Ingleby Mill Primary School
Uniform Policy
Introduction
It is our policy that all children should wear school uniform when attending school, or when participating in a school organised event outside normal school hours. We provide a complete list of the items needed for school uniform in our school prospectus and on our school website. The majority of our school uniform can be sourced from generic school clothing suppliers and local shops and supermarkets. We intend for the uniform to be as cost-effective as possible for our families.
Aims and objectives
Our policy is based on the shared understanding that a school uniform:
- promotes a sense of pride in the school;
- engenders a feeling of community and belonging;
- is practical and smart;
- identifies the children with the school;
- is not distracting in class (as fashion clothes might be);
- makes children feel equal to their peers in terms of appearance;
- is regarded as suitable, and good value for money, by most parents;
- has been designed with health and safety in mind.
School Uniform
Our school uniform is as follows:
- Navy sweatshirt/ cardigan, with the school logo
- White polo shirt/ blouse/ shirt (tucked in)
- Grey trousers/ shorts or skirt/ pinafore (knee-length)
- Blue and white checked or dresses in summer (optional)
- Black shoes – trainers should not be worn other than for PE
- Children in Year 6 wear a jade polo shirt
Our PE uniform is as follows:
- Plain navy hoody, with the school logo (this can then be worn for educational visits off site)
- Plain navy jogging bottoms
- Plain navy short
- Plain white t-shirt
- Trainers
No branded items are to be worn to support our collectiveness as a school family, prevent any peer pressure and keep uniform costs as low as possible.
Uniform Purchase
Specific items of school uniform with the school logo embroidered on them such as jumpers, cardigans, ties, school book bags can be ordered from the school uniform suppliers or purchased directly from the school uniform supplier premises, such as Motif8.
Name labels
We strongly urge all parents to label all items of their children’s clothing as this assists when items of uniform are lost during the day. The suppliers of school uniform will, for a small charge, add a child’s initials in embroidery to a school uniform, jacket or book bag. Only a child’s initials may be added to uniform not full names or nicknames.
Jewellery
On health and safety grounds we do not allow children to wear jewellery in our school. The exceptions to this rule are small (not dangling) ear-ring studs in pierced ears, and small objects of religious significance (such as a crucifix on a chain) and watches. These must be removed during PE and games on health and safety grounds. School takes no responsibility for their safe keeping.
Hair
All children are required to tie hair up where it is long enough to do so. This is for both health and safety reasons and to look smart and ready for school.
Hair must be tied up in PE.
In swimming children must either wear a swimming cap or tie long hair up. Swimming pool staff may impose their own rules (e.g. insist on children wearing swimming caps_, these rues are beyond our control.
Non regulation hairstyles are not part of school uniform and should not be worn. These include:
- Patterns cut into the hair
- Hair that is long in parts and very short elsewhere
- Hair dyed or coloured either wholly or partly, in a non-natural hair colour.
Footwear
The school wants all children to grow into healthy adults. We believe that it is dangerous for children to wear shoes with platform soles or high heels in school, so we do not allow this. We do not allow children to wear trainers to school; these are appropriate for sport or as leisurewear, but are not in keeping with the smart appearance of a school uniform.
We require all children to wear the types of shoe described in the uniform list.
The role of parents
We ask parents who chose to send their children to our school to support our school uniform policy. We believe that parents have a duty to send their children to school correctly dressed and ready for their daily schoolwork. Parents should ensure that their child has the correct uniform, and that it is clean and in good repair. If any parent would like the school to modify the uniform policy, they should make representation, in the first instance, to the Head Teacher. The school welcomes children from all backgrounds and faith communities. If there are serious reasons, for example religious objections, why parents want their child to wear clothes that differ from the school uniform, the school will look sympathetically at such requests. Similarly, should an item of school uniform prove problematic for a pupil with disabilities, then parents are invited to draw this to the attention of the Head Teacher. The school will not treat pupils with disabilities unfavourably.
The role of governors
The governing body supports the head teacher in implementing the school uniform policy. It considers all representations from parents regarding this policy, and liaises with the head teacher to ensure that the policy is implemented fairly and with sensitivity. It is the governors’ responsibility to ensure that the school uniform meets all national regulations concerning equal opportunities, and that our school uniform policy is consistent with our policy on equal opportunities. Governors ensure that the school uniform policy helps children to dress sensibly, in clothing that is hardwearing, safe and practical.
Pupil non-compliance
The Head Teacher, or a person authorised by the Head Teacher, may contact parents when the school uniform code is not being followed. If the pupil continues to breach uniform rules in such a way they may be sent home to collect their uniform. The pupil’s absence in this instance will initially be counted as an authorised absence. If the matter continues the school may consider internally excluding a pupil in response to breaches of uniform policy. This will be in line with the legal requirements for exclusion.
Monitoring and review
When monitoring this policy, through its committee work, the governing body will:
- seek the views of parents, to be sure that they agree with the policy, and support it;
- consider with the head teacher any requests from parents for individual children to have special dispensations;
- require the head teacher to report to the governors on the way the policy is being implemented.
This policy will be reviewed by the governing body every two years or earlier if necessary