Every school hands out its own school supplies list, and it changes each year. What comes back year after year is the lasting stuff: the backpack, the bottle, the lunch box, the pencil case. Here is what is usually asked for at each stage, plus our guides for choosing each item, with the name on it so it doesn't get lost.
See back to school Supplies with their nameWhat is usually asked for at each stage
At nursery, from 0 to 3, the list is short: a small backpack, the change bag with spare clothes, the cup and, if they eat there, a bib. Almost everything stays in the room or goes back and forth every day.
In reception and infant school, from 3 to 5, art supplies are shared in many classes and a contribution is asked for. What belongs to each child is the backpack, the snack bag or lunch box, the bottle and, sometimes, a mug or a cup for the classroom.
In primary school the list grows: a pencil case with pencils, rubber, sharpener, ruler and colouring pencils; exercise books; a school diary; and often a bag or backpack for PE. The bottle and the packed lunch stay an everyday thing.
Before buying anything, wait for your school's list. The lasting items can be ready beforehand: they are usually the same every year and they are what gets lost most when there is no name on them.
The lasting items on the list, with their name
A selection of what comes up on almost every list. In each guide below there are more designs and tips on how to choose.
What each stage asks for
| Stage | What belongs to each child | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery (0-3 years) | Small backpack, change bag, cup | Nursery backpack |
| Reception / infant school (3-5 years) | Backpack, snack, bottle, cup or mug | Cups and mugs with a name |
| Primary school (6-12 years) | Backpack, full pencil case, bottle, packed lunch | School pencil cases |
| All | Water bottle | Bottles and flasks |
| All | Packed lunch or meal | Lunch boxes and snack bags |
| Rainy days | Umbrella | Kids' umbrella |
| After-school activities | Drawstring bag, swimming bag | After-school activities and swimming |
How to organise buying school supplies
Set aside the lasting items
Backpack, bottle, lunch box and pencil case don't depend on the list and can be ready beforehand.
Wait for the school's list
The consumables change every year, and in infant classes they are sometimes bought together.
Mark them with their name
What goes back and forth every day is what gets lost. See how to mark each item in our guide to personalised school supplies.
Check again in January
By mid-year pencils and rubbers run out and the first losses appear. It is a good time to restock.
Frequently asked questions
Which school supplies should be marked with a name?
Everything that goes back and forth every day: backpack, bottle, lunch box, pencil case, cup and the clothes that stay in the classroom. Supplies bought together for the class don't need one.
When does the school give out the list?
Each school hands it out in its own time: some before the summer and others at the first meeting of the year. The lasting items can be prepared beforehand.
What do they ask for at nursery?
Usually a small backpack, a change bag with spare clothes, a cup and, if they eat there, a bib. Each nursery has its own list.
What changes in primary school?
The pencil case grows and exercise books, a diary and books appear, so the backpack needs more room. A bag for PE is often asked for too.
Do you sell exercise books and books?
No. We focus on lasting, personalised items: backpacks, bottles, lunch boxes, pencil cases, cups and umbrellas with their name.
Have the lasting items ready
Backpack, bottle, lunch box and pencil case with their name, ready before the school's list arrives.
See back to school