School Uniform Policy

 Introduction

 It is our school policy that all children wear school uniform when attending school, or when participating in school-organised events outside normal school hours. We ask children to wear their shirts tucked into their skirts, shorts or trousers and to take a pride in their personal appearance.

Items of uniform can be bought with the school logo on from Whitaker’s Uniform Shop in Farsley, whilst other plain items are easily available, at very competitive prices, at local shops including supermarkets. A complete list of the items needed for school uniform, including those for P.E. and Outdoor Learning, is included in this policy.

“We believe that the wearing of a school uniform enables students to identify with their school, gives a sense of belonging, is practical and smart, reinforces a positive work ethos and reduces expenditure for parents/carers”.

Aims and objectives

The aims of this policy are to:

 • ensure clarity of what can be worn or not at school;

• promote a sense of pride in our school;

• help to create a sense of community and belonging towards the school;

• ensure that our pupils can be clearly identified with our school;

• support our commitment to inclusion;

• prevent pupils from wearing ‘fashion clothes’ that could be distracting in class;

• ensure pupils’ uniforms are practical, smart, affordable and are suitable, with health and safety in mind;

 • ensure that pupils are dressed smartly.

We are proud of our school, and feel that our school uniform helps with a sense of belonging.  The smartness of our children is often commented on by visitors to school.

The uniform is simple and cheap to buy either at Whittakers (formally Uniformity) in Farsley or a number of chain stores, depending on your preference.  Please ensure that all uniform items and coats are labelled with your name!

School Uniform

  • White polo shirt for Reception pupils and up to Year 2. 
  • White shirt (long or short sleeves) – optional in Year 1 and 2.  Expected from Year 3 upwards.
  • Red V neck jumper or cardigan with or without logo
  • School tie (sold through school – optional until Year 3)
  • Grey tailored trouser or shorts  
  • Grey skirt, pinafore dress or trousers     
  • Plain grey, black or white socks                                 
  • Plain grey or red tights                                  
  • Red/White checked Summer dress
  • Black shoes are recommended
  • Sandals in summer should be flat and not ornate, ideally with covered toes
  • Hair should be worn tidily; no extreme hairstyles, colours or ornaments
  • No nail varnish or jewellery (except a watch discreet items of religious significant significance, by agreement with the head teacher)

All children should also bring:

  • A named water bottle, taken home each day for washing
  • A book bag (children from Y3 can bring a different bag, but please keep these small as our cloakrooms get very overcrowded)

PE uniform

Red polo shirt and black shorts/ leggings/ jogging bottoms

Black pumps in a marked bag/ trainers

Red PE hoodie

Hair longer than shoulder length should be tied back for PE.

Please note children are to come to school dressed in their PE kit on PE days. You will be notified via Tapestry in September of which day your child’s class will take part in PE.)

Reception

In addition, pupils in reception class need`

  • A pair of wellies to be kept in school at all times (named)
  • A named bag with a full spare set of clothes to stay in school

Jewellery, Hair Ornaments, Make-up and nail varnish

For health and safety reasons, we do not allow children to wear jewellery. The exception to this rule are small objects of religious significance or stud earrings and an analogue watch.  Children are required to remove any items during PE lessons to prevent them from causing injury. Your child’s class teacher will advise you when PE lessons are to take place. Please note: Teachers are not permitted to remove earrings. Hair bands, ribbons/bows or ‘scrunchies’ should be plain and either red, white, or black. Hair bands should not have objects attached to them such as flowers. Make up and nail varnish should not be worn to school unless for an out of school hours function, for example a school disco. Pupils are free to wear a headscarf or other hair coverings for religious reasons at school if they wish to. These must however be plain and either white, red or black. Headscarves of the type which drape to shoulder length or just below are acceptable. Longer headscarves are not permitted for safety reasons.

Footwear

For health and safety reasons, we do not allow pupils to wear shoes with platform soles, Heelys or high heels. Pupils are recommended to wear flat, plain black shoes without logos. These should be closed in with no toes visible. Sandals should ideally have covered toes and flip-flops are not permitted due to health and safety reasons.

Adaptations for Weather

In the cold weather, particularly in the winter months, children are expected to wear coats and are permitted to wear a hat/ear-muffs, scarf and gloves. Please ensure that all items are clearly named. On hot days all children will not be expected to wear ties and jumpers. Items such as polo-shirts / short-sleeved shirts, tailored shorts and summer dresses are all appropriate in the hot weather.

The Role of Parents

 We believe that one of the responsibilities of parents is to ensure that their child has the correct uniform and PE kit, and that it is clean, in good repair and that the child’s name is written on all items. If a parent has difficulties for any reason with fulfilling this request, they are asked to speak confidentially to a senior member of staff to discuss the issues. Parents should be assured that we will do all we can to help. Children who arrive at school wearing non-school uniform or PE clothing will be loaned an appropriate item from school where possible. Parents will be contacted to discuss the matter and may be requested to return to school with correct clothing. The school welcomes children from all backgrounds and faith communities. If there are serious reasons, for example on religious grounds, why parents want their child to wear clothes that differ from our school uniform, the school will consider such requests sympathetically. If any parent would like to request a modification to the uniform policy they should, in the first instance, contact the Headteacher.

The role of staff

 Staff should support the Leadership Team in maintaining high standards of uniform dress. Where pupils fail to wear the correct uniform, staff should make discreet and sympathetic enquiries.

The Role of Governors

 The governing body supports the School in implementing the school’s uniform policy. It considers all representations from parents regarding the uniform policy and liaises with the Headteacher to ensure that the policy is implemented fairly and with sensitivity. It is the governors’ responsibility to ensure that the school uniform meets all regulations concerning equal opportunities. Governors ensure that the school uniform policy enables children to dress sensibly, in clothing that is hard wearing, safe and practical.

Special Circumstances

 Special dispensation can be requested for temporary exception from the prescribed school uniform or elements of it. This will usually be on medical grounds or for other exceptional circumstances. The Headteacher and/or Deputy Headteacher will have the ultimate decision on granting or refusing this.

Persistent non-wearing of uniform

We would always make contact with families of children who persistently do not wear school uniform to try and ascertain the reason for this.  We would deal with each case on a case-by-case basis, but it remains our policy that school uniform should be worn.

Lost Property

Any unidentified items of school uniform will be taken to the school office. Pupils and families are encouraged to look here to reclaim lost property, on the understanding that the found item will be clearly named. Children can become upset as a result of lost clothing. Please help us to reunite lost items of clothing with their owners by labelling items with your child’s name.

Help providing Uniform 

School will hold uniform swap afternoons and we will always work sympathetically with families who require support to ensure children come to school in the correct uniform.