First day at school

• Compile a uniform checklist and buy everything in good time. ‘Boys’ trousers, in particular, sell out very quickly,’ warns Tesco Schoolwear Buyer, Vicky Taylor. Make sure you read the school manual as soon as you can to check for preferred styles and colours, and sew on labels.
• Getting your child to try on the uniform before he or she starts school will help them prepare psychologically. It’s also vital on a practical level, just in case trousers or skirts need taking up or shirts returned.
• Have a practice run at getting your child dressed and undressed quickly, and if you’re making a packed lunch, check he or she knows how to open the box or flask.
• ‘Buy pull-up trousers and skirts, and Velcro-fastening shoes. Avoid any chance of your child feeling humiliated and anxious,’ says Leach.
• Make items unique. If four children have the same coat, and your child can’t find his in the rush to get to the playground, he may panic. ‘Tie a scarlet name tag onto the coat, and make it your little joke,’ Leach recommends

How to handle the first day

• Get the uniform and bags ready the night before. Plan breakfast, and prepare a packed lunch, if your child is taking one.
• A piece of toast and juice is better than nothing at breakfast. If your child has a boiled egg, watch out for drips on the tie, and don’t forget to take that first-day-in-uniform picture.
• If you live nearby it’s good to walk to school. Penelope Leach believes a child likes to know where they’re going. ‘It’s reassuring to have landmarks, and to be able to place where the school is,’ she says.
• Evaporate stress and nerves by getting a friend to walk with you.