Back to school is in full force in England, Scotland and Wales. All my social media timelines are full of pictures of kids first day at school. It is exciting for many parents and kids to be back at school for another academic year. If your kids are not yet back to school and you’re still compiling essentials, we hope this guide will be helpful.
When it comes to buying back to school essentials, it takes a lot of planning. I remember when I was young, my mum always used to look through our previous items. There is no point in wasting money buying new items which won’t get used by the children. Always have a plan before you head out to make purchases for back to school essentials.
Back to School Essentials
Depending on what year your child is going to be in, certain items are essentials. In our back to school essentials guide, we are sharing items that every child above reception will need. These items can be found at your any general store or online shops like office stationery. Regardless of where you make your back to school essentials purchase, it should be items your child needs. Here are some ideas of what essentials should be on your list.
- School uniform – very essential item for all students
- School Shoes and socks – a must have
- Backpacks – these are the best types of school bags and can pack a lot of items
- Pencil case – must have to store all the stationery
- Pencils – depending on what year the child is in
- Pens – these are dependent on what year your child is
- Highlighters – great from highlighting notes
- Rubbers
- Ruler
- Sharpener
- Notebook – always nice to have a notebook to write reminders in
- School Books – school year dependent
- Sticky notes – very handy when making notes
- Calculate – also dependent on how old your child is
- Water bottle
Not So Essential Back to School items
The items we’ve shared above are definite must-have items for back to school. The following items are not essential but are nice to have items that you can essential your child carries. Again, some of these items are age-dependent and might not be applicable to some.
- Deodorant or body spray
- lip gloss or balm
- pads or tampoon
- panty liners
- hairbrush
- hair ties and clips
I am excited that school is back and though it can be daunting for some kids. Going to school was one of the best times of my life and miss my friends and the teachers. There are other items that student might need especially the older ones starting university. We will be sharing a separate essentials guide for university student soon.
robin rue says
I’m not sure what rubbers are where you are from, but here in the US they are condoms LOL. And also, thank god no school uniforms are needed here 🙂
Miranda says
😂😂😂 rubbers are erasers lol
Janet says
My kids are grown, but your list is pretty complete for sure. I could actually refer to this for my home office that I’m renovating right now.
Miranda says
I have a lot of these in my own home office too
GiGi Eats says
While I totally hated school as a kid, I did love shopping for school supplies, and LOVEDDDDDDDDDDD picking out my new planner! OMG that was so exciting to me, I have no idea why – and honestly to this day, it still is!
Miranda says
Oh I was the opposite, hated stationery shopping but loved being back at school with friends
Cath - BattleMum says
My son has another 2 years before he starts school but I agree with all the essentials on your list. I even raid the back-to-school shelves at this time of year for craft supplies and pens. You can never have too many pens as a blogger!
Miranda says
Oh never, you can ever have too many pens
candy says
We always start with the teachers list of supplies they want for each kid to have in their classrooms. Your list certainly covers usually what they want and there is always the new backpack and lunch box needed.
Miranda says
Oh, I didn’t know that most of us just focus on what our kids want.
Bec Jones says
excellent list here – thank you 🙂 My pals have been running round getting things last minute, indecisive children 😉 apparently the pencil case choice really matters 🙂
Miranda says
Oh the pencil case really matters, either you want to have the same as your best friend or you want a unique one 🙂
Tasheena says
This is a wonderful list. Back to school-time was one of my favorite times of the year. Especially, because social media wasn’t around back then, and I typically wouldn’t see some of my friends until school started back.
Miranda says
Oh I agree, without social media we had so much time dedicated to spending it with our friends
Daddy Poppins says
Great list. Where were you last week when I needed you 🤣. In Ireland we’ve been back for nearly 2 weeks now. However they did get 2 full calendar months off.
Miranda says
2 weeks back already? Do they start back at the end of August then? Wow
Talya says
There is so much to remember with back to school! Thankfully I remember it all this year – phew!
Miranda says
Glad to hear it, back to school can be such a mad dash a few days before or even during
Marysa says
My daughter started middle school this year, and things have changed a lot for us. Definitely a lot different this year compared to elementary school! It’s good to have a list of essentials.
Miranda says
Aww congrats and sure it has been very exciting for her.
