School structure and a Q regarding uniforms

Ok, do most schools in the UK require uniforms even nursery?  I am confused on this and also the structure.  I have a 10 year old (11 in April), a 5 year old (bdate: 9/25) and 3 year old (bdate: 9/11)  So what kind of school am I looking at in regards to their ages and cutoff dates?  Also my youngest isnt potty trained yet (we are working on it but definitely have a long way to go..)...any thoughts?? Thank you.

Not nursery schools but yes almost all schools here have a uniform. There is usually a school shop to buy it from or a particular department store.

Your 3 year old would go to a nursery school - that's if you want them to.  Depending on your local education authority your 5 year old will be in an "infants" or "primary" school. Your 10/11 year olf will most likely be in a primary school too, although some areas have "middle schools" for the 10-12s.

Hope this hasn't confused you even further. 

Nah, you didnt confuse me.  I had done a little reading on it before but just wanted to make sure I understood...do the different schools have different cut off dates?  Why do they have to wear uniforms?  Is there any school in the UK that doesnt require them?

Hi...at our local primary school, the nursery students also wear the school uniform. Of course at this age they just consist of polo shirts, jumpers (pull over or button up) and black trousers for boys or skirts for girls, black shoes. The girls can also buy checked dresses in the school colors (ours is bright blue here.)

The cut off date here is in Sept...the first part of the month I believe, which would mean that your son would be going into Reception if he is turning five in Sept. or year 1 if he is turning six this Sept. Either way he will be one of the oldest, which is good! My twins turned five in July and just finished Reception. (Sort of like US kindergarten.) They did fine, but I would worry about them being the youngest if we were planning on staying in the UK forever.

Hope this helps?

Vicki

I think there are a few schools that don't have uniforms but not many.  I think the main reasoning behind it is so you can't tell who's rich & who's poor, stop the kids from competing, that kind of thing.

Just my opinion, but British schools really like to push conformity.  The wearing of the uniform is just part of that.  No individuals here. 

I think there are a few schools that don't have uniforms but not many.  I think the main reasoning behind it is so you can't tell who's rich & who's poor, stop the kids from competing, that kind of thing.

that's one of  the reasons ..there is still a class divide here although dying off and not as prominent as before.....Personally , I kinda like the uniform sys ... in the states I remember classmates getting knifed because they wore expensive coats or shoes..I agree with Mindy's statement but in regards to how the British regard anyone under 16...there is still a bit of a  Victorian attitude towards children.

I think the main reasoning behind it is so you can't tell who's rich & who's poor, stop the kids from competing, that kind of thing.

Unfortunately that really doesn't work though. At my son's school the rich kids just found other ways to set themselves apart..like by wearing a certain brand of watch or even what brand of boxer shorts the boys wore. I think no matter what, kids will find a way to break themselves off into groups or cliques.

I've been told it's supposedly cheaper on the parents if the kids wear uniforms but it's not really cheaper for me. I have to buy both.....the uniforms for school and still buy the other clothes for everyday life.

I was unaware england had uniforms until I moved here
I remember back when I was in school in the states, it was "cool" to keep the pricetags on clothes and ur shoes, to show how much was paid for em. So no matter wot kids are always gonna find ways to show off their parents money unfortantly

Egad........It wont be cheaper for me then!  I'd have to buy 3!  On the one hand it would be so easy in the AM's to pick out something to wear!  On the other hand, since my kids have already been living in Sweden and we dont do that here, it's going to be MAJOR hard for them to adjust!  Especially my son!  He's so rebellious right now...and my youngest girl.  She absolutely HATES dresses!   My mother would probably be thrilled though to see them so nicely dressed!   How many uniforms do you purchase?  Do they wear one uniform for an entire week?  I know I am green, bear with me!

My daughter hated wearing dresses and when she started school she soon changed and now wears her dresses just for fun (since her friends in school likes dresses) I've had to at times tell her not to wear her school uniform on a sunday..

It's true kids find a way to distance and clique off by purchasing certain items like phones , getting their hair done or whatever...even by what uniform the wear you can tell who's going where.

I find it cheaper because they wear School uniforms for the most part and regular clothes outside of school hours..so the regular clothes are spared the main brunt of the school time use. Of course I've only got one child...

I like the fact that my daughter wears a uniform.  Up until now it has been expensive as we could only buy from the only shop that sold the uniform in the next town.  The dresses ranged from £20-£30.  But now they have changed suppliers and opened a shop at the school and the dresses are £10.00.  We have a good hand me down system and anything that is in good condition gets passed on.  I am friends with one of the Mum's in the year ahead and she passes me anything worth passing on.

Shirts you can find cheap enough.  I get blouses from ASDA.  They are good quality and unless they come home stained they generally last the entire school year.  I have also heard that the teflon coated uniforms last.

Wow teflon on uniforms?? I have never heard of that!  In that case teflon would be good for mine because I can hardly believe some of the things my kids manage to get on themselves!

I am pretty sure that Tescos does the teflon ones.

I used to buy Teflon coated trousers for my son from M&S.