Teaching assistant outfit help!

[tigereyes10]

Hello! I've just been offered a job as a learning support assistant in a secondary school. I've read their staff 'uniform' policy and it says 'formal/office wear, no denim, nothing too short, nothing low cut, no sports wear, no leggings, nothing satin or sheer" etc... Basically everything in my wardrobe is inappropriate 😂. Because I'm going to have to now buy a whole new wardrobe just for work, where's the best budget friendly place to be looking? Some lovely bits on new look but at £35 for a shirt dress..it's not really doable considering I'm going to need atleast five to seven new outfits to rotate. If there's any teaching assistants on here - what do you all wear?

Definitely wait and see what other staff are wearing so you can get an idea of what's acceptable before you buy too much.

I work in a primary school, mostly wear slim fit black trousers with a top or jumper or a dress with tights and flat boots.

Congratulations on your job!

You can get by with two pairs of stretchy trousers (but not jogger or skinny style) and three jersey/opaque blouses/tops (skin toned vests ensure no gaps or visibility) and a cardigan. And very comfortable, flat and supportive shoes, because you could be walking around site all day.

Add in a jacket after payday - as long as you've already got a suitable (ie, waterproof and warm) coat for going outside.

I love this thread, I'm not a teacher but when new recruits ask what's ok to wear it's shorthand to say teacher wear. I work a lot with sex offenders so no boobs, nothing short/too tight but also not office/suit formal. There are some great things on here and I've just ordered that midi skirt from Sainsbury's

Asda George do a work collection good value

also in asda George couple of work blazers under £30
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The rule with working in a school is you mustn't be able to see up it, down it, or through it.

When I was a TA I dressed in trousers, shirts and jumpers with flat shoes. Practical clothes. I was there to support the kids, and sometimes that meant sitting on the floor, crafting with glue and paint, spending time outside in all weathers.

I do this as a job!

This time of year I live in stretchy trousers off of shien, I have two pairs in black and one in a light brown. Just ordered a grey chequered pair. I wear with either t shirt/blouse and a cardigan or thin jumper. Shacket over the top.

I would highly recommend a pair of wide fit flat comfy loafers or boots, you will be on your feet a lot and moving around much more than you imagine. Comfort is key. Hair up (nits) and hair pulling (I work with little ones) studs not hoops (again in case they get caught) and clean and fresh. You could get a full wardrobe on shien for under £80 and if you plan your colours well rotate them all and have loads of different outfits.

Cullotes are fine, I wore a jumpsuit once but never again, you won’t get long for toilet breaks and they’re too much faff.

Midi dresses are great for summer and can be worn with boots and tights when it’s colder.

Don’t be afraid of colour/print. I wear a fair bit of animal print, bright pink jumpers etc. I also work for an academy and not everyone is head to toe in black/grey etc.

Nothing low fit or short at all - you will be bending, squatting, running, playing football/basketball at lunch, walking 10,000 plus steps during the school day. Comfort is key lol. I don’t think I wear anything above the knee. That’s our welt because I get very involved with play though and don’t want anyone to get an eyeful of my big knickers lol.

IME secondary is way more stricter with the dress code than primary.

My last school was an academy and it was 'smart office wear, suits for men, dress and blazer or trouser suit for women' - this was for all staff and the sixth formers. No open toe or heel shoes; trainers; leggings; vest tops; shorts or t-shirts, and definitely nothing that you could see up / down / through. Several people were pulled up for wearing leggings / tunic / converse outfits - the only exception was inset / sports days where anything was allowed

Oh and super comfortable shoes, preferably flat that you can run in when you need to - brogues or the like are perfect.

Good luck with your new job, teenagers are brilliant fun to work with.

In most secondary schools, most teachers have a jacket for parents' eves etc, but they don't wear them so much in the classroom. I used to wear trousers from Next or supermarket and a nice T shirty top or a ¾ length sleeve shirt. Cardigans or a fitted jumper if needed. Or a couple of thin cotton or wool layers dressed up with a scarf.

Dresses are fine, but separates better value, I think. I also wore tunics over black leggings, but some schools might think this is too casual.

I really wouldn't bother with a blazer. Black trousers, a couple of blouses or shirts and a couple of smartish cardis and maybe a midi dress of some kind. I would check out the supermarkets or vinted.

I'm a secondary TA. I wear turned up chinos, t shirts, cardigans, maxi skirts, stretch black and striped trousers, knit jumpers, jersey dresses and tights, converse, boots, brogues, ballet flats. Basically anything except jeans! I also wouldn't wear anything low cut or very short, although lots of staff do wear much shorter skirts than I would. As long as you are clean and tidy you'll be fine.

T shirts haven't generally been workwear in any of my schools.

Most staff had comfortable trousers with a shirt, blouse or jumper.
I had 3 pairs of trousers, 2 black in different cuts and another in a colour. Then I mixed and matched my tops, blazers and cardigans. Fat face used to do some nice wrap dresses too and I'd wear those with tights and boots.

I've also never seen t shirts in any school I've worked in.

It's important to be comfortable and for movement not to be restricted. You will be on your feet a fair bit, so comfy shoes are essential. Jackets are good for making some outfits a bit smarter, but I would advise trying to find ones that are made of tailored jersey or smart knitted material, as it's annoying to write on a board etc. if the material has no stretch.

Smart tops/jumpers with tailored trousers can be good, as are dresses. Boden are quite good for comfortable and reasonably smart jersey and ottoman dresses, if you like the style.

I wouldn't go as casual as converse etc. unless you've seen others wearing the same. Always better to start accidentally too formal than not formal enough!

I get most of my work clothes from Vinted.