Back to School Gifts: Hamper Ideas for Students

Jul 24, 2026by Jasmine Savery

Back to school can be an emotional time for children, no matter their age: nervous anticipation of that term’s exams, excitement to see friends, or even fear of a new school. There are many things parents and students alike can do to ease these emotions, starting with a personalised gift to show you care.

In this blog, we will outline personalised back-to-school gift ideas for students, teachers, and young children, as well as top tips on staying organised in this busy time.

So, what should you include in a back-to-school hamper? Keep it simple. You know your children/friends better than anyone, so stick to things you know they’ll love and appreciate! Ideas include:

Their favourite snacks: Try a pack of smaller sweets that can be used as little rewards after reaching study milestones, or pick a treat they don't indulge in very often as something to look forward to when exams come to an end.
Notebooks and pens: Include small notebooks to fit in school bags, in whichever format works best for your child! Pens can be both fun colours and black for exams and written work
Water bottles and lunch bags: Does your child have a favourite TV show or film? Why not get them a themed lunch set to give them a boost in the middle of each day?
A good luck charm: Whether this is a worry stone, four-leaf clover charm, or simply a keyring with an inspirational message, these little things mean the most
Self-care items: Give your child something to look forward to after a long day, whether that be a new nail polish, a face mask, or even a bath bomb.
Organisation planner: Keep everyone on track and organised with either a traditional planner or a wall planner. New after-school activities can be tricky to add into the routine; check out these children’s wall planners on Etsy.
Fun stationery: Add some fun into lessons with cute rubbers, glitter gel pens, and bendy rulers.
A handwritten note: When school gets scary, there is no better comfort than a message from a loved one. Why not buy a cute noteblock and send one every day?

Jump to:

Why Gift a Back to School Hamper?
Types of Back to School Gift Hampers
Back to School Organisation Tips for Students
Why Choose Northern Willow?
FAQs

Why Gift a Back to School Hamper?

Back to school gift hampers say things that words sometimes can’t, with an added touch of personalisation too!

No matter the recipient or the occasion, back to school gifts are perfect for showing support:

Provide your teenager with all the supplies they will need for revision or exams - take that pressure off by helping them to prepare.
Ease the stress of starting secondary school by preparing an essentials kit - perfect to combat the apprehension of being caught off guard.
Show your appreciation to your favourite teacher by gifting them special keepsakes.

Tips on Filling your Hamper

Arranging things nicely in your hamper can sometimes be the hardest part. Presentation really elevates the gift. Here are some of Northern Willow’s top tips for filling your hamper:

Ensure your Items Include a Variety of Sizes

Place taller things at the back, creeping around the sides, and shorter things at the front. This method ensures all items can be seen.

Choose a Colour Scheme

Colour schemes provide immediate cohesion and can carry emotional significance as well!

Added Extras

Embellish your hamper with themed extras, little surprises your recipient can find throughout the hamper.

Etsy is a great place to browse unique extras for your back-to-school gift hamper, as well as to purchase Northern Willow products! Check out these cute additions to include in your gift hamper below:

Types of Back to School Gift Hampers

So, now you know how to pack your hamper, let's look into what exactly you can include in it. This section will go through the types of back-to-school hampers, what you can include in them, and how to add that personal touch.

Exam Gift Hamper

Exam season can be very stressful, especially if you’re not prepared; this is why we recommend gifting an exam hamper with all exam essentials, both for the exam itself and its preparation. Why not include:

Clear pencil case
New black pens
Clear water bottle
Pencils and other exam stationery
Bath soak
Face masks
Snacks

Children's First Day of School Gift Hamper

Big changes like new schools or moving up a year can impact children greatly, which is why showing your care and support to make that first day a little easier is so worth it.

