Bit early...but talk to me about schoolbags!

[neomamma]

Hi there! My little one will be 5 in the autumn and ordinarily would start P1 (Scotland) in August although who knows what that will look like now. I am transferring my anxieties about the impact of the nursery/school shut-down onto researching uniform and school stuff!

I am clueless when it comes to schoolbags - has anyone got suggestions for a robust schoolbag that is big enough for everything she will need but not enormous for a (tall) 5 year old. No sparkly pink or unicorns, ideally...

In England they usually use a book bag in reception. We could buy them from the school. They usually only have a reading book and a water bottle in the first year. I also think it's easier to have a separate lunch bag at that age. My dc used to go into the cloakroom and hang her coat up. Then in the classroom put her lunch bag on the table they had for them. Give her reading folder to the ta and then put her book bag in her drawer. A rucksack wouldn't have fitted in. Do you know anyone else who goes to the school you could ask so you know their system.

Wait til the school tell you as ours also have bookbag only. School lunches free for ks1.

Definitely agree with pp that you need to find out how it's done at each particular school. Dd's PE kit stays at school and included is a spare uniform in case of accidents. The only thing she takes daily is a book bag and that has any letters and her homework book once a week. Separate lunchbox. The thing I would recommend is a water bottle holder that clips to the book bag.

My DD only had a backpack for her PE kit for the first few years.

Thanks everyone. PE kit will mostly stay at school in a bag on her peg unless it comes home for washing. No need for lunchbag as school lunches are free for the first three years.
I am so used to nursery bags which are never big enough for wellies and waterproofs etc which in Scotland are pretty vital!
I don't think book bags are really a thing here.

They need something big enough to fit an A4 sized folder in. Anything smaller is awkward and everything just gets crushed. Our school has always asked for wellies and waterproofs to go in a separate bag only on the days you need them (I usually send in a carrier bag or something similar that keeps muddy boots away from school books, etc.).

Thanks! Are there any great buys (or don't buys)?