5 Tops to Make the School Run-Run Smoothly

So this time next week, we will be back at school and it can sometimes be hard to get into the swing of strict time schedules and routines when children have had over six weeks off.

I have heard of some parents getting their children up at a time for school and having practise school runs to ready themselves. Not only do I think this is a bit mean in the last week of the holidays but nothing prepares you for the real school run-fuelled with adrenalin, nerves and downright mania-and that’s the other people on the road.

Plus my two get up so early that going to school just means more organisation in the morning than usual.

I suppose reception was our trial run. Thankfully we were never late but I did forget PE kits and reading books on a number of occasions but I think I have learnt from it so here are the five things I’ve learnt in the last year to make sure you don’t forget anything.

1.Don’t just rely on a diary. What if you forget to look in it? I have a calendar almost next to the door and I write EVERYTHING on it. Non-uniform days, school trips-everything. It will save you.

2.Make friends with at least one other parent who you can text at 10pm on Sunday nights about anything you may have forgotten. Even if you both get it wrong and your children are the only two dressed as rabbits on a Monday morning.

3.Have some kind of list somewhere stuck to your forehead telling you which day to take the PE kit etc or, better still, send it on a Monday so you will always have it on the right day.

4.Prepare everything the night before. Milk money in envelopes, packed lunches (if they have them), uniform, underwear, water bottles. Everything. Preparation is the key to a smooth school run. Even your own clothes need to be set out ready.

5.Put school bags and anything else you need to take either by the door for a quick grab or, better still, in the car. Obviously this is difficult if a packed lunch is involved but it does help.

So this time next week we will be on day two and we will all be wondering what we were worried about. Do you have any back to school tips?