Uniform & Dress Code

Scope

This policy applies to all employees of The Akidamy and is aimed at ensuring a professional and appropriate dress code for the workplace. It also to ensure that families and the outside community see the high standards of education that you provide your children. The uniform is a statement to the community and our families that we see early childhood education as a prestigious honor and that we are seen as experts in our professions, and not child minders for their children.

Audience

This policy applies to all employees, contractors, and visitors of The Akidamy while on company premises or representing the company.

General Guidelines

All employees are expected to dress in a professional and neat manner that is appropriate for their role and the nature of their work.

The Akidamy School of Early Learning will supply you with uniforms, including a hat, stockings, scarf, belt, jacket, bag, and apron, on commencement of employment, and these must be worn whilst you are on your shift. The uniform provided will give you a variety of options to make you feel comfortable and professional. Replacement options and sizes of the uniform are available and please return any good condition outfits to be re-used where possible. During the course of the school's operation, if staff members have an accident (i.e. as result of interaction with children or general activity) where the uniform is damaged, soiled, wet, or contaminated, a replacement will be issued to allow for the uniform to be laundered. 

If you require a replacement, please speak to the Office & Communication Specialist or School Director, who will supply you with one. Where you have damaged your uniform through abuse or miss-use, additional uniform pieces may be required to be purchased at your own cost through the School Director. 

Uniforms must be laundered regularly and kept in sound condition with no stains, tears, or holes. 

The professional image of our School is very important to us. Families must be able to easily identify our team members. 

Staff not wearing the Akidamy uniform will be provided with a spare set on the day to wear immediately, which they will need to return at the clean on the following day. Repeated occurrences can result in disciplinary action as per the Akidamy Disciplinary Policy.  

Shoes

Flat or low-heeled, clean, covered black or navy shoes must be worn. They should also be slip resistant to ensure that you don't slip on wet surfaces. It’s important that you are comfortable, as you may be on your feet for most or all of your working day. Where your footwear is deemed inappropriate or unsafe, you will be asked by the School Director to change your footwear. Sports shoes, sneakers, or trainers are not to be worn. 

So that we role model appropriate behaviour, all team members must wear The Akidamy staff hat while supervising outdoors. It is also encouraged that all staff apply sunscreen prior to being outdoors for their own skin safety.

Jewellery/Piercings

Minimal jewelry is to be worn due to safety reasons and should be ‘appropriate’ to the studio in which you work. At the Akidamy, as in all occupations, our dress code relates to the job at hand. We have an extremely high level of Health and Safety procedures in place for our staff and for the children in our care. Accordingly, employees are required to remove the following items when working within the School for safety reasons: all facial piercings that are of a ring/hoop style in nature other excess jewelry such as pendant style earrings and tongue ring.

We believe that such piercings and jewellery on a staff member's body/face could result in a safety risk or injury if a child was to unintendedly pull these items. Facial and ear piercings that are of a stud style in nature are acceptable on the basis they don’t pose a safety or hygiene risk. Where an employee has facial or other piercings for religious or similar reasons, these can be discussed in more detail with the School Director. The School Director will issue staff with guidance in the dress code if it is deemed as necessary.

Tattoos

All tattoos should ideally be covered while on school grounds. However, for all tattoos, special reference is made to tattoos with violent, hateful messages or symbols, or offensive images or words, which must also be covered (for example, skulls, weapons, Nazi symbols, and naked bodies).

Returning of uniform after cessation of employment

When an Educator leaves the School, they need to ensure their uniforms are returned in good condition upon the end of their last shift. They should therefore prepare for their last shift by bringing a spare set of clothes they can change into after this shift and return their uniform prior to leaving the building.

Where this is not practical, we ask all Educators that the School uniform is returned within 5 business days following their last shift. Educators will be contacted by the School to remind them of this timeframe after they have ceased employment if the uniforms have not been returned.

Exceptions

In certain circumstances, employees may be permitted to dress more casually. This may be authorised by the School Director for events such as charity events or team-building events. In such cases, employees should still dress appropriately and avoid clothing that is overly casual or inappropriate. 

Violation

Any employee found to be in violation of this policy will be asked to change their attire and may face disciplinary action as per the Akidamy Disciplinary Policy.