Getting ready to go back to school

The summer holidays might be in full swing and it may feel like ages until the kids are back at school, but if you're starting to think ahead to the new term, we've got you covered. We've pulled together a handy list of local places where you can find everything from school uniforms and shoes to stationery and backpacks, making it easier to get sorted without the stress together with some useful resources to prepare your child for the new school year. 

School uniform

Skoolkit, located in Church Street in the town centre or online, stocks all the general schoolwear you need to get kitted out including aprons, PE bags, plimsolls and name tags so you can label everything to hopefully avoid the amount of items lost during the school year. It also stocks school-specific clothing for a number of local schools. You can use the handy checker on their website to see if it stocks your kids’ school clothing. Online orders can still be placed but may take up to 14 days for delivery.

For other general schoolwear items and PE kits there are plenty of options including:

• Marks & Spencer in Festival Place
• Next in Festival Place
• New Look in Festival Place
• Sainsbury's at Kempshott
• Asda at Brighton Hill
• Matalan in Chineham

For school shoes, Clarks can be found in Festival Place and sometimes operate a booking system at busy times. Deichmann and Shoezone located in The Malls usually have a good selection of school shoes and trainers too.

Sports Direct located in Festival Place has a selection of trainers for sports and football boots.

Let’s not forget that kids grow so quickly so you might be able to find some good quality second hand clothing on some of the local social media groups or marketplaces.  Some schools also have pre-loved uniform for sale so make sure to check them out. If you have clothing from the last school year which your child has outgrown why not list it for other local families to purchase. This is a great way of reusing and helping our planet! 

Hair cuts

If you need to tame unruly holiday hair with a quick trim before heading back to school, then there are plenty of local hairdressers and barbers to choose from. Book in advance at Trilbys or Station Barbers in the town centre. ARC Hairdressing and BOX at the Top of the Town also offer children's cuts. In Overton, Toni Hair also offers children's hair styling. 

Keep hair neat and tidy with hair accessories from Claire's or Boots.

Stationery

From pens to school bags, folders to lunchboxes there are so many other things the kids need to return to school.  If you want to avoid buying online then there are plenty of options in Basingstoke town centre.  Why not combine a shopping trip at Festival Place with a spot of lunch and head to Smiggle, Ryman, Poundland or Typo or you can find The Works next door in The Malls.

Useful resources

If your child is starting school for the first time you may be feeling excited, nervous, or a bit of both and have questions about how to prepare. From emotional readiness to practical supplies, Hampshire Healthy Families offers workshops, courses, and a pre-recorded webinar to help you feel confident and supported every step of the way.

The My Journey Hampshire website has great advice for families, especially those with children moving into Reception, Year 3, or Year 7 to help plan how you will travel to school. There are also maps for those that will be travelling independently for the first time. 

In the meantime, why not enjoy the rest of the summer holidays? With so much to see and do in the borough you can get out and exploring. Take a look at our Explore section to browse for ideas.

Please note the inclusion of any business within this listing should not be seen as an endorsement of their services. While the information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information. 

August 2025