There’s something slightly strange about the final few weeks of the summer holidays. You’re still trying to enjoy lazy mornings, sunny afternoons and family time, but somewhere in the back of your mind, the words back to school are starting to appear.

Uniforms need checking. Shoes need buying. School bags have somehow disappeared into the depths of a cupboard. Bedtimes are creeping later and later, and suddenly the first day back doesn’t feel quite so far away.

But getting organised for school doesn’t have to mean declaring summer over early.

With a little planning — and a few small jobs spread over the remaining weeks — you can get everyone ready for the new school year without sacrificing the last precious days of the holidays.

Start With a Simple List

The easiest way to make back-to-school preparation feel manageable is to get everything out of your head and onto paper.

Instead of thinking about everything you need to do, make a simple list covering things such as:

School uniform
Shoes and trainers
School bag
Lunchbox and water bottle
Stationery and school supplies
PE kit
School forms or paperwork
Haircuts
Clubs and activities
School calendar and important dates

Once it’s written down, you can work through it gradually rather than trying to remember everything at once.

And remember: not everything needs to be done today.

Do a Quick Uniform Check

Before buying a whole new uniform, check what you already have.

Get the children to try on last year’s clothes and see what still fits. Check jumpers, trousers, skirts, shirts, coats and PE kit.

Make a note of what genuinely needs replacing rather than automatically buying everything again.

If possible, make uniform shopping a small task rather than an entire weekend. You could even turn it into a trip out for lunch or an ice cream afterwards.

That way, it feels less like a chore and more like part of the final weeks of summer.

Don’t Leave Everything Until the Last Weekend

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the holidays until the last minute — but trying to buy everything, label everything and organise everything two days before school starts is a recipe for stress.

Instead, spread the jobs out.

One week might be the uniform week. Another could be school supplies. Then you can leave the final few days for the things that actually need doing close to the start date.

A few small jobs each week are much easier than one enormous back-to-school panic.

Keep the Holiday Fun Going

Getting organised doesn’t mean turning the rest of August into a countdown to school.

Keep making plans.

Have that picnic. Go to the beach. Visit somewhere new. Have a lazy pyjama morning. Meet friends. Enjoy the garden. Stay up late for a film.

In fact, putting summer activities into the calendar alongside practical jobs can help make sure preparation doesn’t take over.

For every bit of organising, there should still be plenty of time for being on holiday.

Gradually Reset Bedtimes

One of the biggest adjustments after the holidays can be getting children back into a school-friendly sleep routine.

There’s no need to suddenly introduce an early bedtime weeks before school starts.

Instead, as the first day gets closer, gradually move bedtime and wake-up time earlier. Even 10–15 minutes at a time can make the transition feel much easier.

You can also start bringing back a calmer bedtime routine — bath, pyjamas, reading and less screen time — without making it feel like school has already started.

Give Everyone a Little Responsibility

Back-to-school preparation doesn’t have to be entirely down to you.

Depending on their age, children can help with choosing stationery, organising their school bag, checking their uniform or deciding what they’d like for packed lunches.

Older children can take even more responsibility.

Not only does this reduce the amount you have to do, it also helps children feel prepared and involved rather than having everything suddenly decided for them.

Do a Family Calendar Check

Before school starts, take a look at the calendar together.

Add important dates such as the first day of term, after-school clubs, activities, appointments and any events you already know about.

This is particularly helpful if you have more than one child or a busy family schedule.

Knowing what’s coming can make those first few weeks feel considerably less chaotic.

Save One Completely Unorganised Day

This might be the most important tip of all.

Leave at least one day near the end of the holidays with nothing planned.

No errands. No shopping. No appointments. No school preparation.

Just a normal summer day.

Let the children play, stay in pyjamas, go outside, watch a film or decide what to do as you go along.

It’s easy to become so focused on getting ready for September that we forget the children are still on holiday.

The Night Before: Keep It Simple

When the first day finally arrives, preparation the night before can make the morning much calmer.

Put uniforms out, pack school bags, prepare lunchboxes and check what time everyone needs to leave.

Then stop.

There’s no need for a last-minute deep clean, complicated breakfast or perfectly organised morning routine.

Aim for prepared, not perfect.

Remember That You’re Not Starting From Scratch

The first day back might feel like a big deal, but children are usually more adaptable than we give them credit for.

There may be a few tired mornings, forgotten water bottles or moments of “I don't want to go!” — and that’s okay.

The aim of your preparation isn't to create a completely flawless return to school.

It’s simply to remove some unnecessary stress so that everyone has more energy for the things that matter.

Let Summer Finish Properly

Back-to-school preparation and enjoying summer don't have to compete with each other.

You can buy the new shoes and have an afternoon at the park.

You can organise the school bags and stay up late for a family film.

You can start adjusting bedtime and still make the most of the long summer evenings.

The trick is to do a little at a time, rather than allowing everything to pile up at the end.

So make your list, tick off the essentials, involve the kids, and gradually get the practical jobs out of the way.

Then close the notebook, put the school bag away for another day and go and enjoy the sunshine.

If getting everyone organised for September is already starting to feel a little overwhelming, we’d love to help. From sorting wardrobes and creating practical storage to putting simple family systems in place that make busy mornings run more smoothly, get in touch to see how we can help — rachel@pleaseorganise.me

Back-to-School Without the Stress: How to Get Organised Without Ruining the Last of Summer