How do you prepare for the school year?

[MultipleMama]

I have 2 starting school (5&3) and 2 starting nursery (23mo when starting) in August and I have no idea when to start preparing or how I should be preparing.

When should I starting buying school clothes? Shoes? PE kits? How to prepare the kids themselves about starting school? How much time do you find you need in a morning to get ready?

I know I'm 3 months early but I'd like to organise as much as I can and make a list of things I need.

Any tips are welcome! :)

I have one in secondry, one in juniors, one in infants and one in nursery.

I buy a little bit every time I shop, pack of socks or polo shirts or pencils or whatever per week. With my eldest I started putting aside £5 a week a couple of months back as I need to buy his uniform last minute (he is growing like a weed at the minute, I can't keep up)

I didn't do much preperation really, other than a couple of books and programmes about school and nursery, they had lots of settling in sessions though which made it easier for them to understand.

In the morning I get up at about half 6, get stuff ironed and have a coffee, get my dc up at 7 and we are usually ready by 8. It is tricky to begin with but you will get into your own routine.

Thanks!

The stocking up is a good tip! :)

Hi Multiple,

I find that the mornings when I have prepare packed lunches the night before run a whole lot more smoothly.

It takes more than double the time to prepare them in the morning, and several times I've put the sandwiches in the wrong packed lunch boxes.

Mind you, I think they'll all qualify for free school meals from September, so that will make life a whole lot easier.

My DS is really good at packing his own school bag now, which helps. Make sure everyone's school shoes are under their bed as they get into bed...I've learned that the hard way!

At least twice, we've all spent about half an hour hunting round the house trying to find school shoes...both times they were in the garden, and one time we'd had torrential rain in the night ! Never again!

YY to stocking up as mentioned up thread. It's going to feel like a mass exodus in your house that first morning, MM!

Supermarkets are beginning to get stock in now. It'll all be gone by August! So I'd start buying it now. I particularly rate Sainsburys TU school range. Buy the size you think they'll be and maybe the size up too. They'll end up using it anyway. Start by getting a mac as a coat, or cagoule for a boy and get a winter coat around October. I love Boden Fleece Lined Anoraks.

School shoes though I'd leave till august. Try and find a clarks out of town store, in a shopping park.. They're normally quieter.

Pe kits, again Sainsburys do a good range and they do black pumps. You just need something like a drawstring bag. Check eBay as some people make them with your kids names on. Ours are from Joules.

Preparing the kids.. Just start to go on a walk or drive with them passing the school.. Is there a park near? Do you know any other kids starting? If so, arrange loads of play dates. If not, don't worry, as they'll make friends.

The secret is .. Is to do it all the night before. Lay their clothes on their bed, shoes, book bags etc all ready by the door.. Packed lunch the night before (use lock 'n' lock small airtight containers.. Make sandwich simple, and don't put anything wet in.

m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/lock-lock-storage-container-180ml/p175960?un_jtt_v_pdp=yes&un_jtt_v_from_product=un_product_2#page_loaded

Cut things like veges up and again pop in another container.

Or an airtight container with compartments..

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004AHLX5K?pc_redir=1400476225&robot_redir=1

You'll be fine. Just be organised.
I've got a mummy station. Sounds corny, but everything I need is there.

Brush, hair bands, toothpaste, toothbrush, flannel, etc.
my calendar,pin board/ notice board and letter racks.

m.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/art/30265126/

And I've got 2 draws in mine.

m.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/art/90198030/

I've got 4 kids, 1 infants, 1 juniors, 1 preschool and nursery and 1 at home.

The pushchair will help carry all the bags etc on the school run!

Thanks, ladies. I'm in Germany, so I'll browse round the Zeil for clothes but I'll check those lunch box things. What about backpacks, would a normal small one each do?

I'll defo look into a mummy corner - sounds handy!!

I don't have a mummy corner, and I struggle to find brushes and bobbles and everything else in the mornings, I should make one really.

For my younger ones I have small rucksack they take in every day and a PE bag they leave on their peg with their kit and shoes in.

Mummy corner sounds so corny, but my kids call it that, so is kind of stuck.
Is check with the school about backpacks. Our school agent keen on them due to lack of space. They recommend just the book bag and a lunch bag.

Just looked at the school information pack we have and they offer 3 hot schools meals a day for €65+ per month, per child. Or bring lunchboxes if you the choice which would you go for? I like packed lunch because I know what they're eating but school meals would be less hassle but pricey.

I swap between packed lunch and school dinners. Try school dinners when it's cold outside, packed lunch otherwise. Come times I cook extra at dinner and they have to for packed lunch (eg, extra sausages, chicken drumsticks : then just add cut up veg and youghurt).

I buy my school uniform in the m&s 20 per cent off every June (deliver internationally).

Also, i buy good, expensive name labels to label everything. They are stickers that are dishwasher/washing machine proof. Easy to name or stuck on you. They have lasted for years, if I can do it with a sharpie pen I will.very good for last minute things like sunscreen. Or around the house then they get presents the same (for instance, pink cameras - all have their own stickers) I actually need to get more as dd4 recently started nursery. Also when you hand down stuff, you can just stick over the previous label!

Their was an awesome thread about how to get ready for school/do school run with lots of kids. I'll try and find it. Personally, I used to get ready with the timer of the kitchen hob. They are getting better as they get older and remember the jobs that need to be done!

here

This isn't the one I remember, but it is kind of like it. All in larger families, I think!

Thanks! :)

What

Damn, touchscreen...

What kind of things should I include in a pack lunch? Like how much items should I pack in it?

I buy the uniform at the beginning of the holidays to save the sold out when your desperate! Shoes I get at some point in the holidays - go early morning and usually quieter. Bags out schools prefer the drawstring ones ao hang off pegs.

Thanks, harry.

Just checked the school website and called them. Uniform isn't mandatory until G1 and then it's polo shirts long or short in white, blue or burgundy and advised to wear sweaters or jumpers in similar colours. P.E kit is a white polo t-shirt with logo and black shorts. So that's easy enough! I plan to go shopping tomorrow and have PiL look after 4 of DC.

I have a stack of clear plastic drawers for all school stuff. One drawer for each child, plus a draw full of spare things such as draw string pe bag, pe socks, pencils, rulers, rubbers etc. Don't know how much stuff you have to provide for school in Germany. Here it seems to vary massively school to school.

I have two boxes in the porch, one for all school shoes, one for all school trainers.

Def agree to packing all bags and lunch boxes the night before. I even used to lay out clothes ready to be put on after breakfast.

You won't know what to do with yourself with only two at home!