Make this your best Back to School ever

The long summer holidays are rushing by, and soon it will be time for the big Back to School. In one way, this may come as something of a relief in terms of having to think about entertaining the kids and/or sorting out childcare every day. 

But in another way, Back to School is a whole lot more stress to deal with. There is so much to think about, and yet more demands on your finances to get everything sorted.

So in this article we share a few hints and tips on how to make things just that little bit easier. Perhaps 2025 will be your best Back to School ever!

Be clear about dates and times for Back to School

During school holidays, days and times can easily blur into each other. So it’s important to be completely clear about when schools go back. This can vary quite a bit between different schools and even between different year groups in the same school. And as well as different start days, some schools also stagger start times on the first day of term, so your child may need to go in earlier or later than usual. 

So one very simple way to get your Back to School off to the best possible start is to be 100% clear on the day and time each of your kids has to be there.

Check the uniform and equipment list

The sooner you start getting your child’s uniform and equipment sorted, the better. Don’t leave it all till the last minute. So check any letters you have had from the school, either on paper or via email. Also double check on the school website. Then make a list of what you already have and anything new you need to buy.

If you need to buy new items of uniform, this can be very expensive. But there are alternative places that you may be able to buy school uniform more cheaply, for example supermarket offers, second hand uniform shops or local online communities. Check out our recent article School Uniform – What is Changing and When for more information.

We suggest getting a couple of items of uniform and equipment every week of the holidays to spread the cost and the hassle of getting everything together. 

Decide where to store all the school stuff

It will really help Back to School run more smoothly if you decide on a specific place to keep all the school stuff. See if you can allocate a cupboard shelf, drawer, or a section of a wardrobe just for school stuff. Check that everything you already have is clean and in full working order and move it to that place. Then as you get more stuff, you can also keep that clean and safe in the same place.

Having a dedicated space for school stuff should enable you to check what you do and don’t have, and will also ensure it’s all ready for Back to School when the time comes. It’s also a good idea to keep this system going throughout the school year. Hopefully it will help keep everything under control and prevent those school morning panics when your child can’t find the things they need.

Also give some thought as to where your child will do their homework once they are back at school. Summer holidays are an ideal time to rearrange their bedroom and see if you can make space for a simple desk and chair, particularly if they are starting senior school. It’s good to have a study area waiting for them right from the start of the school year, rather than let them get into bad habits of doing homework on their bed or in front of the TV. 

Start earlier bedtimes during the week before Back to School

One of the best things about school holidays for many kids is that they can stay up late at night and sleep in longer in the mornings. But then Back to School comes as a huge shock to the system! So it’s a really good idea to start easing back into school bedtimes for the last few days before Back to School. Perhaps treat August Bank Holiday Monday as the last proper day of school holidays, and gradually bring bedtimes earlier each night after that until you are back into school bedtimes by Back to School.

This will help your child to gradually adjust back into the timings of the school routine, and be able to cope better on their first day back.

Make a plan for school mornings

To avoid those chaotic school mornings when everyone is trying to get out of the door at the same time, try to make a realistic plan for school mornings that allows time to get everything done. 

The best way to do this is to start from the time that your child needs to leave home in order to get to school at a reasonable time without rushing. Then work back from there, agreeing on a realistic time for them to get up, washed and dressed and have a proper breakfast.

Sticking to any kind of plan is much easier said than done, so one idea is to develop some kind of reward system depending how good they have been about getting up and ready for school. This might be extra pocket money, or a weekend treat such as a pizza, movie night or friend’s sleepover. Anything that will motivate them to get moving and make school mornings easier.

Get everything ready the night before

This is something we all know is a good idea, and yet it can often feel like one thing too many at the end of a long day. However, it only takes a few minutes and can really make a huge difference the next morning. It also means that if there are any major issues – such as anything needing washing or mending – there is a little bit more time to get it sorted rather than have a last minute panic in the morning.

So, wherever possible, try to do five simple things every night before school:

• Lay out all items of school uniform;
• Pack PE kit if needed;
• Make sure all books and equipment are ready in the school bag;
• Send in any forms – eg for school trips – as needed;
• If your child takes a packed lunch, get that ready and in the fridge.

Give your child lots of support

As well as all the practical issues of going back to school, remember to give your child lots of love and support as Back to School approaches. Many children feel anxious about going back to school, particularly if they are starting a new school. As well as the schoolwork itself, there is often anxiety about friendship issues and how they will fit in.

They may not want to talk about any of this, but it’s important that they know you are there for them. So as Back to School approaches, and once school starts, make sure you show interest in their friends, how they are getting on, and what else is going on at school. Encourage them to make the most of school life by getting involved in extra curricular activities that interest them, and also to meet up with friends outside school. You can try to facilitate this by letting them invite friends round after school and at weekends if that works.

Also be watchful in case there are any other pupils who are being unpleasant to them. They may be unwilling to talk about this, but if you suspect there is any bullying going on, it’s important that you get in touch with the school to discuss your concerns, so that they are aware and can keep an eye on things.

Good luck with Back to School 2025! We hope that this article has been helpful in suggesting ways that you can make things easier for both you and your child. And if at any stage you need any extra financial help remember that Loans 2 Go offer a range of personal loans which may be able to help.

For more useful lifestyle and financial tips, visit us here again soon at Loans 2 Go.