The shops are full of 'essentials' for the new school year, and your children will have their own ideas of what they can't do without. Debbie Davies looks at how you can please the kids as well as the teachers without breaking the bank

Pens, pencils and pencil cases
Classroom equipment needs to be functional, rather than fun. Teachers can be strict about what they allow in the classroom. Items like metal pencil cases are sometimes banned because they are too noisy and, when they fall onto the floor, the contents go flying.

If you want to be teacher's pet, choose a fabric pencil case, either natural or plastic, with a zip that is large enough to hold a pencil, pen, colouring crayons, ruler, rubber and pencil sharpener. W H Smith has a denim range of washable pencil cases for around £5.00 with designs for girls and boys. Teachers often dictate what children write with - usually a pencil to begin with and then a blue or black roller ball or ball point pen for older children.

Make sure the rubber is big enough to work well: erasers shaped like a big pebble are ideal. For children who enjoy art, try Myriad (www.myriadonline.co.uk) for a good set of first crayons (box of eight crayons: £5.70). The triangular, fairly chunky shape of Myriad's natural dye crayons is perfect for young hands.

Stationery
The choice of stationery is huge, but what do children actually need? Primary Schools all have literacy and numeracy hours, which allow children to learn at their own pace. This means kids have to do less structured, textbook work and more is produced on loose bits of paper. W H Smith's A4 document box folder (£2.99) is ideal for storing lots of work. Swedish stationery retailer, Ordning & Reda (www.ordning-reda.com), also has files and folders in lots of different colours as well as back-to-school, fun designs.

Keeping a diary has gone out of fashion but an alternative is to give children a notebook. Research has shown that children are encouraged to write if they have a notebook that is theirs and in which they can write whatever they want - swear words, jokes, lists of names of people they like, love or hate. Alwych (http://www.alwych.co.uk/) sells a classic, sturdy notebook (£4.25) that is used by everyone from the police to bird watchers. Over the years, a set of Alwych notebooks builds up into a collection of memories in the same way that a set of diaries used to.

Backpacks
School bags are getting bigger. The latest designs even include foldaway wheels for trundling heavy loads. The clothing retailer, Gap, and Samsonite, the luggage manufacturer, have launched new school bags with foldaway inline skating wheels and telescopic handles. While fun - this kind of mobile bag could spell trouble along a school corridor and will set you back £40.

Alternatives for heavy loads are classic backpacks, made from waterproof, rip-proof material with padded shoulder straps. Take a look at www.schoolyard.co.uk, for a cheap, durable selection, starting at £4.30. For younger children, Samonsite's Funny Face school bags (£7.00) have a cute animal theme. Sammie's satchel with furry, rabbit ears and tail is a big comfort for a child's first day at school.

School uniform
School uniform is something that parents assume they will buy on special offer. Like Easter eggs, if there isn't a three-for-two promotion on school shirts, or something similar, shoppers will go elsewhere. Look out for Teflon-coated fabrics if you have a big family and want to pass school uniforms on from one child to the next. Teflon makes fabric more playground-resistant and clothes will not stain as readily.

State primary schools do not strictly enforce uniform policy and often the right coloured sweatshirt will do just as well as a more expensive, regulation one. It is the governing body of a primary school that is responsible for uniform policy but, ultimately, dress code is a voluntary agreement between the parents and the school.

Sports kit
Primary school PE is a friendly affair with the emphasis on taking part rather than performing to the limits of your ability. Fortunately, very expensive kit is likely to be out of place. Gym kit should be comfy rather than showy. John Lewis has a new range of gym wear with an anti-microbefinish. John Lewis claims the fabric finish stops the growth of micro-organisms and therefore prevents gym-kit odour. Its swimwear range is also new and uses the latest chlorine-resistant fabric.

If your child is the next David Beckham, then you may decide to splash out on an expensive pair of football boots. Boys like to wear the same boots as their footballing heros, which this season will set you back at least £60.00. As long as there are plenty of matches so your child has good use of his boots, by the end of the season you can consider this money well spent.