To help make your child's first day at the British International School of Ljubljana as exciting as possible, we've collated this checklist. This means you can focus on getting that 'first-day photograph', rather than worrying about whether or not you've packed the right footwear.

Click on the appropriate school age below, and you get a list of everything you need to bring. We've also included some general recommendations to make your child's first day run as smoothly as possible.

Early Years Essentials

What to bring on the first day of Early Years

It is important that both you, and your child are excited about starting your journey with our fantastic Early Years team.

You can begin preparations by talking to your little one about the transition and showing them pictures of their new environment. You can also enlist their help in preparations. Perhaps they can help label their personal items, such as lunch boxes and wellington boots.

We provide exercise books and learning resources for all our Early Years cohort and writing equipment is provided for Pre-Nursery up to and including Year 2. But there are a number of items they will need to bring with them on their first day.

Things to bring to school on your child's first day

  • Uniform - please make sure your child comes in their uniform. You can read about and purchase uniforms from Uniform page
  • Suitable outdoor clothing - hats, gloves, coat, waterproofs depending on the weather
  • Suitable footwear - be this wellington boots or trainers, depending on the weather
  • Sunscreen and sun hats – please carefully apply sunscreen to your child in the morning before drop-off, we will top it up throughout the day. Please also provide a sun hat every day, or you might choose to leave one in school
  • Indoor shoes - soft, non-slippery
  • A clothes bag -  containing a spare change of clothes. Clothes will remain at school unless used. In this case, your teacher will inform you to re-stock the bag
  • Nappies - if required. These will remain at the school, and your teacher will let you know when they require more
  • A snack box - containing two small and healthy snacks (morning and afternoon). If your child is only doing half a day, they just need one snack. You can learn more about our recommended snacks on our lunch and snacks page
  • A toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste in a cup (labelled)
  • A water bottle - containing fresh water (no sweet juices)
  • Blanket - for comfort and nap time
  • Book bag - for taking home any books, home-school communication, booklets, or weekly journals. Book bags can be purchased from our Uniform page
  • Additional Information Sheet - please make sure this is completed and returned on their first day
  • A family photo -  for our family book

Suggested food for snacks: 

  • Sandwiches
  • Cubes of cheese
  • Diced Fruit/Veg - apples, carrots etc.
  • Cereal bars
  • Savoury biscuits/Crisp breads
  • Small pieces of meat
  • Small tubs of yogurt
  • Water

Please do NOT send the following: 

  • Sweets or chocolate (unless prearranged for a special occasion).
  • Drinks in cans or glass bottles for safety reasons.
  • No NUTS in case of allergies of other children. - We are a NUT free school.
  • Jewellery or small objects for safety reasons.

Please do NOT bring NUTS because of allergies of other students. We are a NUT free school.

If you decided to order school lunch for your child through our lunch provider, please make sure you have pre-ordered the meals. Visit Lunch & Snacks for more information. 

Primary Essentials

What to bring on the first day of Primary School

We hope you and your child are excited about joining our wonderful Primary school community. A world of learning and laughter awaits.

In order for your child to have the best possible first day, there are few things you can prepare. We provide all learning resources including exercise books, and writing equipment is provided for Pre-Nursery up to and including Year 2. But we would be very grateful if your child could bring the following items with them on their first day, and beyond.

Your child will need a number of items at school each day as follows - please have these ready for the first day:

  • Uniform - please make sure your child comes in their uniform. You can read about and purchase uniforms from Uniform page
  • A snack box - containing two small and healthy snacks (morning and afternoon).
  • Suitable shoes:
    • For Years 1-4 - Indoor shoes - soft, non-slippery
    • For Years 5-6 - Black Leather shoes - suitable for both indoor and outdoor use
  • A water bottle - containing fresh water (no sweet juices)

in addition to the above,

Students from Y1-Y2 should also bring:

  • Book bag - for taking home any books, home-school communication, booklets, or weekly journals. Book bags can be purchased from our Uniform page

Students from Y3-Y6 should also bring:

  • iPad
  • Pencil case that should include:
    • Black or blue ink writing pens (Base Ball pens are recommended). NO BIROS.
    • Pencils
    • Eraser
    • Pencil sharpener
    • Small ruler
    • Small pair of scissors
    • Set of colour pencils (Felt tip pens are not necessary)

Suggested food for snacks:

  • Sandwiches
  • Cubes of cheese
  • Fruit
  • Cereal bars
  • Savoury biscuits
  • Small pieces of cooked meat
  • Cut-up carrots/cucumber/cherry tomatoes
  • Small plain cake
  • Small tubs of yogurt (better just in cooler weather)
  • Juice/water

Please do NOT send the following:

  • No sweets (candy) or chocolate.
  • No food that needs to be reheated or refrigerated.
  • No drinks in cans or glass bottles for safety reasons.
  • No sugary or energy drinks, e.g. Red Bull, Coke.

Please do NOT bring NUTS because of allergies of other students. We are a NUT free school.

If you decided to order school lunch for your child through our lunch provider, please make sure you have pre-ordered the meals. Visit Lunch & Snacks for more information.

Secondary Essentials

What to bring on the first day of Secondary School

We are delighted that your child will be joining our outstanding Secondary school for this crucial time in their educational journey. Our internationally acclaimed education will set them on the best possible path, enabling them to explore their passions and fulfil their potential. We look forward to welcoming them.

We provide exercise books for all students. These will be given to students by their teacher in their first lesson each class. However, there are several items that students will need to bring with them on their first day and beyond.

Students will need a number of items at school each day as follows - please have these ready for the first day:

  • Uniform - please make sure your child comes in their uniform. You can read about and purchase uniforms from Uniform page
  • Laptop - we recommend smaller models because they are easier to carry and take up less desk space
  • A water bottle - containing fresh water (no sweet juices)
  • Pencil case - including but not limited to:
    • pencil
    • pen - Black or blue ink writing pens (Base Ball pens are recommended)
    • eraser
    • ruler
  • Subject specific equipment – students will require specific equipment for their lessons for example calculator, protractor and compass for mathematics. However, they will not be expected to have all this on their first day.
  • Locker and Key - every student is allocated a locker and key. The key will be given to the students by their Form teacher. The key should be returned to the Facilities Manager on or just before the end of the academic year.

Students in Key Stage 3 (Year 7, 8 and 9): 

  • Students borrow relevant textbooks from the school (they are to ensure that these books remain in good repair throughout the year. Should a teacher deem the book too damaged, parents will be charged the value of the book)

Students in Key Stage 4 (Year 10, 11) and Sixth Form (Year 12 and 13):

  • Students purchase their own necessary textbooks as per our requirements, in either hard copy or as an e-book

If students bring their own lunch to the school, we suggested the following:

  • Sandwiches
  • Cubes of cheese
  • Fruit
  • Cereal bars
  • Savoury biscuits
  • Small pieces of cooked meat
  • Cut-up carrots/cucumber/cherry tomatoes
  • Small plain cake
  • Small tubs of yogurt (better just in cooler weather)
  • Juice/water

Please do NOT send the following:

  • No sweets (candy) or chocolate.
  • No food that needs to be reheated or refrigerated.
  • No drinks in cans or glass bottles for safety reasons.
  • No sugary or energy drinks, e.g. Red Bull, Coke.

Please do NOT bring NUTS because of allergies of other students. We are a NUT free school.

If you decided to order school lunch for your child through our lunch provider, please make sure you have pre-ordered the meals. Visit Lunch & Snacks for more information.