I don’t know about anyone else, but the summer holidays always seem to fly by. One minute we’re enjoying lazy mornings and family days out, and the next I’m realising it’s time to start thinking about school uniforms, PE kits and making sure everyone still has shoes that fit!
After having four children, I’ve learned that starting our back to school shopping early makes the whole process so much less stressful. Rather than rushing around at the end of August trying to find the right sizes, I like to start early, spread everything out over a few weeks and tick items off our list one by one.
This year I’ve been browsing the back to school range at Very, where it’s easy to find everything from school uniform and sportswear to kids backpacks, school shoes and other everyday essentials all in one place.
Start with the Everyday Essentials
When I’m planning for a new school year, I always begin with the items that will be used every single day.
A sturdy backpack is one of the biggest priorities. As children get older they often have more books, folders, lunch boxes and water bottles to carry, so it needs to be practical as well as comfortable.
But our teachers told us to avoid extremely large backpacks, because they won’t have enough space in the cloakroom. So I think this Eastpak bag is a good middle ground to fit everything without being too bulky.
I also find that choosing a simple black design gives it a more timeless look that older children are happy to carry throughout the school year. I try to get bags that will last more than one year, so N picked this plainer one although she says the light blue colour on it is just like Hatsune Miku.
Comfortable footwear is another must. School days are long, and between walking to school, moving between lessons and playing with friends, children spend hours on their feet.
I chose a pair of black trainers that have a more grown-up style while still being practical enough for busy school days. Depending on your child’s school, this type of trainers is a great choice for high school as well. Schools near me allow black trainers but you need to make sure there are no colours on it at all, and these plain black Nike Air Max fit into that criteria.
Don’t Forget the PE Kit
PE kit seems to be the part of the school wardrobe that gets the most use in our house at the moment. Between PE lessons, school swimming days and being worn as daily uniform in hot weather, it spends almost as much time in the washing machine as it does being worn! So I would recommend always get more PE kit than you might think, as these days they seem to use it more and more often.
I actually think this is great as it’s very comfortable for the kids, and my daughter loves it when they get to go in PE uniform.
When choosing PE clothing, I always look for pieces that are comfortable, easy to move in and simple to wash. Having a complete kit ready before the first day of term means one less thing to think about during those busy first weeks back.
It’s also worth checking your school’s uniform policy before buying, as requirements can vary between schools. Once you know what’s needed, it’s much easier to build a practical collection that will last throughout the year.
Make a Back to School Checklist
I find it really helps to write everything down before I start shopping. It stops me forgetting those smaller items that somehow always get overlooked until the last minute.
My checklist usually includes:
- School uniform
- PE kit
- Trainers and school shoes
- Backpack
- Water bottle
- Lunch bag
- Pencil case and stationery
- Socks and underwear
- Coat or waterproof jacket
- Name labels
- School coloured hair accessories.
Having a simple checklist means I can tick things off as they arrive, rather than trying to remember whether I’ve already bought them.
Although we’re doing the back to school shopping in Summer, especially now in the middle of a heatwave, don’t forget about making sure their coat still fits or they have a new coat ready for the school year as once they go back in September, it’s not long before it starts getting chilly again.
We picked this comfy and practical New Look coat from Very.
Shop Early Where You Can
One lesson I’ve definitely learned over the years is that shopping a little earlier makes life much easier. There’s usually a better choice of sizes and styles available, and it means you have time to exchange anything that doesn’t fit before school starts again.
It also gives children the chance to try everything on at home, adjust backpack straps, wear in new trainers a little, and feel prepared for the start of term.
Ready for a Fresh Start
There’s always something exciting about getting ready for a new school year. Whether your child is starting a brand new school or simply moving into the next year group, having everything organised ahead of time helps those first mornings run much more smoothly. Especially if you’re going to be away travelling over the Summer, having everything sorted before you go gives you one less thing to worry about when you’re back from your holidays.
I’m looking forward to getting everything packed and ready over the next few weeks, and it’s been helpful to be able to pick up practical back to school essentials in one place. Hopefully it means we can spend a little less time worrying about forgotten school supplies, and a little more time enjoying the last few days of the holidays before the new term begins.
