School Uniform !

poet123

Unless the logo is on the shirts, they are not necessary. So we are taliking about items which cannot be bought elsewhere. How many items from the uniform you mention fall into this category?

mumps

poet123 wrote: »

Unless the logo is on the shirts, they are not necessary. So we are taliking about items which cannot be bought elsewhere. How many items from the uniform you mention fall into this category?

The blouses were an unusual style which had to be bought from the school. I don't know why but they were white with an open collar (not designed to be worn with a tie) three quarter sleeves and were rounded at the bottom, not a straight hem, can't really describe them any better than that. I actually bought similar blouses from Woolworths, not identical and my daughter was upset about them the first day of term as she thought she would get told off but teachers turned a blind eye. I tried every school outfitter I could, on line and catalogues but couldn't find identical blouses. The skirts were supposed to be bought from the school but I found out, purely by accident, that a school in a nearby town had the same skirts and their Co-op stocked them several pounds cheaper than the school. The sweatshirts, boys polo shirts, and pe kits all had school logo on and had to be bought at the school. They also wanted us to buy waterproofs with the logo on but I never saw a child wearing these they were like cheap kagoules at a high price. For pe they could also have school hoodies or track suits as well as basics, I never bought these. Can't think if there was anything else.

poet123

My son has to have a Blazer, Tie, PE kit, Track suit, and Polo shirt for PE all with the logo. They are expensive, but I make savings on the black trousers, white shirts, winter coat. I just see it as part of having kids, like any other expense....

mumps

Sorry but I think you are missing the point, obviously I dress my kids, obviously I spend money on them, obviously I budget I just don't like being ripped off and don't like the idea of children from poorer families being excluded from choosing the best schools because of needlessly expensive uniforms as opposed to reasonably priced uniforms. Bye

poet123

No, I am not missing the point. I agreed with you that some of the prices you quoted were not reasonable, but I gave alternatives to overcome that. Also there is also the option of enlisting the PTA and approaching the Head and putting the point across that the uniform needs to be more accessible. Mobilise the parent power.

I dont believe that schools use the cost of uniform to select by the back door as has been suggested, rather that they get a % from suppliers and are lazy in thinking of other ways to make this income. Unless parents are vocal about these costs nothing changes, meantime rather than do what one poster did and refuse to comply, buy secondhand. Work with the school, not against it.

Oldernotwiser

mumps wrote: »

The cost of shoes, football boots, coats, school fund, trips etc would make this closer to £1,500, add music lessons for 2 (which I was paying for at the time) adds another £2,000, then bus fares, school lunches the list goes on. Actually that is low for the year I am talking about because of the number of school trips but would be unfair to include all that. Forgot dancing lessons, music and dancing exams, I keep thinkin of more. How rich would I be if I hadn't had children?

But it is money that can't be spent on more valuable things. The difference between those blouses and standard ones would pay my daughters music lessons for two weeks. I know which I prefer her to have and it isn't five fancy blouses.

As to me having four children I can afford them, one of the advantages of being a teenage mom is that you can have child number 4 when child no 1 has graduated and is independent. There are all sorts of expenses for children which add to their education in the wider sense (not just the 3 Rs) I can't tell you what I have spent on four lots of music lessons, dancing classes, swimming lessons, Brownie, Guides, Cub and Scouts subs. Football, tennis, cricket and rugby kits and training. I could go on but i won't. I repeat I support school uniforms but there should be some common sense about it.

But isn't all of this what people expect to pay out when they decide to have a family?

Children are expensive, you can't get away from it. Although you sound far too sensible to do so, many families happily find money for the occasional piece of designer kit or football strip and seem to think nothing of it. So often they seem to begrudge money for school uniform although they're happy to fork out for a few ticks.

If school uniform is of poor quality then parents should use their PTA to campaign for better. Schools have no reason to wish to exclude children from poorer families but they do deserve to have their ethos and standards upheld.

Loopy_Girl

AsknAnswer wrote: »

Again, fresh squeezed juice is one of her five a day. I am aware it has a higher acid consent, it's once a day and it is good for her nutrition. It is promoted as one of the five portions of fruit a day. Unless of course nutritionalists are wrong.

No they are not wrong but if you cared to read into further you would find out that it is recommended that juices - any juices - are given as part of a main meal. In between main meals, milk and water are recommended and it's the reason that your school quite sensibly adopted this approach.
I could go into it for you (sugar frequency and 'acid attack') but I don't think you are open to a bit education.

Am glad that your daughter benefited from the duraphat application - here's hoping that we are able to secure more funding for her in later years and also for other children. Of course to do this we need to prove to the SG that we are meeting our targets and that is hard to do especially if parents won't allow their child to be submitted as a number - especially since they were more than happy for their child to benefit.

You really are determined to make her different from her peers aren't you? Different uniform, different drink and I would guess there would be more...poor soul, I actually feel for her.

mrcow

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

I could go into it for you (sugar frequency and 'acid attack') but I don't think you are open to a bit education.

I think Asknanswer has proved more than an adequate knowledge of dental hygiene and care. There is no need to patronise.

To be honest, the continual bleating over what "is recommended" would make any sane parent want to crack their knuckles. It's like so many of the health visitors I've come across who seem to gleam all their "knowledge" from what they've read in whatever guidebook and they then take great pleasure in repeating it verbatim to all and sundry without actually listening to what is being said back to them.

I'm not surprised she ticked that box. I think I would have done too. And if they'd have phoned me, I would have made a formal complaint to the school under the data protection act.

I'd need some interfering know-it-all calling me at work to check whether I understand how to tick a box correctly as much as I'd need a hole in the head.

krisskross

Why does a child need FIVE blouses? My children only ever had either 2 blouses or shirts at a time, depending on sex. With 4 children the washing mchine was on every day anyway. We had 4 lots of uniform to buy, most from approved shops only but it was the price we paid for wanting our children to attend specific schools.

I would be very careful about complaining about cost and looking to run down the school. We want out children to be proud of their schools and not taking their parents prejudices and moans in on their first day.

chivers1977

mumps wrote: »

Sorry but I think you are missing the point, obviously I dress my kids, obviously I spend money on them, obviously I budget I just don't like being ripped off and don't like the idea of children from poorer families being excluded from choosing the best schools because of needlessly expensive uniforms as opposed to reasonably priced uniforms. Bye

I used to sell school uniform for a large dept store and one of the uniforms for a state school that a certain ex-Prime Ministers children went to http://www.london-oratory.org/tlos/htdocs/content.asp?cat=5&sub=23&sec=51 was unbelievably strict and expensive. The trousers had a tiny LO stitched on the hip and that was the only difference between them and the normal grey ones other than ££££ but apparently the teachers used to check the children to see if the LO was there What difference would that make to the quality of education and is clearly not very inclusive when there are lots of children living not far from the school who would not be able to afford the uniform. Needless to say, you could not just buy the badge for the blazer (though this may have changed)

Forgot to say that the junior uniform was one of my favourites as it was so cute!

http://www.london-oratory.org/tlos/htdocs/content.asp?cat=5&sub=9&sec=20

My son is just starting in reception in Sept. I am lucky that got the trousers and shorts in Woolies and Adams, sweatshirts from the school fete for 30p each, book bag from freecycle. I can splash out on M&S polo shirts :rotfl::rotfl: