Back to school: Prep for parents

The holidays are over, everyone's cranked down by several gears, but the time is approaching when you'll all be back in the swing. So what can you do to make the transition back to school easier for all concerned? We get you all off on the right foot

• Get ready for a new school year

Chips, sweets, biscuits, fizzy drinks - you certainly don't want your kids diving into junk food when they get home from school. We've gathered some suggestions for making after-school snacking as healthy and kid-pleasing as possible

• Healthy after-school snacks

Being a parent can be an expensive business and getting ready for the school year ahead can really stretch the family budget. With a few tricks you should be able to stop your spending spiralling skywards

• Back to school on a shoestring

Thinking up healthy ideas for packed lunches five days a week is one challenge. But how do you actually get your child to eat them? Get some tips for fussy eaters

• Tasty and nutritious lunch box ideas

When you were a kid what was your school must-have? Maybe it was your plimsolls or maybe your prefect badges. Vote for your favourite and you could win a limited-edition laptop for your kid

• Win a limited-edition laptop for your kid

Now is the time to stock up on all the equipment your kids will need before the big back-to-school rush. These bags, pencil cases, accessories, stationery ideas and lunch boxes are practical and trendy

• Back to school gallery

This quiz will rank the variety of feelings you have about the important 'back to school' transition and let you know how you feel about seeing the kids off to a new term

• Quiz: Are you ready for back to school?