Back to School Survival Kit: 10 Essentials Every Primary Teacher Needs

September arrives in a flurry of pencil cases, new uniforms and wide-eyed children — and teachers everywhere are busy setting up their classrooms and routines for the year ahead. Whether you’re a seasoned teacher or starting your first term, having the right tools, mindset and resources can make all the difference.

Here’s your Back to School Survival Kit — packed with 10 practical, proven essentials to help every primary school teacher thrive this term.

🗂️ 1. Clear Routines from Day One

Children love structure. Establish clear routines for entering the room, transitions, handing out books and lining up. These little systems save time, reduce stress and give your day a natural rhythm.

👉 Tip: Create visual prompts or posters to help children learn the routine quickly.

🧮 2. Go-To Printables

There will be days when your perfectly planned lesson goes off course. That’s when printable maths starters, grammar challenges or spelling warm-ups are lifesavers.

📥 Try this: Primary Arithmetic and Primary Spelling offer low-prep, high-impact worksheets ready to go.

🖼️ 3. Displays That Work (Not Just Look Good)

A great display does more than brighten the room. It can reinforce learning, celebrate effort and act as a working wall.

🎯 Suggestions:

• Maths vocabulary wall

• Writing process display

• Reading corner with book reviews

🎁 4. Behaviour Rewards That Motivate

Consistency is key when it comes to behaviour. Use small rewards to reinforce good choices and effort — not just the end result.

🎉 Easy ideas:

• Stickers or tokens

• ‘Secret Star’ systems

• Positive postcards home

🔍 5. Formative Assessment Tools

You don’t need a full-blown test to spot gaps in learning. Having quick check-ins, like mini whiteboard questions or weekly arithmetic reviews, gives you a clear picture without adding pressure.

🧠 Ready-made idea:Times Tables: Close the Gap offers printable sheets for targeted revision and gap analysis.

⏱️ 6. Early Finisher Activities

Avoid the dreaded “I’m done!” with a stash of meaningful, independent tasks children can grab when they finish early.

🧩 Good options include:

• Times tables puzzles

• Creative writing prompts

• Mental maths challenges

✍️ 7. Open-Ended Writing Prompts

Writing is easier when children have a springboard. A great prompt can unlock creativity, spark ideas, and get pens moving.

✏️ Primary Writing offers space-themed, art-themed and seasonal writing kits to inspire every type of writer.

🔢 8. Times Tables Resources on Hand

Don’t wait until spring to start teaching times tables! Build confidence early with weekly routines, games and short quizzes.

📘 Use:

• Daily warm-up tasks

• Weekly tables focus

• Times tables ladders or certificates

😂 9. A Sense of Humour

Some days will be tough. You’ll lose your voice, the printer will jam, and someone will spill water on a maths book. Laughing — with your class and at yourself — is essential.

🌐 10. A Go-To Website for Great Resources

When time is short (and it always is), it helps to know where to go. At Primary Resources Hub, everything is created by teachers, for teachers — and you’ll find spelling, writing, maths and more in one place.

🧡 Explore our resource shop →

🆓 Grab a free resource while you’re here →

Final Thought

You’ve got this. Whether it’s your first year or your fifteenth, teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world — and being prepared makes it easier to focus on what really matters: the children in front of you.

Here’s to a brilliant start to the year! 🍎