Started year 7 - reasonable adjustments help

[Allsquishedup]

So my child has just started year 7. Diagnosed ASD/ADHD which includes a sensory profile.

school were reluctant to meet before transition , while my DS was in primary they were accommodating he wore black tracksuit bottoms and white t shirt. Secondary point blank said no tracksuit bottoms and i exhausted every shop looking for trousers he would wear.

they are stating he is to wear PE kit for the foreseeable but i dont want him standing out.

is this a reasonable adjustment they should be making by law? Any advice or help appreciated

The school must make reasonable adjustments. Speak to the SENCO again. You may have difficulty challenging them if the PE kit meets their duty to make reasonable adjustments. Do you have evidence it doesn’t?

Is it likely DS will stand out more in PE kit than in tracksuit bottoms?

The only evidence i have is the PE kit consists of black tracksuit bottoms anyway.

He will stand out more in PE kit than in uniform as the kit is all black, whereas with the uniform he was willing to wear the shirt and tie - no blazer but there are a few kids who also don”t wear a blazer and when i asked the PE kit was not a permanent solution it was just to settle him in, but after this he would have to revert back to school trousers.

i understand the need for uniform and their expectations but i know my DS if made to wear trousers will become a school refuser.

Have you asked if DS can wear the PE tracksuit bottoms but the shirt and tie? That seems like a reasonable adjustment.

I haven”t i will ask that question once i get a meeting. The tracksuit bottoms for PE have to be nike so i assumed if that was the case they would prefer the plain black ones i sent him in.

thanks for your help, its so stressful and i never had any issues with primary school so feel out of my depth

If the answer is no, remind them they must make reasonable adjustments. The law doesn’t say RA are short term whilst DC settle in.

Schools work in strange ways. It wouldn’t surprise me if they prefer the PE kit ones to plain black.

Have you tried something like these? Slightly smarter than tracksuit bottoms. My DS has an issue with trousers too - won't wear anything with a button or zip.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/ST016313/A82738

Thanks, i have ordered some of these and have a meeting with the headteacher tomorrow to try to come to a resolution.

it”s so hard when you know how much it affects them and others don”t see that.

Don't let the school fob you off. What you are asking for is a reasonable adjustment and they have to do this by law. Failure to do so can constitute indirect discrimination. I have just set a precedent at my SEN child's school by getting a reasonable adjustment for her with uniform. They went to court for someone about hairstyles before so believe me they are strict and did not want to do it- had taken legal advice to get out of it before we even met with them- but the fact is they HAVE to allow it.

educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2023/04/10/what-are-reasonable-adjustments-and-how-do-they-help-disabled-pupils-at-school/

sensorysmart.co.uk/collections/clothing

Try the school trousers from this place.

So, for girls, some shops do straight leg jersey trousers, which my AuDHD daughter is happy to wear - does nowhere do anything like that for boys?

Girls Black Ribbed High Waist Flared Trousers | New Look

We have these