Starting School Checklist: What Your Child Needs for Their First Year

Starting school is an exciting milestone, but it also means buying uniforms, shoes, PE kit, stationery and everything else your child needs for their first year. This starting school checklist covers the essentials, offers practical preparation tips and helps you make sure nothing is forgotten before the first day. 

Prefer a printable version? Download our Starting School Checklist PDF to save or print at home. 

Starting School Essentials Checklist 

School Uniform

• 3 to 5 shirts, blouses or polo shirts

• 3 to 5 pairs of trousers, shorts, skirts, pinafores or school dresses

• 2 jumpers, cardigans or sweatshirts

• 1 blazer, if required

• 1 tie, if required

• 5 pairs of school socks or tights

• 1 suitable school coat

• Hair accessories in the school colours, if required

School Shoes

• 1 pair of school shoes

• 1 pair of indoor shoes, if required

PE Kit

• 1 PE T-shirt or sports top

• 1 pair of PE shorts

• 1 to 2 pairs of sports socks

• 1 pair of plimsolls or trainers

• 1 PE bag

• 1 pair of joggers or tracksuit bottoms, if required

• 1 sweatshirt or additional layer for outdoor PE, if required

• 1 swimming kit, if required

Bags

• 1 school bag, backpack or book bag

• 1 lunch bag, if required

Food and Drink

• 1 reusable water bottle

• 1 lunch box, if required

• 1 to 2 reusable snack or food containers, if required

Basic Stationery

Only buy stationery if the school asks your child to bring it.

• 1 small pencil case

• 2 to 4 pencils

• 1 eraser

• 1 pencil sharpener

• 1 ruler

• 1 set of coloured pencils, if required

Seasonal Checklist

Warmer Weather

• A sun hat

• A lightweight jumper or cardigan

• Sun cream, according to the school’s policy

Wet and Cold Weather

• A waterproof coat

• Wellies, if required

• Waterproof trousers, if required for outdoor learning

• A warm hat

• A scarf

• Gloves

Help Your Child Practise

• Getting dressed and undressed, including jumpers and coats

• Putting on and fastening their shoes

• Opening and closing their school bag

• Using their water bottle

• Opening lunch containers and simple packaging

• Recognising their name and label design

• Packing belongings into the correct bag

• Asking an adult for help when something is lost

Prepare Everything Before the First Day

• Confirm the school's final uniform and equipment requirements 

• Check that uniform and shoes still fit

• Wash and label all clothing

• Label both shoes

• Add names to bags, bottles and lunch containers

• Pack and label the PE kit

• Adjust the school bag straps

• Check the water bottle for leaks

• Put everything together in one place the night before

Starting School Tips and Recommendations

Pack Spare Clothing if Required

Some schools ask children in their first year to keep a spare change of clothes on site for accidents, wet weather or messy activities.

Check whether your child needs:

• Spare underwear

• Spare socks or tights

• Spare trousers, skirt, dress or pinafore

• Spare top

• A drawstring bag

Choose Bags and Shoes Your Child Can Manage

Choose a school bag that fits comfortably, is easy for your child to open and can cope with everyday use. Reflective details may also be useful during darker journeys.

School shoes and PE footwear should be comfortable and simple for your child to put on and fasten.

Choose Easy-to-Use Food and Drink Containers

Choose a leakproof water bottle and lunch containers your child can open and close without help. Check the school’s packed-lunch and allergy policies before the first day.

If your child has an allergy or medical condition, our Allergy Alert Labels and personalised Medical Alert Stickers can make important information more visible on lunch boxes, bottles, medical supplies and other key belongings.

What Should a Swimming Kit Include?

A typical swimming kit may include:

• Swimming costume or trunks

• Towel

• Swimming goggles

• Swimming cap

• Drawstring swimming bag

Choosing Name Labels

For most uniform and PE clothing, we recommend Colour Stick-In Clothing Labels or Classic Stick-In Clothing Labels. Both attach securely to existing care tags without ironing or sewing. 

Because Stick-In Clothing Labels must be applied to a care tag, it is also worth keeping a small pack of Iron-On Clothing Labels for socks and other garments without a suitable tag.

Many of our Colour Name Label Value Packs and Classic Name Label Value Packs include clothing labels, shoe labels and bag tags. Check the contents before ordering and add individual labels where needed. 

Where possible, label every item your child regularly takes to school. Do not rely only on labelling the main bag or container, as clothing, shoes, lids, stationery and equipment can easily become separated.

Choosing Bag Tags

Most children will need at least two bag tags: one for their school bag and one for their PE bag. Additional tags may be useful for a lunch bag, swimming bag, spare-clothing bag, sports bag or large pencil case.

Some Colour Name Label Value Packs and Classic Name Label Value Packs include one or two bag tags. Additional Bag Tags can also be purchased separately.

Alongside our standard personalised tags, we offer Aluminium Bag Tags, Fluorescent Bag Tags and Mini Bag Tags.

Preparing for school is much easier when everything is organised, labelled and ready in advance. Use the checklist to cover the essentials, then download the printable Starting School Checklist PDF to keep with you while shopping and preparing for the first day.