Primary school uniform

DevilsAdvocate1

Just wanted some opinions. My youngest son is 9 and is in year 5. As his two older brothers went to the same school I thought I had tons of school uniform. However, as the weather has turned colder last week, I've discovered I don't have any of the school jumpers in his size (heaven knows where they've all gone).

My son took in a Disney sweatshirt to wear to keep him warm. His school polo shirt is under it and he is wearing school trousers. However, his teacher has told him he has to wear a school uniform jumper or nothing. No one has contacted me about this.

This morning my son seems to be starting with a cold. He finally told me that he was not allowed to wear the sweatshirts I had been sending him to school in. I put a grey, plain hoodie on him as it was the most neutral thing I could find. At school I had a chat with his teacher and explained that I wanted him to keep warm and that I will be buying some school jumpers. They usually take a week or two from ordering to arrive. In the meantime I hoped it would be okay for him to wear something else.

Anyway, to my face she was find about this. But, she told my son that she did not want to see him with it on anymore as it is not a school jumper and she took it away. He didn't even come out of school with it. As he was in an after school club till 4:15pm I could not see her to get it back.

I didn't think uniform was compulsory for primary aged children and I'm quite cross that the teacher has confiscated an item of clothing. Also, that nothing has been said to me about what he is wearing. I can't believe a teacher would be happy for a child to be cold. I will be buying two school jumpers just as soon as I've been paid (on Friday this week).

Not sure what to do.

missbiggles1

Nobody gets a cold from being cold.

balletshoes

phone the school tomorrow, and ask for his teacher to call you as soon as she can. She can clarify for you under what circumstances your son has not been wearing his current hoodies/Disney sweatshirts.

To be honest, hoodies and character jumpers would have been discouraged at my daughters primary school too, a plain jumper would have been okay, until you could get the right school colour/jumper.

missbiggles1

I meant to add in my earlier post, can't he wear a vest if he's cold?

Looby_-_Lou_2

School uniform is unenforceable (sp?) at Primary School.

InsideInsurance

Our school was school uniform or nothing but they did run a secondhand shop in the school for those sorts of "emergencies". In my day thankfully it was just the tie, blazer, socks and scarf that were bespoke to the junior school. Shirt, shorts, jumper and coat were generic.

You certainly wouldnt have gotten away with a hoodie or disney sweatshirt but a plain v neck jumper in charcoal can be picked up almost anywhere

As time went on though they introduced more bespoke items of clothing with the rules equally rigorously applied.

sooty&sweep

Hi
My childrens schools are both quite strict about wearing the correct uniform.
Is the jumper something you have to order or could you buy one from the local school uniform shop ?
Personally I would have a problem with a teacher saying its ok to my face & then saying something to my child. At the end of the day parents buy the school uniform not the child so if she has a problem she should talk to you about it.
I'd write to the head teacher explaining what has happened & send a copy to the class teacher. Apologise but explain that you are planning to rectify the situation & in the mean time your son will be wearing a plain jumper if its chilly and if they have a problem with this to contact you directly about it & leave your child out of it !

Jen

bossymoo

Colds are caused by viruses, not by being cold.

I'd also speak to the school. Are you certain your son is telling you the entire truth? Is there a chance he doesn't want to be wearing something different to the other children, and is blaming his teacher rather than admit that to you?

With our school, a hoody would not be allowed. Can you buy a plain school sweater from Asda, £3 I think, in the school colour? It could then be a spare for future when you do have the "official" ones.

Obviously I don't know the particular school, but temperatures are not usually so low that a child would really be cold. My children are younger (4 & 5) and they whip their sweater / cardi off before they even get through the door.

Armorica

Speak to the teacher; if you're not happy speak to her superior. (But of course you do run the hazard of her picking on him for the rest of the year)

You could also speak to the office staff and ask if you can raid lost property! (Albeit there may not be much this early in the year)

balletshoes

sooty&sweep wrote: »

Hi
My childrens schools are both quite strict about wearing the correct uniform.
Is the jumper something you have to order or could you buy one from the local school uniform shop ?
Personally I would have a problem with a teacher saying its ok to my face & then saying something to my child. At the end of the day parents buy the school uniform not the child so if she has a problem she should talk to you about it.
I'd write to the head teacher explaining what has happened & send a copy to the class teacher. Apologise but explain that you are planning to rectify the situation &
in the mean time your son will be wearing a plain jumper if its chilly and if they have a problem with this to contact you directly about it & leave your child out of it !

Jen

he's not wearing a plain jumper though - he's wearing a hoodie. For some reason a lot of schools don't like them.

DevilsAdvocate1

Thanks for your replies.

The jumper is going to have to be ordered through the school as the local uniform shop only carries the smaller sizes and does not have my son's size (I have already checked this).

My middle son wore these exact same jumpers / hoodies when he was at the Primary School though he always wore the school jumper for trips and special events.

A vest won't keep his arms warm and the school polo shirt (which he is wearing) is short sleeved. While I know you can't get a cold by being cold, I don't think its comfortable to be sitting in school while you are cold. Plus, its not going to help his concentration if he's cold.

I am really short of money at the moment and can't justify buying something new to tide him over.