THE prospect of kitting your child out for school can be daunting at the best of times.

Financially and practically, there is a lot more to consider than may first meet the eye, especially if you are a parent sending your child to school for the first time.

But do not despair -- the Bolton Evening News has teamed up with Adams childrenswear store in The Market Place, Bolton, to give you some great advice... and offer you the chance to win £250 worth of back-to-school outfits and equipment!

To enter, just answer the easy question below then send it with your name, address, daytime telephone number and age of your child to: ADAMS CHILDRENSWEAR COMPETITION, Irma Heger, Features Dept, Bolton Evening News, Churchgate, Bolton BL1 1DE. The closing date is Friday, August 9, and the usual BEN rules apply.

First prize: £150 to spend, second prize: £100 to spend.

Question: Where in Bolton is the Adams Childrenswear store?

Lessons in how to buy the right uniform

Follow these guidelines from Adams in Bolton for a smart -- and stress-free -- start to the school year.

1. COMFORT: Make sure your child feels comfortable in their uniform. They will be wearing it a lot, and getting ready in the morning will be easier for everyone if your child is happy to put it on!

2. MAINTENANCE: School uniforms are worn for approximately 200 days per year -- that is an average of 100 washes per sweatshirt or jumper and 200 washes per poloshirt. Maintenance of your uniform is therefore a priority. All Adams' schoolwear, for example, is machine washable and minimum iron, many items can be tumble dried, colours do not fade and most woven items have a Teflon finish to repel stains and help keep the uniform looking newer for longer.

3. QUANTITY: Remember you need at least one garment for the wash and one for them to wear.

4. CHILD FRIENDLY: Make sure fastenings on garments are suitable for your child's age and skills. Your child will probably need to dress and undress themselves at school if they have PE, so Velcro straps on school shoes are easier to deal with than laces and buckles. Pull-on trousers or a zip-on pinafore are easier for younger children.

5. KEEPING TABS: Most schools require that all clothes and equipment are labelled with your child's name -- all Adams schoolwear comes with name labels already sewn in and indelible pens are available in store.

6. GROWING ROOM: Children can grow quickly. Buy the biggest size that looks nice to maximise use of the garment -- give them room to grow in it.

7. ROUGH AND TUMBLE: Boys will be boys so do bear this in mind. At Adams, boys school trousers all have fabric swatches provided for patching torn knees!

8. GIRLY THINGS: Girls will be girls and pretty, fashion-influenced schoolwear may well be a good compromise especially as they get older -- you will know that they look smart, they will know they look great. Adams offer free accessories such as hair slides and key ring note books on selected Back to School items for girls.

9. SPORTY STUFF: Check if your child will need a PE kit -- including swimwear.

10. HOW MUCH: The cost of buying your schoolwear can be spread out using a store card such as Adams Card.

For your nearest Adams store call the Adams customer care line on 0500 330 040 or visit www.adams.co.uk for more information on the latest Back to School style.