Ask what part of starting ‘big school’ Erin is most excited about, and she would not hesitate with her answer. The Uniform. For the last year now, Erin has watched the older children walk up and down our road during our walk to preschool and admired everything about the ‘big girls’ and their uniform. From the long white socks to the little grey pinafores, she can not wait to wear them all. At times, when left to play on her own, she will pull her socks up as high as she can and pop on her nursery “pack pack” and walk around the lounge pretending to be on the school run – 🙂 – I hope she finds it so appealing when we are doing it for real!

Having just turned four, she will be one of the younger children in her class, and quite possibly also one of the smallest, having only just moved into aged 3-4 clothes. She may only be pocket sized, but what she lacks in stature she makes up for in confidence! She is a cheeky and sociable soul, and so from this perspective at least, I have no worries about how quickly she will make friends or settle into her new environment.

Whilst I am feeling a little emotional at the prospect of having my baby enter full time education, I am also super excited for her. Her teacher is lovely, she will make lots of new friends, and I (quite sadly perhaps) am looking forward to helping her with homework, including reading and writing, by supporting her learning at home.

We got the final pieces of her uniform last weekend, taking her on the train to Debenhams in the Bull Ring. Their school shop sells all the essential items from skirts to shirts, PE kits to school bags, as well as water resistant jackets and scuff resistant shoes They currently have 20% off the entire school range, as well as a handy checklist on their website to make sure you don’t forget anything!

Erin was a little spoiled for choice when deciding on which designs she liked the best! I loved the fact that some of their dresses were a little bit different to the norm – my favourite being the pinafore with a large bow centred at the waist. Erin loved the little silver heart on the zip up dress, and being a fairly energetic little lady, she will definitely put those anti scuff school shoes to the test! Hugely independent, the easy to pull zips and elasticated waists are always a massive plus point – anything to save a bit of time in the mornings!

I showed Erin some photographs of when I first started school and she found it hilarious. Clearly the concept of Mummy having ever been so little, or indeed having no eyes whatsoever(!) was too much for her to handle!

It is scary to think that in just two weeks we will be taking the official first day school shot on the drive!! EEK! Until then, I am making the most of my days in the week, and we are looking forward to our Mother Daughter Date week on the run up to the big day. For the first time in almost a year, it will be just me and Erin (her baby sister will be at nursery), so I am super excited to be spending some quality one on one time with my mini me! 🙂

Are your little ones starting school this September?

*Disclosure – This is a collaborative post. I was gifted some items from the Debenhams Back to Cool School range.*