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School Uniform Policy

School Uniform and Appearance Policy

Academy: Co-op Academy Woodlands

Approved by: Adele Clark (Headteacher)

Approved date: June 2026

Next Review Date: June 2027

Uniform shows that we are in a community.

Wearing it says we’re all in this together.

At Co-op Academy Woodlands, our students wear their uniform with pride and care. Our uniform shows that we are united within the Co-op Academy Woodlands community and affiliated within the Co-op Academy Trust’s wider community, where we succeed together. We have the highest expectations from our pupil pioneers with regards to school unity, uniform and appearance, and strongly believe that our high standards promote positive behaviour (by doing what matters most) to support the effective teaching and learning and contribute to the ethos of the academy, so that pupils can be themselves, always.

Limiting the cost of school uniform

Our school has a duty to make sure that the uniform we require is affordable, in line with statutory guidance from the Department for Education on the cost of school uniform.

We understand that items with distinctive characteristics (such as branded items or items that have to have a school logo or a unique fabric/colour/design) cannot be purchased from a wide range of retailers and that requiring many such items limits parents’ ability to ‘shop around’ for a low price.

We will make sure our uniform:

Is available at a reasonable cost
Provides the best value for money for parents/carers

We will do this by:

Carefully considering whether any items with distinctive characteristics are necessary
Limiting any items with distinctive characteristics where possible by accepting that all items must be of a chosen colour but not necessarily need the school logo.
Keeping the number of optional branded items to a minimum so that the school’s uniform can act as a social leveller
Avoiding different uniform requirements for extra-curricular activities
Making sure that arrangements are in place for parents to acquire second-hand uniform items
Avoiding frequent changes to uniform specifications and minimising the financial impact on parents of any changes
Consulting with parents and pupils on any proposed significant changes to the uniform policy and carefully considering any complaints about the policy

Supporting Equality and Inclusion

In our primary schools, we will be encouraging families to choose trousers as everyday uniforms for girls.

Research shows that practical uniform options:

Support active play
Build confidence
Help children fully participate in learning

Trousers allow children to move more freely during playtimes, lessons and PE, helping them feel comfortable throughout the school day.

This approach reflects our commitment to equality and inclusion, while still allowing families choice.

School Uniform

We have school uniform and we encourage all our children to wear their uniform smartly. Our day to day uniform should be worn by children from Nursery to year 6. All items of uniform must be labelled. It consists of the following:

Hijab/head scarves in navy blue, black or grey
White polo shirt or shirt
Navy blue jumper/cardigan, preferably embroidered with school logo
Charcoal/grey/black skirt
Charcoal/grey/black trousers
Sensible black school shoes or fully black trainers, not boots, shoes with heels or branded trainers.

Summer Uniform

As above, with the following options:

Hijab/headscarves in white, black, grey or blue
Blue and white checked dress
Charcoal/grey/black shorts
Sun hat preferably with neck protector

EYFS

We encourage families to send their child to school with a bag of spare clothes, including waterproof coat and wellies. All items of clothing must be labelled. We remind parents to avoid sending children to school in expensive or valuable clothing, due to the nature of the children’s learning, e.g. outdoor, exploration play that involves the children getting hands-on and this can be messy.

Pupils in nursery and reception classes are encouraged to always have a waterproof coat, footwear and wellies during wet/colder weather as the children are exploring the outside provision daily. During summer months, please ensure sun hat preferably with a neck protector and put sunscreen on your child as necessary.

PE & After School Club Kit

We advise on appropriately labelled PE kit consisting of the following:

White T-shirt (embroidered is preferred, but not essential) (From September 2026, this should have our Logo)
Round neck jumper or tracksuit top in blue for outdoors
Black/blue shorts or jogging bottoms - non-branded items
Black/blue tracksuit trousers for outdoor games in cold weather - non-branded
Black, non-branded trainers (or suitable footwear for sports)

If a child does not have appropriate footwear for PE, school will provide this.

School Uniform on Trips

When pupils attend educational visits, please ensure that:

Pupils wear uniform, as normal, for all trips within school hours
Weather and waterproof coat – weather dependent
Weather and appropriate waterproof footwear
Gloves, and warm hat during colder weather
Sun cream and sun hat preferably with next protector during summer/warmer weather

Where can I buy the uniform from and how much will it cost?

No logo items of uniform can be purchased from any retailer. If parents wish to purchase logo items these can be purchased from The School Uniform Shop.

The School Uniform Shop

The School wear Specialists

371 Harehills Lane

Harehills

LS9 6AP

Email: info@uniwears.co.uk

Tel: 0113 2351256

General note on appearance:

Shirts should be tucked in at all times.

Jewellery:

Jewellery should not be worn or brought into school.
If pupils in KS2 have pierced ears, one pair of discreet studs may be worn. Guidance states that earrings must be removed for PE lessons for health and safety reasons. If your child is unable to remove the earrings themselves they should not come to school with them on PE days.
Girls in EYFS/KS1 are not allowed to wear earrings or studs, due to the nature of the curriculum, and the fact that the pupils access the outdoor area on a daily basis.
No other body piercings are allowed.

Nails

Children should not attend school wearing false, acrylic or stick-on nails.
Nails should be short and allow proper handwriting grip. They should be short to avoid causing harm to others by scratching.

Make Up and Spot Stickers and Blemish Patches

Children should not attend school wearing make up, spot stickers or blemish patches

Hairstyles:

Hair should be one natural colour, no hair dye.
Long hair must be tied back.
Hair should be no shorter than Grade 2.
Tramlines, patterns and sculpting are not allowed.

Students must not wear:

Hoodies, sportswear or sweatshirts, unless it is part of their PE kit on their designated PE day (please see advisory items above).
Any kind of boots (wellingtons or snow boots (not fashion boots) are allowed in wet weather/snow but must be changed when inside the school buildings).
Leather or denim clothing.
Trainers are not allowed to be worn at any time other than for PE lessons and after school clubs.
Make up and nail varnish should not be worn to school.

Breaches of Uniform and Appearance Policy

What should I do if there is a problem with my child’s uniform?
What should I do if there is a problem with my child’s PE kit?
What will happen if my child is in the wrong uniform?

Please contact the academy office on: 0113 240 7382 and we will be happy to put your worries at ease and to advise you further.

Stages of support:

My teacher will talk to me and my parents about this, and will send me home with a slip to remind us what to wear.
My teacher will have a meeting with my parents about my uniform and how school can help me to wear what is expected.
My parents will have a meeting with Mrs. Clark to talk about my uniform and how school can help me to wear the correct items.

If a child does not have their PE kit, if they have appropriate footwear, they will be expected to still join in the session. Parents of students who do not have the correct PE uniform will be contacted using uniform reminder slips (see appendix) and requested to come into the academy in their PE kit on their next designated PE day.

Parents of students who do not wear the correct uniform will be contacted using uniform reminder slips (see appendix) and requested to bring uniform in the following day.

Students who wear make-up/nail varnish or jewellery will be required to remove these. Items of jewellery may be confiscated by the teacher to be collected by the parent.

Persistent and defiant non-compliance with the policy may result in an appropriate sanction which may include reflection or exclusion

Providing spare uniform to wear

In accordance with the DfE, we can require pupils to wear pieces of uniform provided by the school if they fail to bring their own, including PE kits.

Equality Statement:

We have carefully considered and analysed the impact of this policy on equality and the possible implications for pupils with protected characteristics, as part of our commitment to meet the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) requirement to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations.

Appendix A: Uniform Posters including stages of support

Appendix B: Uniform Slips to Send Home

School Uniform Front

School Uniform Back

PE Kit Front

PE Kit Back