AT a meeting at my local infants school to introduce new parents and give them a chance to ask questions, the idea of introducing a uniform was raised.

I do not feel one is necessary below the age of seven, as children often have many clothes that they enjoy wearing and give them their own identity among a crowd of new faces.

I was openly mocked as I was in the minority, but I expect this type of reaction when you do not conform.

My horror and anger was at the communal reason that there would be pressure from other children to wear designer clothes and trainers and many parents could not afford such items. These children are six years old and under. In my experience of children this age, they think fashion is the latest Tele Tubbies T-shirt or Action Man bag, which even people on low income can afford.

Barbie trainers are a girl's favourite and, if not, there are plenty of alternatives to keep children clean and tidy for school.

A pair of shoes should be changed every three months at this age, so would you really pay £40 so your four-year-old won't get laughed at at school for not being in fashion?

It is the parents who need to take control of the situation and stop trying to compete with each other as children so young really don't care.

If they do, then we need to, as parents, look at where this pressure originates and try and emphasise to our children that it is what they do at school that is the important thing - not what they wear.

WENDY NEWSOME (MISS), Shorrock Lane, Blackburn.

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