This post How to prepare for going back to primary school: An essentials list was written in collaboration with Very.co.uk. It may contain affiliate links.
The start of every new school year is a particularly traumatic time in the life of a parent. No matter how prepared you think your kids are are for going back to primary school, they will, of course, have grown out of their school shoes and uniform, and that expensive Smiggle (aka the bowels of hell) backpack which they HAD TO HAVE last year is now, well, very last year.
Back to school 2023
Back when I was a primary school kid in the 80s and 90s, the back-to-school planning would usually involve a mid-August trip to the School Uniform shop – appointment only, of course – to hand over an eyewatering sum of money to re-kit your offspring and a very long, loud wait in one of the town’s few shoe shops. Although lots of things have gone downhill since then (such as the size of Mars Bars and the quality of children’s TV), the availability and cost of primary school uniform has massively improved and, happily, you don’t even need to set foot outside the house with everything you need available at the click of a button.
If you’re having a panic about what you need to get for your children to prepare them for going back to school, then here’s a handy list of school essentials.
How to prepare for going back to primary school: An essentials list
- Shoes and socks
- Jumpers/Cardigans
- Shirts
- Trousers, skirts or dresses
- PE clothes and trainers
- Hairbands
- Coats
- Backpacks
- Packed lunch box
- Water bottle
- Stationery supplies
- Name labels
- Other things to check
Shoes and socks
Number one in the list that kids will grow out of overnight are their school shoes. They’re also one of the most expensive items to replace – so getting the right shoes, in the right size, and waiting until the last moment to avoid being caught up in a growth spurt is advisable.
On Very.co.uk you can pick from a huge selection of both girls school shoes and boys school shoes to prepare for going back to school. Top tip: Buy a foot gauge first, so you don’t have to set foot inside a shop to have your children’s feet measured before you buy. It will come in handy for many years!
They stock a variety of well-known brands including Kickers, Clarks and Start Rite shoes which are all made from leather and tough-wearing and, in my experience, last better than cheaper supermarket school shoes.
Don’t forget the socks! Over time, socks go grey, holy and mismatched, so I like to start the year by throwing out the remains of the year-old socks and buying a large multipack (white for my oldest, grey for my youngest so there’s no confusion!) to see them through as long as possible.
Jumpers/Cardigans
Uniform is the biggest expenditure when considering how to prepare for going back to primary school. Kid’s clothes magically shrink over the summer, so even if their jumpers all fit in July you’ll probably need to get some in the next size up.
The Very Everyday range do a two-pack of tumble-drier friendly knit v-neck jumpers for £12 and cardigans for £14. They come in seven different colours including royal blue, navy, black, burgundy, red, grey and green, are made of easy iron fabric with an antibacterial finish and available in ages 3-16.
They’re so confident that you’ll be pleased with your purchase, that if you’re not fully satisfied with your V by Very uniform, you can return within 100 days for a full refund.
Shirts
Polo shirts are a godsend to parents who hate ironing. These 100% cotton polo shirts from the Very Everyday have a stay-white finish which means they won’t go grey quickly, and they’re fine to be tossed in the tumble dryer and come out ready to wear!
I get my daughter shirts with scalloped collars so that I can sort them out easily after washing, and because they’re only £11 for a pack of five shirts – which should see them through the whole week without needing a white wash – I don’t have to worry too much about being able to pass them down to her brother the following year.
Trousers, skirts or dresses
Again, easy-iron items are a must! I aim to get a few days wear before a wash, so a multipack of new skirts/trousers in the next size to add to their current lot and replace smaller ones when they don’t fit is a great back to school purchase.
The pleated skirts cost £11 for two and the trousers £14 for two pairs and fit children from 3-16 years old. All come with adjustable waists, and are covered by the Very uniform guarantee.
PE clothes and trainers
Depending on the school, you might need shorts or joggers (or both), a coloured or plain t-shirt and plimsolls or trainers. You might also need a swimming costume. Check the school list and definitely do not take your child’s word for it.
Hairbands
If you have a child with long hair, then you’ll probably know that hairbands are simultaneously everywhere – over every single surface – and nowhere at the same time. Pick up a new set of 100 the next time you go to Primark or a supermarket, and you won’t have to worry!
Coats
As we’re coming into autumn, a light, waterproof jacket which kids can fold up and keep in their bag is a must-have. I’ve just realised that the ones my kids have are now two years old, so I guess that’s something I’ll be looking to replace too!
Backpacks
No one wants to go back to school, but a new backpack can soften the blow somewhat.
These Hype backpacks, which also came from Very, are big enough to carry everything they need – packed lunch, bottle, pencil case, coat – and are wipe-clean. They come in a variety of different styles, cost £25-£30 each and are ‘cool’ according to my children who know about such things.
Packed lunch box
I’m a huge fan of the Sistema bento boxes which might not be as exciting and pretty as some of the options out there, but they are airtight to keep sandwiches fresh and have lots of compartments to separate different food items.
Water bottle
I don’t recall actually drinking anything when I was at school except from at playtime from the fountain in the playground, but these days water bottles are a must. I would advise a dishwasher safe, leak-proof water bottle which they can fill up easily and won’t leak water all over the inside of their school bag.
Stationery supplies
Your child might be old enough to take in their own pencil case, in which case they might appreciate some new pens and pencils. Don’t go too mad though; there’s plenty of time for that in high school, but a few nice highlighters might help your primary school children to prepare for going back to school
Name labels
Labelling all the kids’ stuff is one of the jobs I look forward to the least, but unless you fancy paying for replacement jumpers every week they’re kind of a necessity.
Buying some decent name labels which can be ironed on – with a hair straightener if you can’t be bothered to dig out the iron – will mean that if your kid leaves their jumper in the playground, it should find its way back to them. Plus if you label things, it’ll keep the teachers much happier.
Other things to check!
When you’re preparing your children to go back to primary school then make sure you search your emails or the school website for important information. Make a note of the first day and starting time as many schools start back on different days.
If your child has school meals, book these in plenty of time and if they have packed lunches then discuss with them what they’d like so you can add it to your shopping list. If they’re starting a new primary school, then it might be sensible to do a few trial runs of the commute. If you have to drive for the school run, don’t forget to add on enough time to account for much busier traffic.