Mumsnet users share their back to school tips with Tesco F&F

[EllieMumsnet]

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We know many of you are currently on your knees with end of term shenanigans, and the summer hols are looming ahead....but in the spirit of being organised way ahead of time we would love to know your tips on being prepared when the back to school period comes. With the return of routine comes the return of 6am starts and mornings spent throwing together lunches while throwing the right uniform on the right child - so Tesco would like to hear your tips for ensuring your family are prepared for school each day.

Tesco F&F say: "All kids come home with stains - it's the sign of an active day. But thanks to Tesco school uniforms special stain-repel technology and 100 day guarantee you can be rest assured that your kids will look as good on the first day everyday."

How do you save yourself time and unnecessary stress during the week? Do you have a go-to routine to ensure you’re prepared the night before? Or maybe you rely on a handful of hacks to keep your mornings running smoothly? Are your children’s uniforms kept in good nick for the whole year thanks to a perfect after school formula?

Whatever tips you follow, Tesco F&F want to hear them. Share them below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Tesco voucher for a store.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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edited by MNHQ

uniforms and packed lunches ready the night before

Be organised. Try to get as much ready the night before as possible.
I have at least 2 sets of uniform so they are constantly on a cycle.
Check kids school bags everyday & get any upcoming trips/parties activities written on calendar straight away.
Wake up before the kids to have a cup of coffee/tea that's actually warm, Guaranteed once the kids are awake & arguing/crying/not brushing their teeth even after you've begged them for a millionth time that morning, you won't have time for a hot drink

Get the school uniform (including shoes) about two weeks before the start of school.
Buy slightly bag so there's room for growth.
Name tag everything.

Once they are older than about 9, don't buy trousers and similar uniform clothes until the end of August. If you buy them earlier, they are bound to grow extra quickly and the clothes will be too small before worn.

Uniform gets left til later in the holidays we have a few weeks with no mention of school, although they still do reading and things. Then closer to the time we start discussing it more and getting ready.

I get everything ready in advance and always have a few sets of backup clothes so if they come home dirty, I can wait until I next do a wash without having to rush around doing a small load just for that uniform and few other bits.

discuss their worries/fears/problems well before the day

make sure you have more than 1 set of uniform because you can guarantee just before you leave for the school run 1 of them will spill something down their shirt/jumper

I take them shopping to buy their own uniform and stationery. Buy as much as you can though in sales or on ebay and in a larger size..

I make the packed lunches the night before and make sure they put everything they need in their bags after dinner so there's no rush in the morning looking for pens or PE kits!

Make sure as much as you can is ready the night before and double check the alarm has been reset

i find buying throughout the year eases the cost of going back to school. i leave shoes until August but clothes , Bags ,stationary and coats i buy bigger sizes during the year and put them in our wardrobe for September

I always have extras of most things including lunch boxes and water bottles as these things are often left at school by my DD when collected by someone else. Also spare ties as these magically disappear most mornings! Making sure hairbrush’s and hair bands in same place so easy to do. Then bags all by door and ready to go!

Everything laid out the night before and a final checkover with bags packed and snacks laid out ready for the next morning.
Bath and wind down time the night before so a good night sleep is had with alarms set ... all 3 lol

I try to start buying things throughout the summer so there's no mad rush at the end of August. I also have a nice Whatsapp group with loads of other mums and they always post about things happening as the school is rubbish at sending emails, letters always get lost so if one of us has a letter we post so everyone "should" get the info.

Don't buy uniform until the last possible moment, my dd times her growth spurts for the day after clothes shopping!

Back to school is something we tend to leave until the last week and then slowly introduce into our lives - Our summer holidays are fun quality family time and we like to forget school for a few weeks and make the most of our summer. Then the subject is gradually approached in a positive way with little shopping trips, room tidying, wardrobe sorting and preparation

Pack bags and organise uniforms the night before

My friend has a great technique, sunday night she irons and prepares 5 sets of uniform then places them in a stack of plastic drawers which she has labelled with the day. Her daughter oulls out a drawer each moring and gets dressed. Organisation queen!

I wash and iron all the uniform at the weekend so that they have enough for the week.
The children are responsible for emptying their school bags and help me to get the packed lunches ready!
They fill their own water bottles :)
Uniforms are hung on the door ready for the next day

Don't let your children (our you) get too nocturnal, it's so hard getting back into routine.

Failing that (and I already have lol) start getting back into routine of a sensible bedtime and early start the week before.

Over the years we've learnt to get more uniform than you think you need. Always have a quick wash setting.

Start practicing the early morning get up a few days prior to going back. Helps loads with that first morning so it's not such a shock to the system.

I just do everything the night before so it’s all ready in the morning and no one is shouting ‘muuuuuuum! Where’s my bag/socks’ etc 😂

I start preparing a few weeks before hand (new uniform, shoes etc. if necessary). I make a list and try to get them into more of a routine in prep for the new get up time.

Then the night before they go back I do all the packing of bags etc. :)