a lift pass/leave 5 or 10 mins early/skip the lunch queue...

Nobody would think twice about the PE kit, whereas a uniform "breach" would stand out and have to be explained over and over by the child, all staff would have to be made aware, etc. It's certainly doable but it may cause stress.

Unless pupils routinely wear PE kit when not doing PE then it will raise just as many questions and stand out just as much, and staff would have to be made aware just the same.

When you posted you could see why it might be difficult to allow I took it to mean the school would find it difficult to allow the adjustment rather that they could allow it but it would result in staff needing to be told/some questions asked which would be the same with PE kit. So apologies if I misunderstood your post.

He will wear the blazer. He just takes it off when he’s not comfortable and they expect it on at all times so he frequently gets sanctioned because it’s not being worn at all times. They have trainer “passes” for kids with permission to wear trainers for various reasons so they don’t get sanctioned. A blazer pass would be ideal so he doesn’t get detention every time he takes off the blazer. Wondering whether anyone has got something similar. Thanks for your responses so far.