Joining year 7 advice

As few school bags are completely waterproof, it's worth them having a carrier bag stuffed in the bottom, and teach them to put that upside down over the contents if there's a total deluge at hometime. They probably won't bother, but it's worth a try. That's also another reason for the plastic wallets to put worksheets in.

Schools often provide their own planners, although less needed now many set all the homework online and so it doesn't need to be written down.

Check out what local parents say about the kit list. Ours says two pairs of trainers, but everyone puts the word about that one pair is entirely adequate, and the gumshield is inspected the first week but then never enforced, so there's not much point in spending lots on a good quality one! Ours recommends a memory stick, but I can't see why they'd need it nowadays.

A lot of schools specify the calculator ( so the teachers can give the same instructions to the whole class) and often sell them at a reduced price. I would check whether either or both is the case at your DS's school before buying one.

Forgot to add ruler and scientific calculator.
Happily we got the pencil case and contents from B&M for £22 today.

DS goes up in September, his equipment list includes:
Bag big enough to carry books
Water bottle
Pencil case
2 black or blue biros
1 green biro
1 red biro
2 pencils
Colouring pencils
Eraser
Pencil sharpener
Highlighter pen
Glue stick
Maths set including a protractor and set of compasses
Planner (we bought a week to 2 pages academic diary)

In addition he is expected to carry a reading book every day, whether from the school library or home.

Being well equipped for lessons is part of their behaviour standards, their rationale is they don't have to spend lesson time working out who is missing things they need for the class.

Small bottle of hand sanitiser. One of those little packs of tissues in case somebody removed the toilet paper. I would usually say extra equipment to lend out can be a good way of making friends but not this year.

Encouraging a routine with things like homework, checking everything is ready for the next day, etc. Putting a copy of the timetable up in the bedroom so he can see at a glance what books/kit is needed for the next day.

Good quality A4 clear plastic popper wallets for taking sheets of paper too and from school without getting scrunched up in the school bag.

2 pencil cases, one for homework and one for school, so school case always stays in bag and doesn't get left at home accidentally.

Glue sticks, lots and lots of glue sticks!

Check with school (I'd expect a letter or email), particularly for things that might be different next term. What is "right" at one person's school may be different at yours.

For example at DC's school, you would need a bag that would fit in a locker and the only things they want to be brought in from home are packed lunch, PE kit, phone and stationary items. They will provide each child with a water bottle and don't allow any others.

Water bottle that holds lots of water as water fountains may not be open.

Large bag.

Something to keep his lunch in (canteens May not be open). Keep it plain not a cartoon/fortnite type one

Plenty of spare pens as school seems to eat them up

A plastic wallet for keeping loose paper in so they don't end up at the bottom of his bag
A spare plastic bag for when the water bottle leaks ...

Pencil case contents, probably including a set of compasses, a protractor and a scientific calculator. Maybe a padlock for a locker, if required. Obviously a mobile phone.