Are School Non-Uniform Days Getting A Bit Much?!

I remember it clearly: it was my daughter’s first non-uniform day (specifically, wear-your-pyjamas-to-nursery day) and I’d completely missed the memo.It was like a scene out of Motherland as my daughter turned up to nursery in her school uniform, book bag in hand, while all of her friends dashed in in their Frozen and Spider-Man pjs. But unlike Anna Maxwell Martin’s character in the hit parenting comedy, I didn’t have anything to whip out of a rucksack for my daughter – nor was I wearing anything I could pull off and pretend was a three-year-old’s pyjamas. @bbcWorld Book Day nightmare 📖 #Motherland#Amandaland#BookTok♬ original sound - BBC - BBCI know in the grand scheme of things it didn’t really matter, but I felt awful for not knowing about pyjama day.My daughter, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care much as she skipped up the ramp to her teacher, but she did mention after nursery that next time she wanted to wear herFrozen pyjamas. And probably her unicorn slippers, too.We had a bit of a laugh about me missing the email about it being pyjama day – “silly mummy!” – but I’ve since made it my personal mission to scour every single school newsletter. Just another thing to add to the million other life admin/child-raising bits I need to process and action each day, in addition to – y’know – work. The admin involved in keeping on top of these days isn’t even the tip of the iceberg, though. “Is the frequency of costume days at my child’s school unreasonable?” a parent recently asked on Reddit. They said they were all for their child dressing up “every now and then” but noted it was the “third time” since their son had started school (which was less than a month ago, might I add) where he’d been asked to don non-uniform.This time, it was Victorian-style attire. And, it gets worse, the parent said they’d only been give “a few days’ notice”.“I don’t have anything like that lying around, and I don’t want to have to purchase yet another thing at short notice that may or may not arrive on time and that’ll be used once and never again (no matter how much it costs) – but at the same time, I’d feel bad if he was the only child not dressed up,” they said.“Would it be unreasonable of me to feedback to them that the frequency feels too much and should probably be reserved for bigger days, rather than when someone from a museum visits?”It seems like this is very much the norm“Buckle up, this is just the beginning. At least you’ve only got one kid in primary, I’m under siege,” remarked one parent in response to the post.“God does your child go to the same school as mine?! Between numbers day, languages day, world book day, Red Nose Day, children in need, TT [times tables] rock stars day, explorers day and the countless themed assemblies it is absolutely exhausting. I’m glad my eldest is out of primary school now for that reason alone,” added another.Some parents noted the dressing-up frequency does appear to calm down a bit once children get older.“I recall in reception being told at two days notice mine needed to wear all yellow, another time Greek national dress, another her favourite animal. We learned to just do the absolute bare minimum,” commented one parent.“After reception it all drops off.”Another said: “We had a ridiculous number last year in Reception. The worst was ‘seasons week’ where they had to be spring on Monday, summer on Tuesday, autumn on Wednesday and winter on Thursday, then reprise their favourite costume on Friday. A whole week!“And we had World Book Day, Roald Dahl day, ‘wear something bright for harvest festival’ day, wacky hair day, almost certainly more I am repressing.”The parent said in the end they shared feedback with the school that there were “too many” non-uniform days and “it wasn’t fair on those parents without time/money”. They’re right – it isn’t fair for those who can’t afford it. Even items from charity shops can really add up, especially when you’ve got more than one child. On top of that, schools typically request a donation from parents for their kids to take part in non-uniform days.The Child Poverty Action Group has warned some pupils are missing time at school on themed and non-uniform days because they don’t have suitable costumes or clothing, and don’t want to “stand out” among their peers.So what’s the answer? In a separate Mumsnet forum, parents debated how many non-uniform days is excessive, with most agreeing that one (or, at a push, one non-uniform day and one costume day) per term seems reasonable.Another parent suggested classrooms could have a dressing up box with donated items in so kids can choose from that if they don’t have anything to wear.Schools, take note!Related...I'm An ADHD Coach – Parents Should Ask Schools These 3 Crucial QuestionsDad's 'Cuddle Button' Helps Daughter With School Separation Anxiety2 Million Children Are Unhappy At School – This Is Why

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