CAN it really be that time already? It can and it almost is, and whether the school holidays have flown by in a flurry of fun and laughter or dragged by in fits of rainy boredom, it’s less than two weeks till the little darlings go back.

And that means it’s time to hit the shops and get some new school wear. As always, the high street and supermarkets are packed with back to school gear, much of it at reasonable prices. But whether you’ve got a picky five-year-old or a stroppy teenager, you’ll want the kids to look smart and contemporary.

This week we’ll focus on girls, next week it’ll be the turn of the boys.