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

Living_proof

Hi ho silver!

jem132

Thanks for all your suggestions re her name.

I am thinking of making a blanket for the back for the kids?? I what would I put between two pieces of fabric. And some cusions

Can't really think what else I could do to pimp her out

[Deleted User]

I certainly don't envy anyone having to face the expense of newly implemented school uniforms, I've always been lucky enough to be able to buy from the second hand uniform shops at the schools the girls attended. I really feel for someone caught up in a uniform change midway through a childs school life, It's badly thought out by the school administrators and governers in this day and age, no matter how affluent the area you come from of whatever your cashflow situation might be. I would hope that the school administrators would listen with sympathy to anyone in Fuddles situation, anyone who genuinely doesn't have the means to just go and buy it all new, because the school has decided it will be that way, I also understand that children can be utterly cruel and scathing to anyone not conforming to thier standards, but what on earth can you do if you cannot afford the new kit? The only thing I suppose would be to see if the school had a hardship fund and if you were elegible, but surely that would be just as stigmatising in the eyes of the childs peers. It certainly is not a situation that merits getting into debt for is it? I know I would pursue every avenue to solve the problem and if it was insoluable, I would move the child to another school where commonsense prevailed.

Pooky

None of the schools here have a hardship fund and the school DD2 attends is in one of the most deprived areas of the county. DD1s old school was a single sex grammar that was top of the league tables when she was there. The uniform was eye wateringly expensive (£38 for a jumper, £32 for a skirt and £18 per blouse etc) but uniform wasnt up for discussion, if your child wasn't in it, they were not allowed on the premises. We've had to sign parent and child contracts with both schools regarding uniform, attendance and behaviour and any lapse can result in being kicked out of the school. I enquired as to a 2nd hand uniform supply for DD1 and was told there wasn't a demand for it, when I said that as I was asking there was a demand I was told that as per the parental contract I'd agreed to send my child in the appropriate uniform, how I obtained it wasn't the schools issue.

I agree with school uniforms, I agree with the rigidity of the rules and regulations of them too, it teaches the child that whilst you might not like dressing the same as everyone else it's part of life. When you move on to a work situation you follow the company guidelines on dress code/uniform and are expected to act according to the guidelines set by that company.

As an adult, I know that I went without in order for my child to attend the school that we wanted her to go to, that was a decision based on its ability to provide the best education available to her at the time. Whilst she could have gone to a school with a less rigorous uniform approach it was reflected in their less than rigorous approach to education.

[Deleted User]

I think I'm a bit biased over uniform, I was at a school that did just that, a complete change of uniform, including all the gym kit, and we had to have a french navy gabardine overcoat, a bowler hat, an umberella and lisle stockings of a particular colour from M&S at 7
/6d a pair back in the 60s. It was completely out of the question not to have the new uniform and as a result I ONLY had the uniform, no other clothes, shoes, coats I had to stay in at the weekends because the uniform was in the wash and I had literally no other clothes, my parents also took on debts to ensure I 'complied' with the uniform code. I even had to save up my pocket money in order to have shoes that conformed to the school rules and spent a lot of time in detention when I couldn't afford the right stockings. It had a direct effect in that I left school precipitously half way through my A levels because of the way they treated me, that feeling of being punished unjustly has never left me, and I would fight for anyones rights rather than let them be ground down by the establishment!!!

Molly41

A good point about uniform is that you dont have to spend as much on leisure clothes. Mine always changed out of their uniforms when they got home and either got into their PJ's in winter or shorts/tee shirt for summer and playing out. I had to spend less on normal clothes and could spend a little more on uniform. I used to have to save up all year though.

VJsmum

Gosh, Mrs LW that's heartbreaking.

Ironically I have to force DS out tomorrow to buy him some new clothes as he like a string bean and has outgrown so much - I guess all that food had to have some effect he nev wants to go and the humiliation of being seen out with mum is also too much for him :rotfl:

However he needs new football boots, so they will be last to buy when we've got the other stuff so that should make Him comply.

[Deleted User]

VJSmum that's life I'm afraid!!!

Pooky

DD2s school had a complete uniform change last year (due to the old supplier going bust), every student was given a new blazer free of charge and were told that the new uniform applied to new started in year 7 but that older students could change over to the new style when they grew out of/needed to replace items. It meant a bit of a mismatch but at least they all had a new blazer. Every student needs to be in the new uniform by next September (2 years after implementation) which I think is more than fair.

I know my parents had the same issues with my school uniform, which was a hideous mix of baby blue and beige with beige knee socks. We had a school coat and scarf too, along with all the aprons for various lessons. Everything aside from the main uniform had to have our full name chain stitched in a particular place according to garment. Luckily my mum could sew or I dread to think how much extra that would have cost.

VJsmum

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

VJSmum that's life I'm afraid!!!

I know and we weren't well off either, fortunately our school didnt have uniform so it as jeans And sweatshirts for me. Mum had wanted me to go to the grammar school thou, but it was a train ride and a posh uniform so I didn't even try.

I think it stays with you, that poverty. We were always well fed and warm in the living rooms but there wasn't too many frills - not many new clothes and no holidays for years, bedroooms were cold and the bathroom only heated on a Sunday for baths. I think my shear loathing of being cold comes from that and my love of the smell of paraffin.:o

I really must do something to help me to face the winter. I do only really like summer and am getting anxious already about nights drawing in and the chillier evenings. Knowing that it won't be warm and sunny again for 9 or 10 months fills me with despair. What do you like about autumn and winter, those of you who look forward to it? maybe I should find some positives.