Do you think that all pre-school children should wear a uniform?

Wearing a uniform marks a big step in a child’s life, showing their belonging to a setting and sets them up for the future when in their work they may be required to wear a uniform. However is preschool too early to begin instilling such norms and taking away children’s choice about their appearance?

Uniforms have become a standard requirement for the majority of school pupils across the UK and this is a trend which can now be seen in many preschools too. Some requiring children to wear a full uniform and others just requiring t-shirts and jumpers but why has this become the norm? There are a few factors contributing to the reasoning behind making pre-schoolers wear a uniform and these include:

·         Behaviour – Once a child is in a uniform they know that a certain standard of behaviour is expected as they link the uniform to the setting.

·         Inequalities – It is hoped that by making children all dress in same uniform it minimises inequalities in those who have lots of expensive clothing and those who don’t.

·         School readiness – As children will be required to wear a uniform once they are attending a primary school. It is hoped that by getting children into the routine of wearing a uniform, it will help with the school transition and not be such a large change when the time to start school comes.

·         Belonging – A uniform gives the child a sense of belonging and pride. It also enables them to recognise others who are in their setting and brings familiarity.

What are the negatives of wearing a uniform?

Although all of the above are valid points some would argue that wearing a uniform also have negative effects for a child. That there is time for uniforms when a child is older but during preschool they are too young. Some of the negative sides of wearing a uniform include:

·         Personality – People see appearance as a way of expressing their personalities and by being forced to wear a uniform it is squashing this expression. Even young children have their own sense of style and many enjoy wearing particular things, some like wearing dressing up clothes, wellies, dungarees or big puffy skirts. It is fair to take this self-expression away from a child, particularly one who is in a private setting and attends preschool for 5 full days?

·         Inequalities – Although it is hoped that it prevents inequalities being clear and children being judge on this, some parent will be unable to meet the costs of buying a uniform and will instead buy unbranded coloured jumpers or plain t-shirts. In this respect the inequalities are still visible.

·         Expense – Many children will be attending a setting by using the government funding, some of these children will be from low income backgrounds and may be unable to afford to buy a uniform. Having to purchase a uniform for the preschool year may put a further strain on these families.

·          Mess – Children in preschool enjoying taking part in arts, crafts, messy play and time in the outdoors. A uniform may be easily ruined during these activities until the child develops their skills and makes less mess whilst completing them. For this reason parents may prefer to send children to preschool in old clothes that they don’t mind being ruined instead of expensive uniforms that cannot be so easily replaced.

Whichever you decide for your setting is okay, there is no right or wrong when considering the uniform policy you have in place for the children. You may choose to address this topic with other practitioners, parents and managers before making a final decision.