The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

kidcat

juliettet wrote: »

Insurance seems a little pricey Jem, have you looked at the MSE section?

I was thinking that too -

Congratulations on the car Jem, but is that the very best price for insurance out there? I am paying £175 a year fully comp for my little car this year and £35 per month on the tank which is a seven seater expensive beast.

Fuddle - schools have no sympathy on uniforms in my area at all, kids are punished and given detention for wrong uniform, so its worth considering before signing up to a school, what is their uniform policy.

juliettet

jem132 wrote: »

Juliette that's the cheapest quote iv had in years. I live in a very high crime area .
Knit witch. Thankyou x

Never mind. Enjoy your car. You deserve it. J:j:j

fuddle

Not with me kidcat. Ill fight them all the way. They punish my child because I cannot afford the uniform I will take it higher and higher until 1) I win and 2) my child gets an apology.

Seriously, I'll be like a dog with a bone.

Cheapskate

Possession, I got that voucher, too, plus a verbal offer of £5 off if I bought trainers at the same time as the kids' shoes - like I have enough to fork out another £50 odd for trainers!

One of the high schools in our town, state not private, has just changed their uniform. According to a friend, just about everything now has the logo on, ergo triple the cost for every parent, as it's been implemented across the entire school, no leeway here either. The catchment area isn't that affluent, about 20% of families are well off, the rest are in the same boat as us lot here - utter madness! Her DH is under threat of redundancy, yet they've had to fork out £150 so far, and not done yet!

A xo

VJsmum

Fuddle, It's not just that though, it is that the child would get pitied / bullied / commented about for not having correct uniform - from other kids I mean. Especially girls, who can be so horrible - real pack mentality sometimes. It is definitely worth checking the policy when checking out the schools. And if they have a second hand shop.

My DS can wear supermarket grey trousers and white shirts but must have a school blazer with logo and can have a logo'd v neck in the winter. Blazer and 2 jumpers are about £40. Oh and the house tie which is about £10. It is the sports kit that costs - t shirt, shorts, socks, rugby shirt, trainers, football boots :eek:

DD doesn't have to wear uniform now that she is in 6th form.

I am making Jacks kidney bean, carrot and cumin burgers for tonight's tea.

fuddle

There has to be leaway if you haven't any means of getting the uniform. Blood and stone.

What I'm saying is there is no way I will stand back and watch my children have to deal with punishment over something that is my responsibility and worse still, have on their record said punishment.

I'm so sure that communication with the school will enable leaway. Each school I have worked in has ha hardship funds. It's not advertised or given out easily but it's there and I think it's important that parents know that.

kidcat

fuddle- there is no such fund in any school within my area - I am a governor at one of the poorest areas in my town - still nothing and yes still the kids are in bother for no uniform - its a big thing and peer pressure as VJsmum says is harsh.
MOst local high schools here have also gone academy - that removes them from LA control and they set their own rules, and uniform - well they stand at the gate, any child not in uniform is not allowed on, no exceptions. High school can really be that harsh.

I think its always been the same - I remember my cousin being constantly in detention for not wearing the uniform, my aunt wouldnt buy it ( I dont know if she could afford or not) and he was always being picked on. It was horrible to hear.

The trick is to be prepared and look carefully at school policies before choosing your school, also look at local second hand places and try to buy ahead. One of the things I did at DS9 school was start a uniform second hand sale stall each year, and that has been popular for a while.

nuttyp

Fairyprincess, its Disney florida - package deal holiday. I know California have the original park but the flights for there are nearly the price for our hotel and flights in florida.

Jem - congratualtions on the car - independence!!! OH can relax knowing that you have a bit more freedom with the children.

Fuddle, I cut the labels out of the school uniform for my kids so no one knew they were certain shops. Its true kids can be cruel if you don't have the right label. School bags and lunch boxes were sometimes the same. I remember DD wanting a jack wills bag - no chance. So I went of land of bay and got a supposedly real one for £3. It was a ok.

FairyPrincessk

I thought it might be nuttyp, but thought I'd offer in case. For the record, although I've only visited Florida and not the park, it has lovely weather. I'm jealous:D

fuddle

I think I'll leave my side of the argument there. I have my views and I know what I will do if/when the time comes.

I certainly will not be dissing a school I would like my child to go to on the grounds of not being able to afford the uniform.

It is upto the individual school whether or not they have a hardship fund. It's not a requirement or touted by LA or government. I know this from my own exerience and expressing that experience. As for the bullying - again, blood and stone. We never want to put our children under undue stress but if the money isn't there, sometimes it isn't there.

I can't believe I have to justify any of this on the tough thread. I will fight for the good of my children no matter who it is or what the situation is. I won't apologise for that.