In case you haven’t noticed, the end of the summer holidays is looming, which can only mean one thing – the start of the new school year is fast approaching! Are you ready? Here’s my list of essential items for the start of term.

Uniform
I naively thought that E’s uniform would last him for at least the first half of the new term. Oh, how I underestimated the massive growth spurt he would have over the holidays! His trousers have become ankle swingers, and his T-shirts were also too short. I now wish I had taken proper advantage of the M&S 20% discount for uniforms back in July. So take note, people – I am certainly not going to make the same mistake next year. After having been properly tested for the year, the uniform is still in really good condition and washes up really well, which, for me, is why I will continue buying my uniform from M&S, and as an added bonus, I will get to re-use E’s outgrown uniform for when M starts school.

Belts
You would never know it from looking at him now, but E was a real chubby baby. He weighed a whopping 9lbs at birth (it was no wonder I ended up having to have an emergency c-section!) These days, though, he has been all stretched out, and there is literally hardly any fat on him! This poses problems with things like trousers. I find that if I manage to buy the right size for him, age-wise, they inevitably don’t fit around the waist unless I buy trousers with an adjustable elasticated waist. However, Easybelts solves this problem! These velcro belts were designed with children in mind, and the velcro replaces the traditional buckle pin, which children often find difficult to use. They come in a variety of sizes and colours and would suit toddlers through to young adults. Both my boys were quite excited with their belt choices and couldn’t wait to try them out. E had no problem using the belt and could easily fasten and unfasten with no help. M being a little younger at 2 could easily unfasten the belt but need a little help with doing it up.

Labelling
This is usually every parent’s nightmare, right? The endless ironing on labels and sticking on boring stickers to school items. I can tell you now that this year, I did not need to go near an iron or spend what felt like an age labelling because I used Snappy Tags to label uniforms and Mabel’s Labels to do the rest.

Snappy tags use an applicator to attach a small button-sized tag (with your child’s name on) to the clothes label. It takes seconds to do. You can read a more detailed review on them here.

I used Mabel’s Labels for labelling things like water bottles and stationery. Previously, we used a different brand that pre-printed white stick-on labels on a sheet for you to use, but these did not last and would come off after a few uses. Mabel’s self-laminating write-on labels are colourful and come with some really nice designs. You simply use a permanent marker to write your name, seal the label, and it’s then ready to stick. I wasn’t sure about not having the name pre-printed at first, but actually, with M about to start nursery, it made a lot of sense, as I could divide out the labels for both boys. E was super happy to find that there were “shark” ones he could choose from among the designs, and M liked the tractor design.

School shoes
We have always bought Clark’s shoes ever since E started walking, so it is our brand of choice, as I’m sure it is with many parents. We are not buying E’s school shoes until this weekend, but we have already pre-booked our appointment online to beat the queues. We did the same last year and managed to be in and out within half an hour – result! We find Clark’s shoes have always lasted our boys very well, and the only reason we have to buy new ones is because their feet grow so quickly!

Backpack
Every child needs a backpack, whether it’s for nursery/school or just for packing their own toys for a day out. This wipe-clean backpack from Powell Craft is just gorgeous and can hold a decent amount. We packed ours full with train (of course!)as welll as nappies, wipes, antibacterial gel, a bottle of water amongst other nick-nacks for a day out. It has a large front pocket, adjustable padded straps and a side pocket which is perfect for holding a water bottle.

Lunchbox
I love these gorgeous personalised lunchboxes by I See Me! They are going to be perfect for M when he starts nursery as he will eventually be joining in with the “lunch club” that they run. A really nice touch is the chalkboard on the inside, where you can leave messages! The boys have been happily playing school since they arrived and have also been using them to store their trains and other small toys.

Headlice!
We managed to survive the first school year without any headlice incidents, although it hasn’t stopped me from being paranoid when the boys keep scratching their heads! I have heard good things about this Nit Kit from Nitty Gritty, so I will be armed and ready for when the time comes. The great thing about this kit is that it also comes with a “defence spray” you can use. So, if you hear that head lice are going around the class, you can spray this onto your child to repel lice.

What school essentials would you have on your list?

*I was sent some of the items above for the purpose of this post, but all opinions are my own.

Related posts:

Back to School Essentials The easiest way to label school uniform – Snappy Tags Review: Trutex School Uniform Treads: Indestructible school shoes with a 12-month guarantee