Melanie williams says
Love the list nice and organised. Notebooks and sticky notes are life and help to keep any student on top of their study game x
Ricci says
These all sound like great school essentials! I’m not picky about much but I have to have good pens/pencils!!
Jenni says
We just had to supply the schoolbag, water bottle and uniform. The school provides pencils, notebooks etc. But I love stationery shopping, so I got some back to school stationery anyway 🙂
Amy - All about a Mummy says
My daughter is obsessed with stationery so loves back to school time! A must have for us is a name stamp to name all her items so she can’t lose them!
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
These are many of the same essentials we use for the back to school season. In some school districts, I hear that students don’t need to buy anything, as the teachers provide it all.
Miranda says
Oh now that would be very nice, would be very helpful to parents am sure
Glamamom says
I’m pretty sure Tampons are an essential for young women! Don’t think I could live without a hairbrush or deodorant either 🙂
Miranda says
Hahaha, I more a pads girl than tampons but I agree they are pretty essential
Pam says
I can’t believe it’s school time already. It seems like this summer just flew by this year. This is a great list of back to school essentials.
Miranda says
I too feel like summer flew by before I even had a chance to enjoy it
Sue Reddel says
Can’t believe that summer is over. Went way too fast. Thanks for the great list it’s good to have some to refer to so you don’t forget the basics.
Miranda says
Oh, I feel the same, cannot believe its already Autumn.
sara lafountain says
Back to school time is behind us and I barely got all the supplies together on time. My daughter wanted to decorate her locker this year so I needed to get a whole bunch of decorations for her too!
Miranda says
Awww bless her, I miss having school lockers with posters of my favourite band and stuff
Terri Steffes says
Deodorant for me is an essential. 🙂 I love the rest of your essential list, what a clever way to organize it.
Miranda says
Thanks, Terri.
Jeanette says
You have all of these things new for school. Back to school started very early where I live but everything on this list is exactly what we had to get for school. Great list.
Miranda says
Gosh, how early did they start? The earliest have read was 2 weeks prior.
Sarah Bailey says
There is so much to remember with the back to school shop isn’t there! This is a great list to help parents prepare for it all!
Miranda says
Tell me about it, I think only threw high school did we have a back to school shop local to us
Chanel says
I love the not so essential back to school list because those items can be easily overlooked! My kids started last month and it’s been so great to get back into a routine/schedule!
Miranda says
Right, I thought I include them too whilst not essential, they are nice to have
Amber Myers says
Haha, I’m with Robin, I thought rubbers were condoms at first. I’m amused now.
My kids do have a lot of these in their backpacks and then whatever supplies the teacher might need. I like to bring extras for them.
Miranda says
Hahahaha, she gave a chuckle that’s for sure. I should have written erasers and not rubbers lol
Melanie williams says
Love the list nice and organised. Notebooks and sticky notes are life and help to keep any student on top of their study game x
Ricci says
These all sound like great school essentials! I’m not picky about much but I have to have good pens/pencils!!
Jenni says
We just had to supply the schoolbag, water bottle and uniform. The school provides pencils, notebooks etc. But I love stationery shopping, so I got some back to school stationery anyway 🙂
Vyjay Rao says
Back to school is an exciting time for kids and parents alike. Remember my own school days when we went for shopping and the excitement of buying new dresses and books. Of course, things have changed over time but the excitement is the same.
Amy - All about a Mummy says
My daughter is obsessed with stationery so loves back to school time! A must have for us is a name stamp to name all her items so she can’t lose them!
Vyjay Rao says
Back to school is an exciting time for kids and parents alike. Remember my own school days when we went for shopping and the excitement of buying new dresses and books. Of course, things have changed over time but the excitement is the same.
Clare says
I failed miserably on my son’s first day at high school. We totally forgot his pencil case! We’d got it all sorted beforehand for his visit days but then completely forgot to put it in. He never needed one at primary school.
Clare says
I failed miserably on my son’s first day at high school. We totally forgot his pencil case! We’d got it all sorted beforehand for his visit days but then completely forgot to put it in. He never needed one at primary school.
Terri Steffes says
Deodorant for me is an essential. 🙂 I love the rest of your essential list, what a clever way to organize it.
Miranda says
Thanks, Terri.
sara lafountain says
Back to school time is behind us and I barely got all the supplies together on time. My daughter wanted to decorate her locker this year so I needed to get a whole bunch of decorations for her too!
