We wish for all of our children to have the same, high standard in both school uniform and Physical Education kit, so that it gives them a clear identity of belonging to The Coppice Primary School. We want our children to very much feel that they are connected to their school and are proud to be so.

One of the mantras that we share with the children is ‘Smart in body, smart in mind’. By this we mean that children learn best when they are in a mindset for work. Through being smartly presented, the children understand the high expectations that our school has for them and that we are striving to make them the best that they can be in every sense of the word. For this to be the case, every detail is important and uniform is one of those details.

What is also really important to us though is that the uniform and PE/Forest School kit expectations outlined are both achievable and affordable for all Parents and Carers. Therefore, we have made decisions that we believe enable this to be the case. We do not want to exclude anyone or pose challenges financially for any of our parents or carers with our expectations. For example, we do not expect an embroidered logo on anything apart from their school sweatshirt, jumper or cardigan. Everything else e.g. Physical Education kit can be plain.

In the document below we provide details of places where Parents and Carers can buy the required uniform at affordable prices. In addition, for children with sensory issues, we also provide details of where sensory alternatives can be purchased so that all children can conform to the expectations, just as they will be expected to do at secondary school and possibly in the world of work beyond that. These specialists use specific sensory-need fabrics, which, through research, have a proven track record.

It is important for our school community to know that should anyone find that they have financial constraints which impact on their ability to provide school uniform for their child, then please get in touch with the school office so we can support as best we can, including providing financial assistance or sourcing good quality second-hand uniform.

As a school, we ensure that we always have a very substantial stock of pre-loved uniform which is managed by the school office staff and The Coppice Parent and Teacher Association (PTA). We believe passionately, as does our school’s ECO committee, which is made up of children from our school who are voted for by their peers, that we should not only provide second-hand uniform to help people financially but also because it is good for the environment from a sustainability point of view. We therefore have regular uniform giveaways at Parents’ Evenings and Induction Events for Parents and Carers of children starting our school, as well as being more than happy to deal with individual requests.

We are proud to say that we will NEVER charge anything for pre-loved uniform. If a Parent or Carer wishes to make a donation to School Fund, and is in a position to do so, we will accept this and ensure that every penny is put back into further supporting children in our school e.g. through the purchase of additional resources or play equipment.