Being caught unprepared can induce anxiety and stress in children, so ensuring they are as prepared as possible by gifting the following supplies is essential:

Pencil Case
Stationary
Notebooks and Planners
Backpack
Water Bottle
Essentials bag (Older students)

Plasters
Feminine hygiene products
Hand sanitiser
Lip balm
Small pack of wipes
Hair bobbles
Mini deodorant/body spray

Student Hamper

Revision is such a big part of school, whether it is for GCSEs, A Levels, or even University exams. Providing your child/friend with everything they need for a productive revision session, all in a cute and fun student hamper, is such a kind gesture:

Post-it notes
Revision cards
Highlighters
Notebooks
Folders
Pens and stationery
Textbooks
Snacks

Teacher Appreciation Hamper

Teachers are such a big part of schooling, and therefore, when you find one that supports you or your child greatly, you should show them your appreciation. Why not include the following in a hamper:

New mug
Snacks and chocolate
Notebook and pens
Supplies for the next school year (whiteboard pens, colouring pencils, glue sticks)
Flowers

For more top tips on creating the perfect personalised teacher gift basket, check out our recent blog

Northern Willow can help you create any gift hamper, adding a touch of timelessness and uniqueness to your gift. Browse Northern Willow's wide range of wicker hampers today.

How To Create A Hamper On A Budget

With school uniforms and other expenses that come along with starting school, a thoughtful gift doesn't have to be expensive. Why not try:

Poundland - Biros, coloured pens, pencils, glue sticks and pencil cases are available, amongst many more school supplies
Home Bargains - Lunch bags and water bottles
Boots - Take advantage of the travel minis sections in your local high street; find items for an essentials kit for less, such as mini deodorant, mini wet wipes, mini hand sanitiser, and mini lip balms!

Back to School Organisation Tips for Students

Your gift doesn't have to bring only short-term benefits; many Northern Willow products are multi-use, allowing your gift to keep on giving.

Drawer Organisation

Being organised is often the first hurdle, whether that is with revision, homework, or simply being prepared each day. Our wicker basket trays are perfect for both drawer and desk organisation, and help everyone start their day prepared.

Take a look at this YouTube tutorial for some inspiration

Northern Willow’s stylish designs aren’t only practical; they add a chic touch to any room, keeping school essentials like pens and revision cards separate and organised.

Browse Northern Willow’s wide range of Wicker trays

Study Material Organisation

It’s not just drawers of stationery that can get messy; the amount of papers, such as

Practice papers
Work sheets
Revision notes
Classroom notes

can soon pile up and clutter even the tidiest of spaces.

Northern Willow’s range of wicker trays and baskets is perfect for organising loose papers. Why not categorise them as follows:

Useful papers to keep to hand

Flashcards
Mock exams
Last-minute revision sheets like a topic on a page

Keeping just-in-case papers

Revision resources such as mind maps
Completed past papers
Class notes

Extra revision materials

Blank past papers
Blank worksheets
Blank flash cards
Plain/lined paper

Why Choose Northern Willow?

At Northern Willow, our mission is simple. To provide exquisitely handcrafted wicker storage solutions at affordable prices. Handcrafted using durable, traditional materials such as willow, rattan and wicker, our hampers and organisation solutions are designed to last a lifetime.

FAQs

What is Northern Willow’s Return Policy?

We have a 28-day return policy, which means you have 28 days after receiving your item to request a return.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.

To start a return, you can contact us at northernwillowsheffield@gmail.com, where we will send you the relevant return address information.

Read our full returns policy

Where Can I Buy Northern Willow Products?

Northern Willow products are available to purchase both directly from the Northern Willow website, as well as from Northern Willow’s Etsy shop.

Got questions? Contact our helpful team today

Why Gift Someone a Hamper Basket?

Hamper baskets bring many benefits; with the basket being a gift in itself, they are truly a gift that keeps on giving. More benefits include:

Personalisation
Occasion tailoring
Versatility
Stress reduction - finding a single perfect item is a thing of the past
Sustainability - investing in a high-quality, sustainable, handmade wicker basket means your recipient won't have to buy twice.

Why Are First Day Of School Gifts So Important?

Turning nerves into excitement all boils down to being well prepared and supported, which is why a back-to-school hamper isn't simply a gift, but more of an opportunity to steer your child's mindset towards positivity.

Put your mind at ease knowing you've given your child all they need to succeed in their new school/year group.

Shop Northern Willows Hamper baskets today

More from: Gifting Home Decor Organisation

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