Miranda says
Awww bless her, I miss having school lockers with posters of my favourite band and stuff
Pam says
I can’t believe it’s school time already. It seems like this summer just flew by this year. This is a great list of back to school essentials.
Miranda says
I too feel like summer flew by before I even had a chance to enjoy it
Sue Reddel says
Can’t believe that summer is over. Went way too fast. Thanks for the great list it’s good to have some to refer to so you don’t forget the basics.
Miranda says
Oh, I feel the same, cannot believe its already Autumn.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
These are many of the same essentials we use for the back to school season. In some school districts, I hear that students don’t need to buy anything, as the teachers provide it all.
Miranda says
Oh now that would be very nice, would be very helpful to parents am sure
Glamamom says
I’m pretty sure Tampons are an essential for young women! Don’t think I could live without a hairbrush or deodorant either 🙂
Miranda says
Hahaha, I more a pads girl than tampons but I agree they are pretty essential
Sarah Bailey says
There is so much to remember with the back to school shop isn’t there! This is a great list to help parents prepare for it all!
Miranda says
Tell me about it, I think only threw high school did we have a back to school shop local to us
Chanel says
I love the not so essential back to school list because those items can be easily overlooked! My kids started last month and it’s been so great to get back into a routine/schedule!
Miranda says
Right, I thought I include them too whilst not essential, they are nice to have
Janet says
My kids are grown, but your list is pretty complete for sure. I could actually refer to this for my home office that I’m renovating right now.
Miranda says
I have a lot of these in my own home office too
Marysa says
My daughter started middle school this year, and things have changed a lot for us. Definitely a lot different this year compared to elementary school! It’s good to have a list of essentials.
Miranda says
Aww congrats and sure it has been very exciting for her.
Jeanette says
You have all of these things new for school. Back to school started very early where I live but everything on this list is exactly what we had to get for school. Great list.
Miranda says
Gosh, how early did they start? The earliest have read was 2 weeks prior.
Tasheena says
This is a wonderful list. Back to school-time was one of my favorite times of the year. Especially, because social media wasn’t around back then, and I typically wouldn’t see some of my friends until school started back.
Miranda says
Oh I agree, without social media we had so much time dedicated to spending it with our friends
candy says
We always start with the teachers list of supplies they want for each kid to have in their classrooms. Your list certainly covers usually what they want and there is always the new backpack and lunch box needed.
Miranda says
Oh, I didn’t know that most of us just focus on what our kids want.
GiGi Eats says
While I totally hated school as a kid, I did love shopping for school supplies, and LOVEDDDDDDDDDDD picking out my new planner! OMG that was so exciting to me, I have no idea why – and honestly to this day, it still is!
Miranda says
Oh I was the opposite, hated stationery shopping but loved being back at school with friends
Amber Myers says
Haha, I’m with Robin, I thought rubbers were condoms at first. I’m amused now.
My kids do have a lot of these in their backpacks and then whatever supplies the teacher might need. I like to bring extras for them.
Miranda says
Hahahaha, she gave a chuckle that’s for sure. I should have written erasers and not rubbers lol
Talya says
There is so much to remember with back to school! Thankfully I remember it all this year – phew!
Miranda says
Glad to hear it, back to school can be such a mad dash a few days before or even during
Bec Jones says
excellent list here – thank you 🙂 My pals have been running round getting things last minute, indecisive children 😉 apparently the pencil case choice really matters 🙂
Miranda says
Oh the pencil case really matters, either you want to have the same as your best friend or you want a unique one 🙂
robin rue says
I’m not sure what rubbers are where you are from, but here in the US they are condoms LOL. And also, thank god no school uniforms are needed here 🙂
Miranda says
😂😂😂 rubbers are erasers lol
Daddy Poppins says
Great list. Where were you last week when I needed you 🤣. In Ireland we’ve been back for nearly 2 weeks now. However they did get 2 full calendar months off.
Miranda says
2 weeks back already? Do they start back at the end of August then? Wow
Cath - BattleMum says
My son has another 2 years before he starts school but I agree with all the essentials on your list. I even raid the back-to-school shelves at this time of year for craft supplies and pens. You can never have too many pens as a blogger!
Miranda says
Oh never, you can ever have too many pens