Dangerous Uniform

[lambethlil]

Working myself up into an AIBU, but does your DCs school specify a dark coat? They're invisible round here, once it gets dark

[BariatricBob]

get him a luminous bib - next!

[overmydeadbody]

That is ridiculous, how are kids meant to be seen in dark coats?

[hana]

it's another ridiculous uniform policy by poncy schools.

[Goblinchild]

Agree it's ridiculous.
However, many of the dark coats have a thin white piping that shines brightly when in headlights, so if you have to get a dark coat, check what's available.

[lambethlil]

Does your school specify it though?? All the schools round here seem to have them in urban camouflage. Primary school kids are much easier to see, and they're out earlier and more supervised.

[BariatricBob]

i wore a dark coat and managed to survive.

[Pixel]

Dd's school uniform is all-black and most of them are too 'cool' to wear coats. It is really very hard to see them crossing the roads on wintery evenings, especially on the stretch of road near me that has poor street lighting and a blind corner. I'm honestly amazed there hasn't been an accident.

We recently had a survey home to write our thoughts on uniform and I mentioned that they should have some kind of school cagoule/raincoat with a reflective logo or piping or something for safety. I've no idea if anyone took any notice.

[ruddynorah]

your kid won't wear the coat. give him a white hoody, he might wear that. or a white jane norman bag if you have a girl. job done.

[Pixel]

Yes but Bob, were you walking along with music plugged into your ears while texting on your mobile?

[EccentricaGallumbits]

don't bother - the don't wear coats past year 7. they just hang about looking cold cool.

[Hulababy]

DD's uniform coat and hat is dark, but she is primary achool and never unaccompanied. She does have a bib but only uses that for when cycling, not with her coat. You can also get the strips too.

Her waterproof school coat is red with the reflective strips on it.

[bruffin]

A lot of bags have reflectinve piping on them, and neon gloves are very fashionable at the moment.

[ADifferentMe]

Both DDs go to schools which insist on dark coats - we have neither streetlighting nor footpaths in our village.

So frustrating when you try to back the school enforcing rules, then they come out with a dopey one like that!

[GrungeBlobPrimpants]

It's not so much the uniform regs, it's more that teenagers (1) won't wear coats anyway and (2) they'd rather walk down the street naked rather than wear any reflective/safety gear.

Sadly.

(They will wear neon day-glo accessories to parties, mind )

[justagirlfromedgware]

Hello, same problem here with all black uniform. Where do I buy reflective strips/arm bands/safety gear? I've tried the internet for cycling gear, but it's not appropriate.

[Prinnie]

By Year 7 SURELY kids are able to cross a road safely?! I would say it's their own responsibility (and their parents to teach them road sense) to ensure they're safe.

I suppose if your DC has to walk on a stretch of road that doesn't have a pavement or is cycling that might be different but if not this seems very OTT!

[ImSoNotTelling]

Good luck getting a secondary school age child to wear a reflective vest to walk home

[Ivykaty44]

the school that my dd2 will go to states a dark coat

I have emailed both police and school

school replied, police said they would look at it and get back to me - they havn't yet it was a month ago

school replied that dc could wear flourecnt strips

school is ignoring the fact that trying to get a teenager to wear a flourencent strip is about as easy as using a chocolate tea pot

it seems stick unifrom is more important than keeping dc safe

my second choice of school the head teacher thinks uniform is simple and safe and ecourages bright coats in winter, has organised with the local bus company to move there bus route to include the school drive at coming to and going to school time. Head teacher was worried about children on the dark cold pavement half a mile away.

One head has common sense and relates to children/teens

i can't comment on the other as he is new this term.

[justagirlfromedgware]

Prinnie: My DS is very careful crossing the road, but where his coach drops him off is a rat run with no safe crossings, it's pitch dark when he gets home and he's only 11 and not especially big for his age , so not easily visible.

ISNT: I do agree about the problem with getting a secondary age child to wear a vest, but I was thinking more along the lines of an arm band and something to hang off his (dark red) school bag.

any ideas? thanks. Just a girl.

[littlerach]

This was a problem at one of our local secondaries, and even staff were aware of the problems of them wearing dark coloured coats.

Think the governing body got involved with rewriting the policy.

[justagirlfromedgware]

Oh brilliant! glowsticks. Hadn't thought of those. Perhaps they'll have them at the Science Museum shop (which we might got to if I'm feeling brave about the crowds).

[ImSoNotTelling]

glowsticks is fab idea