Uniform and Dress Code

Purchasing School Uniform

School jumpers, cardigans, Polo-Shirts,  T-Shirts and school-logo book bags can be ordered from AWS-workwear.  Please visit their website www.aws-ltd.co.uk and select Schoolwear and Air Balloon Hill Primary School from the menu (or click the blue button below).  Uniform can be delivered free of charge to the school for collection.  All other items of the school uniform are readily available at supermarkets and other high street stores. The uniform is simple to avoid unnecessary expense for parents and the only items that need to include the school logo, are our jumpers or cardigans. This has always been our policy and we acknowledge that the government have now provided statutory guidance for schools to support parents in the cost of school uniforms – more information on this legislation can be found here: Cost of School Uniforms

If you would like to purchase second-hand uniform items, please ask at the school office, collect an order form from the main foyer or look out for details of our ‘pre-loved’ sales in the newsletter.

Help with the cost of uniform 

Bristol City Council are providing some support via an emergency fund which can be used for school uniforms.  While it isn’t a specific grant for school uniforms, you can apply for an emergency payment, which can be used to buy clothing.  The emergency payment is a one-off fund for people having a financial crisis.  

If you are struggling to purchase the correct uniform, please speak to Sarah Webb, our Family Support Worker, who may be able to help.

Spare uniform

If you have uniform which no longer fits and still has plenty of wear left, please consider donating it to the school for us to sell on to families who would like to buy pre-loved uniform in a bigger size.  Please hand any donations to the school office.

Remember… All items of school uniform should be clearly labelled with your child’s name.

BAALPE Guidance from 2016 Safe Practice in Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity- Clothing for PE:

1. Children should wear clothing that is fit for purpose according to the activity, environment and weather conditions
2. Loose clothing in gymnastics may catch on equipment and cause injury. Any item, including any of cultural significance, need to be relatively close fitting or removed for reasons of safety to the individual. The fabric of clothing for gymnastics needs to be such that it will not cause slipping from equipment, particularly when individuals are working at height or in an inverted position.
3. Students should wear sufficient and appropriate clothing according to the weather conditions in order to minimise the likelihood of injury in cold conditions or illness in very hot conditions.
4. Loose clothing for swimming is not advised, other than during skills tests in controlled conditions, due to the drag created, which may adversely affect the confidence of weaker swimmers.
5. Teachers must ensure that children are wearing the correct clothing or apply strategies to make their inclusion safe, or limit the extent of their participation.

BAALPE Guidance – Jewellery

1. Personal effects such as jewellery, religious artefacts, watches, hair slides, sensory aids and so forth, should ideally, always be removed to establish a safe working environment.
2. Staff have a duty of care to ensure that children are able to actively participate without unnecessarily endangering themselves or those working around them. Systems and procedures need to be in place within the changing area to check children fulfil this obligation prior to participation.
3. Recent developments in the manufacture of medical-aid wristbands have resulted in products with an acceptably low risk factor (soft materials, Velcro fastenings). Such items should be acceptable for physical participation in most activities, largely avoiding the need for removal, providing there are no hard or sharp edges that may cause injury.
4. Religious bracelets can be covered with a sweat band.
5. Ideally children should not wear jewellery to school on PE days but all must be removed for PE, swimming and some technologies. If removal of earrings is not possible due to recent piercing, the child must come to school with earrings pre-taped. Tape can be given in school but the teacher is not required to apply or remove the tape. The tape must be sufficiently padded so the post of the earring cannot penetrate.

Jewellery in School

At Air Balloon Hill– children may not wear jewellery to school, with the exception of a watch or jewellery which is of a religious significance. If ears are pierced children may wear studs or very small hoops, maximum 8mm. These should not be worn to school on PE or swimming days. If they are worn the child must remove them for PE, swimming and certain technologies. Staff will not do this for them. Earrings can be taped – see above.

The school will not take any responsibility for any jewellery that is lost at school, nor for any accidents that occur due to jewellery being worn

Make-Up

No make-up should be worn in school. False nail extensions are not permitted.

Hair

The school recommends that hair should be neat and tidy. Long hair should be tied back especially during PE activities for safety.

Equalities

Recognising that the school is a diverse community and some religions and beliefs require children to follow a particular dress code, the school will make any necessary amendments to this policy to allow this to happen. Reasonable requests to vary the School Uniform Policy to meet the needs of individual pupils to accommodate their religion or belief, ethnicity, disability or other special considerations should be discussed with the Headteacher.