When holidays come to an end, it can be difficult to switch into back to school mode. As parents flock to the shops to buy school essentials, having a good idea of what those essentials are will make the transition a lot easier.
You don’t want to miss anything vital, so reviewing all the needed classroom supplies is wise. As such, we want to ensure pupils are ready for prep school so have created a checklist that should cover all the bases.
How to Get Ready for School
Putting together a back to school shopping list doesn’t have to be a mundane necessity. Getting your child involved, even if only in some small way, can turn what may feel like an unhappy reminder of the end of the holidays into a fun and collaborative bonding moment.
Inject a little creativity into the process by letting your child decorate or even write the list themselves, giving them an excellent opportunity to practise their handwriting skills. Not only does this serve a practical purpose, but it can also prompt excitement for school and encourage responsibility.
If you would like a guideline of the right kit needed for a classroom environment, take a look below at our list of must-haves that will help pupils sail through their classes.
1. Uniform
Right off the bat, school uniform is one of the most important items on a back to school checklist. If you want to have your child looking smart the moment they arrive on-site, you won’t want to leave this step until the last minute. Give yourself plenty of time before the new term starts to make sure the uniform is clean, the right size, and ready for wear.
St Peter’s Preparatory School’s PTA is holding a second-hand uniform sale in the school dining hall at 08:40 on Tuesday 27 September 2022 – ideal for parents who have discovered they need any extra uniform supplies since term has started.
2. School Bags
A school bag is something of a constant companion for school children, so you’ll want it to fit certain criteria. Make sure you get the right balance between the following factors:
- Durable material.
- Suitable size.
- Nice appearance.
Even if it means spending a bit extra, purchasing a backpack made of sturdy material — such as water-resistant nylon — will cut down on costs further down the line, as a longer lifespan means you won’t have to keep replacing it. That, and teaching your child to take good care of their school bag, will avoid any unnecessary wear and tear.
It also needs to be spacious enough to carry all the other components on this list, ideally with a bit of room left over for things like homework and school books.
As some schools have stricter dress codes than others, don’t be afraid to embrace simplicity — prioritise function over appearance. Even if a bag appears plain in design, it’s more important that it is both practical and suitable for an academic setting.
3. Lunchbox
If you have opted for packed lunches, you’ll need to add a lunchbox to the list. While a standard plastic tub isn’t a hard find, keep in mind that the ideal size will depend on various factors, such as the size of the aforementioned school bag, while leaving enough space for other potential items.
4. Pencil Case
While most classrooms provide a certain amount of equipment, such as pens, rulers, and so on, a pencil case is always a good idea and, at St Peter’s Preparatory School, it is a requirement from Year 3. Like with previously mentioned items on the checklist, you’ll have to judge the ideal pencil case size on other factors.
It has to be big enough to carry all the equipment but small enough to fit snugly into a backpack while accommodating other items.
As for what makes a nice appearance, that’s up to you and your child! Just make sure it’s sensible enough for school and isn’t too flashy. But what do you need in a pencil case? We’ll take you through the itinerary.
5. Pencil Case Items
Now we’re down to the nitty-gritty details! In order to make sure your child has all the necessary pencil case tools at their disposal, take a look through your list and see if you need to jot some of these items down:
- Pencils
- Pencil sharpener
- Ballpoint pens
- Gluestick
- Ruler
- Protractor
- Calculator
Again, the school may provide some of these supplies, but it’s better to over-prepare than under-prepare. Be aware that you may need to add to this list as your child progresses through their education. For example, around Year 5, pupils usually need a protractor for more advanced mathematics.
We hope this guide has been helpful. Feel free to add your own ideas if you can think of even more back to school essentials!
