Follow our checklist to make sure you have everything to send you child off on the first day care-free.

What to buy:

• School bag with name tag
• Lunch box and drink bottle with name tag
• Pencil case
• All stationary equipment including pens, pencils, ruler and rubber.
• All exercise books
• New school shoes for the new year if needed.
• Book labels
• All new uniforms and uniform accessories such as socks, hair ties, school jumpers and hats.

What to do:

• Organise all school uniform items and have them laid out ready to go for the first day. Make sure you have hat, school shoes, tie and socks in an easy to find place.
• Pack your child's school bag with your child so that they remember everything and know where something is if they need it. Don't forget, umbrella/raincoat, library bag and hat.
• Cover all new exercise books and text books
• Label all uniforms and items of clothing as well as school bag and books.
• Get your child to help you polish and clean their shoes
• Pack a spare change of clothes in your child's school bag.
• Re-enrol your child back into all of their after-school activities.

Be prepared:

• Do a practise school run with your child if necessary
• Organise what your child will have for breakfast the night before
• Plan lunches and after school snacks in advance
• With your child plan an area of the house where school bags will be kept and all school things can be found. This will make things a lot easier to find when you are rushing to leave in the morning.
• If this is your child's first year of school, run through what they will be doing at school and ask them if they have any questions about their first day.
• If after-school arrangements are different to last year's run through them with your child early so that they know what they are expected to do. Remind them again before you drop them off so it is fresh in their minds.