Your Back To School Shopping Guide

With the new school term just around the corner, it’s time to pull out the backpacks, brush off the dust and assess the collateral damage before stepping back into the classroom.

Leaking pens, broken calculators, textbooks which have mysteriously disappeared and school shoes that now seem two sizes too small – all prompting last-minute panic stations for parents up and down the country. 

Scrambling to find functioning felt-tip pens and knowing where to procure a protractor will no doubt add to back-to-school chaos in your household, so here at The Junction, we’ve compiled a handy guide to local businesses which have your backpack covered.

Back To School Checklist

STATIONERY

For something a little less ordinary, a trip to Flying Tiger Copenhagen on St John’s Road will certainly tick many of the back-to-school boxes, and then some. From the usual stationery suspects to things that make you smile, you’ll find unique products you didn’t realise you needed!

When it comes to the stationery staples (no pun intended) that we all know and love from our childhoods, try Ryman on St John’s Hill. Rulers, protractors, compasses, calculators, pencil cases, lever-arch files – everything you need to fill your backpack and more.

You'll also find a selection of handy stationery supplies at Scribbler in Shopstop and Postmark on Northcote Road.

TEXTBOOKS

To prepare your little bookworms for school and help them throughout the academic year, you’ll find superb literary choices in Clapham Junction. 

FARA Books for Kids on Chatham Road, a specialist children's bookshop, is a fantastic local resource for children's literature and teen fiction and a great place for young ones to fall in love with reading.

Alternatively, your children can lose themselves in a world of words at Battersea Library on Lavender Hill or Northcote Library on Northcote Road – public libraries with free membership.

Of course, when it comes to textbooks –  catering for early years through to Key Stage 4 and GCSE – Waterstones on St John’s Road is a firm high-street favourite. 

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Interactive learning resources have the power to engage and motivate children in topics they may not enjoy or find a little tricky. That’s why learning and fun go hand in hand at award-winning Chalkboard Toys on Northcote Road, with a huge selection of books, puzzles, games and educational toys – supported by unrivalled knowledge from the incredibly helpful owners, Chris and G.

When it comes to innovative learning resources for preschool and starters QT Toys has it all, including Jumbo Magnetic Letters and Mathlink Cubes, plus novel science kits for children aged 8+ providing plenty of creative resources to get your kids motivated.

And, for a little help with numbers, pay a visit to Mathnasium – a neighbourhood maths-only learning centre which helps children (in Years 1-11) understand maths in a way that makes sense to them.

NEW SCHOOL CLOTHING

If you want to make sure your little student is newly togged from top to toe, a trip to Trotters on Northcote Road is in order. With an extensive range of back-to-school clothing essentials plus books and toys, it's a one-stop shop for BTS shopping.

For waterproof coats and jackets (and puddlesuits!) that are guaranteed to make you smile, try The Roarsome Store on Northcote Road for an award-winning collection of outdoor, character-themed children's clothing.

When it comes to shoes, Clarks on St John's Road is always a firm favourite, and they're currently offering a Kids Bundle: Buy two pairs, get the third half price.

You'll find TK Maxx on St John's Road is a treasure trove for last-minute BTS essentials, while Newbie on Northcote Road is a great option for junior clothing with a touch of contemporary Swedish style.

RECYCLED SCHOOL CLOTHING

Don't forget, for a more sustainable option that's easier on the pocket and kinder on the planet, Clapham Junction is home to a great selection of charity stores, including: 

• British Heart Foundation | St John's Road
• Cancer Research | St John's Road
• Fara Kids | Northcote Road
• Hospices of Hope | Lavender Hill
• Scope | St John's Road
• Boutique by Shelter | Northcote Road
• Royal Trinity Hospice | Northcote Road
• Royal Trinity Hospice | St John's Road
• Traid | St John's Road 

AND FINALLY...

Not all the little ones will be ready for school just yet. Luckily, Clapham Junction is home to two fantastic nurseries, on hand to help the grown-ups who are back to work:

• Based in a beautiful church conversion on St. John's Hill, Abacus Ark Clapham Junction is a bright, spacious nursery for children aged 6 months to 5 years.
• Alternatively, the Lavender Hill Nursery offers a purpose-built setting where you’ll find outstanding childcare for children aged 3 months to 5 years of age.

#BackToSchool

For any other last-minute back-to-school shopping emergencies, view our comprehensive Clapham Junction Business Directory here…