Clothing and Uniform

Names should be put on all items of school clothing, in pen, on the labels, for all children. Pupils are asked to change into soft shoes before going into the carpeted classrooms in order that the floor may be kept as clean as possible. Slip-on sandshoes are, therefore, needed every day and we suggest that they be left in school for convenience. The uniform for All Saints is available from Smith’s Shoes and Sports, West Blackhall Street, Greenock. Purple sweatshirts and polo shirts, or white shirt with school tie, are worn with grey trousers and grey skirts. Given that there is substantial parental and public approval of uniform, schools in Inverclyde are free to encourage the wearing of school uniform. In encouraging the wearing of uniform account is taken in any proposals to prevent any direct or indirect discrimination on the ground of race or gender. Any proposals will be the subject of widespread consultation with the parents and pupils. Against this background it should be noted that it is the policy of the Education & Lifelong Learning Committee not to insist on pupils wearing uniform or having specialist items of clothing as a prerequisite of their attending and engaging in all of the activities of the curriculum.

Unacceptable Clothing

There are forms of dress which are unacceptable in school, such as items of clothing which:

 potentially, encourage faction (such as football colours);

 could cause offence (such as anti-religious symbolism or political slogans);

 could cause health and safety difficulties, such as loose fitting clothing, or clothing made from flammable material for example, shell suits in practical classes;

 carry advertising, particularly for alcohol or tobacco; and could be used to inflict damage on other pupils or be used by others to do so.

In addition, jewellery such as dangling earrings and large rings could cause health and safety difficulties and are unacceptable to be worn in school.

Clothing Grants

Parents of children receiving one or the following benefits will normally be entitled to monetary grants for footwear and clothing for their children:

• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit, and where income is less than £16,105 (in 2017/18) as assessed by the Inland Revenue
• An asylum seeker receiving support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
• Parent or carer is in receipt of Working Tax Credit with an income below the threshold for receipt of maximum Working Tax Credit (currently income below £6,420)

NB: The above figures may change in the spring, as may some of the terminology.

Approval of requests for such grants made by parents in different circumstances is at the discretion of the Corporate Director Education & Social Care. Information and application forms may be obtained from schools and from Customer Contact Centre, Municipal Buildings, Clyde Square, Greenock, PA15 1LY.

Valuable Items

The council is concerned at the level of claims being received regarding the loss of pupils’ clothing and/or personal belongings. Parents are asked to assist in this area by ensuring that valuable items and unnecessarily expensive items of clothing are not brought to school. Parents should note that the authority does not carry insurance to cover the loss of such items and any claims submitted are likely to be met only where the authority can be shown to have been negligent.