10 ways to leave the house on time

Getting children dressed, fed and out of the house can be a struggle at the best of times, but when it's school they are getting ready for it's even harder, as there's so much to remember. 

Just kidding! But do the next best thing - make it a no brainer and get everyone's clothes ready the night before - pants and all - so they can just drag them on bleary eyed and you won't have to run about like a headless chicken hunting down matching socks and a clean school jumper.

ALWAYS tip out their school bags when they get home and hunt for any letters. The one time you forget will be the time they pipe up five minutes before you leave the house that it's 'Dress as a dinosaur' day or that they need to bring in a rocket made from junk. After your rummage - fill in any forms and find the required £1.75 and pack anything else you need.

Too busy watching Bake Off the night before to iron the school uniform? Grab your hair straighteners and glide them over shirt collars to iron out any wrinkles in seconds - then bung on a school jumper to hide any others! Genius. Don't own straighteners? (we envy your poker straight tresses) - get the kids to hang out in the bathroom while dad takes a shower and hope the steam gets rid of any kinks!

Greeted by slumped zombie-like kids in the morning? Make a morning playlist and slap on some tunes to get everyone up and grooving - then dance them in the direction of the door. This one is good for grumpy teens who grunt at you in the morning. For your playlist we suggest 'Wake me up before you go go', 'Wake up it's a beautiful morning', 'I like to move it, move it' and 'Get out of your lazy bed' - Twerk your way to the school gate!

Coffee or tea - you'll need it! Make it strong and prioritise your brew over making the packed lunches!

Don't say 'Would you mind cleaning your teeth darling?' Use one word prompts to get everyone to do all the things they need to do. Just keep repeating the words until everyone has done the tasks and is lined up all ready to go at the door. Or use a 'to do' list with pictures of all the tasks your kids need to complete. Bribery is useful if things start to lag!

We can't solve the fact that you will NEVER find a hair bobble when you need one, but if you devise clever systems you're less likely to lose things you need in the morning. Place shoes on place mats and use pegs to keep them together, keep hair bobbles on the handle of your hairbrush. Then also have a grab and go place where you always put things so they're always there ready to go in the morning.

Take on the morning like a boss - work out the best order for everyone to do things and how long each task takes then chivvy along the troops. Always build in five or ten minutes for unforseen disasters that threaten to scupper your best laid plans ('Muuum ... the dog's buried my shoe in the garden, I've spilt milk down my jumper, I forgot to tell you we need gym kit today ...)

Unless you're a super domestic goddess (or get up really early) you probably won't have time to create Pinterest perfect bento boxes with animal shaped sarnies and carrots cut into flowers. Get as much as you can ready the night before. And gather things in one place ready for a quick swoop into the lunchboxes in the morning.

It's tempting to turn the telly on in the morning while you get things done but beware - it can be a killer as the kids get absorbed in cartoons and forget all about the rush to get dressed, breakfast eaten and teeth brushed. If you're going to have some screen time make a 'no telly before you're ready' rule instead.