What to label for starting school: a UK checklist
A practical checklist of everything to name before your child starts Reception or Primary 1, from jumpers and PE kit to water bottles, with tips on where each label goes.
Starting school comes with a lot of new things, and almost all of them look exactly like everyone else's. A name on everything is the simplest way to get them home again.
Most children in England and Wales start Reception in the September after they turn four. In Scotland, Primary 1 starts in August, and in Northern Ireland, Primary 1 starts in September. Whichever applies to you, labelling is easiest a week or two before the first day, once the uniform has arrived and before the rush.
The starting school labelling checklist
Your school's own uniform and kit list always comes first, but this covers what most UK primary schools ask for.
Uniform
- Jumpers and cardigans. Often the first thing to go missing, because children take them off at playtime and leave them on the field.
- Polo shirts and school shirts.
- Trousers, skirts, pinafores and summer dresses.
- Book bag or school bag. Put the name inside, not on the outside (see below).
PE kit
- PE T-shirt, shorts and joggers. PE kit is changed in a hurry, often by children who are still learning to dress themselves, so it gets mixed up quickly.
- Plimsolls or trainers. Inside each shoe.
- PE bag. Inside, or on the drawstring tag.
Outdoor clothes
- School coat. Inside the collar or on the care label.
- Hats, gloves, scarves and sun hats. Small, easy to drop and nearly identical across a class.
- Wellies for forest school or wet playtimes. Inside each boot.
Food and drink
- Water bottle, and its lid if it comes off. Most schools ask children to bring one every day.
- Lunch box, and the lid, if your child takes a packed lunch.
Everything else
- School shoes. Inside, on the insole near the heel, where it won't rub.
- Spare clothes bag. Many Reception classes ask for a named bag with spare pants, socks and trousers for accidents. Label the bag and each item in it.
- Glasses case, comfort toys for nursery, and anything else your child carries every day.
- Medicines. Follow your school's medicines policy; they will usually ask for the pharmacy label and a form.
Where to put each label
- Clothes: on the care label inside the neck or waistband. It is flat, it won't scratch, and it is where teachers look first.
- Shoes and boots: on the insole at the heel end, or on the inside of the tongue.
- Bottles and lunch boxes: on a smooth, flat or gently curved surface, away from the rim your child drinks from.
- Bags: inside. Some schools prefer children's names not to be visible on the outside of bags, so a picture on the outside and the name inside is a good compromise.
Tips that save time later
- Label as soon as uniform arrives. It is easy to let it slide until the night before term.
- Second-hand uniform is great value. Cover or cross out the old name clearly before adding the new one, so nobody returns it to the wrong family.
- Check labels each half-term. Replace any that are peeling or faded.
- Use pictures for younger children. Most four-year-olds cannot read their name yet, but they will recognise a picture, especially one they drew themselves. A label with both their drawing and their name works for the child and for the teacher.
Questions parents ask
What should I label for Reception?
Label everything your child will take off or carry: jumper or cardigan, coat, PE kit and shoes, school shoes, book bag, water bottle, lunch box, hats and gloves, and the spare clothes bag. Jumpers, coats and PE kit are the easiest to mix up, so start with those.
When should I label school uniform?
As soon as it arrives, ideally a week or two before the first day. That leaves time to order more labels if you run out, and stick-on labels usually need time to set before the first wash.
Where do I put a name label in school shoes?
Inside the shoe, on the insole near the heel. Avoid the toe end, where the foot rubs, and the outside of the shoe, where it will scuff.
Should my child's name be on the outside of their bag?
It is better inside. Some schools ask for names not to be visible on the outside of bags. A picture your child recognises on the outside, with the name inside, helps them find their bag without showing their name.
How many name labels do I need for starting school?
Count the items on your school's kit list and add a few spares. Once every jumper, shoe and lid is counted, it usually comes to several dozen. A pack of 100 clothing labels covers most uniforms with some to spare, and bottle or large labels come in their own packs for lunch boxes, bottles and bags.
Want labels your child will spot straight away? Upload their drawing and we'll print it with their name. See the size guide for which label fits where.