The summer holidays always seem to disappear overnight.
One minute the children are sleeping until 10am, eating lunch at completely random times and spending half the day in the garden. Then suddenly it’s September, school uniforms are being hunted down and everyone is trying to remember where they left their water bottle.
Going back to school is mostly about getting back into a routine, but it’s also a good time to have a quick health check for the whole family.
Nothing complicated. Just a few things worth sorting before the school year gets properly busy.
Start with sleep
After weeks of late nights and lazy mornings, getting back to school-time bedtimes can be a bit of a shock.
You don’t have to fix everything in one night.
Start bringing bedtime and wake-up times forward gradually, and give children a chance to settle back into their usual routine.
Good sleep can make a difference to concentration, mood and energy during the school day.
And parents could probably use a bit more of it too.
Check those vaccinations
September is also when the NHS starts its flu vaccination programme for children and pregnant women. Most school-aged children are offered their flu vaccination through their school.
It’s worth keeping an eye out for school messages, consent forms and vaccination invitations so nothing gets missed.
Other vaccinations may also be due depending on your child’s age and circumstances, so September can be a useful time to check that everything is up to date.
For children with asthma, make sure their inhaler and asthma action plan are ready for the return to school.
Asthma and the return to school
For children with asthma, going back to school is a particularly good time to make sure their asthma plan is up to date.
NHS England London’s #AskAboutAsthma campaign runs from 7–11 September 2026, highlighting the rise in asthma attacks that can happen when children return to school.
Parents and carers should make sure their child:
- Has their prescribed inhaler available when needed
- Knows how to use it correctly
- Has an up-to-date asthma action plan
- Has had their regular asthma review
It’s also worth making sure the school knows about your child’s asthma and understands what to do if they become unwell.
Don’t forget the little things
A new school year is a good excuse to check a few of the things that tend to get forgotten.
Have they had their eyes checked recently?
Are they struggling to hear?
Do their school shoes still fit?
Are they eating and drinking regularly during the day?
None of these things sounds particularly exciting, but small problems can become much more noticeable once a child is back to spending six or seven hours a day at school.
What about school anxiety?
Not every child is excited about going back.
Some will be counting down the days. Others may have tummy aches, trouble sleeping or simply not want to talk about school.
A little nervousness is perfectly normal, particularly after a long break. The important thing is to keep the conversation open.
Ask how they’re feeling without turning it into an interrogation.
Sometimes a casual conversation in the car or while making dinner gets you much further than sitting them down and asking, “So, what’s wrong?”
Getting back into a routine can take a little time after the long summer break.
And for the grown-ups…
Parents get a September reset too.
If you’ve been putting off your own appointments, medication reviews or health concerns while juggling the summer holidays, now might be a good time to deal with them.
It’s very easy to spend months organising everyone else’s health and forget about your own.
So before the school timetable takes over again, ask yourself:
Is there anything I’ve been putting off?
If the answer is yes, September might be the month to finally sort it.
Back to normal
The first few weeks of September can feel chaotic.
New uniforms, packed lunches, early mornings, traffic, homework and approximately 400 lost water bottles.
But once everyone settles back into a routine, things usually become a little easier.
A new school year doesn’t need a huge health overhaul. A few simple checks, a bit of preparation and paying attention to how everyone is feeling can go a long way.
And if you’re a parent, remember:
You survived the summer holidays. You’ve already done the hard part!