Nobody tells you what to wear on your first day in a nursery, and most dress codes only get explained after you have already got it wrong. This is the practical version: what the rules usually are, why they exist, and what to ask before a first shift.
The short answer
Clothes you can kneel, lift and get paint on. Closed-toe shoes you can move in. Nothing dangling from your ears, wrists or neck. Hair tied back. A spare top in your bag. Everything else is detail.
Why the rules exist
Dress codes in early years are not about looking smart, which is why they can feel arbitrary until someone explains them. Almost every rule traces back to one of three things.
Safety. You lift children, you carry them, you kneel on hard floors and you sometimes need to move quickly. Hoop earrings and long nails are a scratch risk during nappy changes and cuddles. Loose scarves and lanyards are a pull risk.
Hygiene. Nurseries deal with bodily fluids every single day. Clothing needs to wash at a high temperature and dry overnight, because it will need to.
Recognition. Parents handing over a child want to know at a glance who works there. That is most of the reason settings use branded polos or tabards.
What to wear, in practice
| Item | What works | What causes problems |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Setting polo or tabard; otherwise a plain t-shirt you do not mind ruining | White, delicate fabrics, anything dry-clean only |
| Bottoms | Dark trousers, joggers or leggings with give in them | Short skirts, anything you cannot sit cross-legged on the floor in |
| Shoes | Flat, closed-toe, with a back | Sandals, mules, heels, brand-new white trainers |
| Outdoors | Waterproof coat and wellies kept at the setting | Assuming outdoor play is cancelled for rain. It is not |
| Jewellery | Plain band, small studs | Hoops, stone-set rings, long necklaces |
| Nails | Short and natural | Gels, acrylics, long nails of any kind |
Questions worth asking before day one
- Is a uniform provided, and am I expected to pay for it?
- What should I wear on my first shift before any uniform arrives?
- Are aprons provided for messy play and nappy changes?
- Is there somewhere to keep outdoor kit and a spare change of clothes?
- Is there anything specific the setting asks staff not to wear?
If you are starting through an agency
Agency staff get judged on the first ten minutes more than permanent staff do, simply because nobody in the room knows you yet. Plain and practical removes the question entirely. Ask your consultant what the setting expects before the booking, and keep a neutral polo in a bag you can grab.
If you are new to agency work, our jobs and registration page explains how placements work, and the registration process covers what you need in place before a first shift.
If you are writing a dress code
The dress codes that get followed explain themselves. A policy that says “no hoop earrings because of scratch risk during lifting and nappy changing” gets complied with. A policy that says “jewellery must be appropriate” gets argued about. Write the reason next to the rule, say what the setting provides, and say what happens on a day when someone turns up in the wrong shoes.
Frequently asked questions
Do nurseries provide a uniform?
Many do, usually a branded polo shirt or tabard, and some provide a fleece for outdoors. Others set a colour and leave you to buy it. Ask before your first shift whether anything is provided, whether you are expected to pay for it, and what to wear on day one while it is being sorted.
What shoes should you wear in a nursery?
Closed-toe, flat, with a back to them, and something you can move quickly in. You will kneel, sit on the floor, go outside in all weathers and occasionally need to cross a room fast. Open-toe shoes, backless shoes and heels are ruled out in most settings on safety grounds.
Can you wear jewellery and nail varnish working in a nursery?
Policies vary but the direction is consistent. Dangly earrings, stone-set rings and long or gel nails are usually discouraged or banned, because of scratch risk during nappy changes and lifting, and because of hygiene. A plain band and small studs are acceptable in most places.
What about tattoos and piercings?
Far less of an issue than it once was. Most settings are relaxed about visible tattoos provided the content is appropriate for a room full of children. Facial piercings are sometimes asked to be removed or minimised for safety rather than appearance.
What should agency staff wear on a first placement?
Plain, practical and neutral. A plain polo or t-shirt in a dark colour, comfortable trousers, closed-toe shoes, and a change of top in your bag. Ask the consultant whether the setting provides a tabard.
Why do nurseries have a dress code at all?
Three reasons, in order: safety, hygiene and being recognisable. Clothing that is safe to lift and kneel in, that can be washed hot, and that makes staff identifiable to parents at pick-up time.
Looking for nursery work in London?
Register once and a consultant will talk through the settings that would suit you.