Immigration officers should carry out their duties wearing "softer colours" when deporting families, a review recommends.
The Border and Immigration Agency, in its Review of Family Removals, suggested that the dress code of the officers should be changed to look less like a uniform so the process of deportation was less intimidating to children.
The review said: "Consideration should be given to providing standard-issued clothing in softer colours (currently issued in navy) for enforcement officers involved in family work to reduce the appearance of a 'uniform' and be less intimidating to children."
Authorities should also consider whether children were nearing school examinations, the report said.
"Consideration of proximity to key educational exams is 'a factor which may be taken into consideration' when determining the most appropriate timing for removal, but will not preclude removal," it said.
A Home Office spokesman said: "Removals can be extremely stressful to children and we are open to considering anything that would alleviate that."
