Choosing school bags

[Shimaa]

Hi mums,

I'm new to UK and as you know we are preparing for school. I want to have your advice on how to buy school bags for my 8 and 5 yrs sons. Is there any recommendations especially that there a lot of rains and I don't know how to keep bags to be not wet. Also, is backpack better or trolley?

Thanks

I'd first check if you school has a recommended bag. Many infants in particular will like the children to have book bags. At junior level my children both had just sports style rucksacks. They cycled to school every day and we never had particular issues with things getting wet. If it 's raining heavily you can always put books in a plastic bag inside.

Shimaa, in UK primary schools the children tend to keep their school books at school, few primary schools use text books, any they do use belong to the school and are never sent home , and work books (the ones they write in) stay at school. The only books they are likely to bring home regularly are reading books, and homework exercise books. Back pack bags are usually used for packed lunch boxes and pe stuff.

As the previous poster said a lot of schools have a preferred bag, usually with the school logo which they sometimes give but more usually sell you. When you first visit a school you can ask what they do.

Trolley? Never seen a child with a trolley. Backpacks are good.

But check any requirements your school have too - some schools I know have specific requirements or school-branded bags the kids are supposed to use.

They usually need a separate bag for PE kit, which most people use a drawstring bag for so it can hang on their peg and not get in the way.

Some schools require them to have a book bag - usually school-branded. Which may be in addition to any other bag, or in DS's case in reception he wasn't allowed any other bag as they didn't have space in the classroom, book bags were kept in a book bag shaped tray. We found the book bags a pain actually, at DD's school they're not compulsory and we've gone for a rucksack from the start.

A sturdy plastic folder for books and homework has been an asset, keep everything flat and safe from water bottle leaks as well as rain. Most backpacks are fairly waterproof anyway.

Thanks ladies, you provided me with very helpful information. I never thought that school has its bag

Ds is almost 8. He has a backpack with film characters on, a pe bag in his school colour and abook bag (these are bought from school). The only things he will be carrying are his lunch and his pencil case.