The majority of children have been without formal schooling in the UK since March 2020 because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and although some did briefly get to go back before the end of the school year, most didn’t. Now we have entered the summer holidays – another six weeks off school for the kids, it’s the time for parents and carers to start preparing for the start of the new school year in September when (we all hope) the kids will return to school.
For months now the kids have been complaining of being bored and having nothing to do (despite having plenty of toys, games and craft items in the house) and now we are hopefully entering the final six weeks – the kids want to go back as much, if not more, than parents want them to. With six weeks still to go, returning to school may not be right at the front of their minds, as a parent or carer it is certainly at the forefront and it is time to start thinking of shopping for those Back to School items before the manic rush starts and everything becomes harder to get. And by starting early, you can also spread the cost of this expensive time of year. After all, their education is extremely important, to you and them (whether they know it or not).
Preparing to go Back to School is a stressful time with having to remember everything they need, especially if they’re moving up to high school and with the social distancing measures that will be in place. Trying to stick to a budget whilst still getting quality items that will last longer than five minutes can be quite a challenge!
It isn’t just new uniforms that need buying, but all the paraphernalia that goes with it. Uniforms are obviously the most important part, and the most expensive, but it’s not just the shirts, ties and blazers. As well as the basic uniform, you also require bags, coats, P.E. kits, stationery and more.
So, we have made a small, albeit not exhaustive list, of some things that you may need to buy before the new term starts.
School Uniform
- Trousers / Pinafores / Skirts (and belt if needed)
- Shirts / Polo Shirts
- Jumpers / Cardigans
- School Tie (if your school requires one)
- School Blazer (if your school requires one)
- Socks / Tights
- Shoes – we like the look of the Treads Shoes as they claim to be indestructible
- Coats (lightweight foldable / winter coat)
- Hat and Gloves
- Wellies
Don’t forget to label all their clothes as you don’t want to be replacing if it is misplaced and no one knows who it belongs to. You can write the names in, use name stampers or even name labels that either stick on or iron on.
Also check with your school if the uniform has to be branded with logos or if you can buy generic items in the correct colours – If branded items are required, check if your school sell sew on patches as this will save a fortune over buying branded jumpers etc. It’s also worth checking if your school is part of a uniform exchange, which can save a fortune if you’re lucky enough to be in an area that has one.
PE Kit
- Shorts / Skorts
- T-shirt
- Socks
- Pumps (indoor use)
- Trainers (outdoor use)
- Track suit
- Kit/Gym bag
- Swimming kit
Accessories
- Backpack / bookbags
- Lunch box or bag
- Water bottle
Stationery
- Pens
- Pencils
- Pencil case
- Lined paper
- Coloured markers
- Calculator
- Geometry set
- Highlighters
- Pencil sharpener
- Ruler
- Eraser
If your child is starting high school, where the amount of homework and projects is going to increase, you may also want to look at getting some more expensive items:
- Laptop / Computer
- Printer
- Scanner
We hope this list helps you in some small way of getting all the items that your child needs before the new term starts. If your school does not require all items of clothing to branded, then the supermarkets offer uniforms at very good prices. If your school offers the option of sew-on or iron-on badges, then I recommend getting some as this can save a fortune.
And make sure that you label all items. Uniforms and all the accessories can be quite expensive, and you really do want to minimize having to replace any if you can. While labelling it doesn’t guarantee it won’t be lost, if it is you have a much better chance of it coming back.
And don’t forget the haircuts!
If we have missed anything essential off, please leave a comment below.
