It’s that time again! We’re now well into the school summer holidays and with just 2 weeks left to go, it’s high time we get organised! The kids will be needing all sorts before they return to their schools and those of them starting school or moving up into their next school will need a whole range of different equipment to get them off to the right start. With my own daughter moving up to secondary school, I feel well equipped to advise which stationery items will be needed for those in the same position. Please see the list below for a checklist of what to get over the next two weeks!

• Pens – As my daughter’s new headmaster advised during her open day at her new school, pack two! One pen just isn’t enough; loose it and your new teacher will be highly annoyed! Always pack a spare pen! Worry not, we have plenty of cheap pens here at Office 365, including highlighters which are a must have for those moving up to top school!
• Pencils – For artwork and drafts, a pencil is essential for students of all ages. Choose from a selection of wood case and mechanical pencils here in a range of shades.
• Colouring Supplies – Unsure of what was best to buy, I purchased both colouring pencils and felt pens for my daughter; or rather she did with her birthday pennies! This way they are equipped for every scenario. Choose from a full spectrum colouring supplies here!
• Correctors & Erasers – Always make sure your child is equipped with an eraser! Given their tiny price, it is also advisable to provide a spare. For those moving up into secondary school, it is also advisable to provide correction fluid as children work more with ink and must produce neat written essays.
• Pencil Sharpener – If you’re going to provide pencils and colouring pencils, of course they will need some means in which to sharpen them! Choose from a range of manual, mains or battery powered items here.
• Ring Binder/Lever Arch File – Aimed more at children in secondary school, the binder means that any coursework and essays written by students can be kept safe, neat and organised inside a binder. Choose from a rather extensive range here!
• Plastic Pockets – If you’re going to purchase the binder, you’ll also benefit from choosing plastic pockets. Perfect for separating work as well as protecting it, plastic pockets also mean that there is no need to punch holes into your papers! With A3, A4 and A5 varieties here, you’re sure to find exactly what you need!
• Ruler – A rather obvious one, but often forgotten, the ruler is essential for children in education so that they are able to produce neat, perfectly straight lines and so that they are able to complete measurements in both mathematics and other areas such as design, art and graphics.
• Geometry Sets – Used in Mathematics, trigonometry, design and sometimes geography, a geometry set is essential for children moving up into senior school. We have a selection of individual items such as protractors, rulers, set squares, compasses and more, or alternatively, you can purchase the entire school set!
• Calculator – Of course, the oh-so-essential calculator. Now a required tool during GCSE examination, the calculator is used in all mathematics classes and is also useful in various other lessons too. Choose from our selection of handheld, desktop and scientific models here.

For a complete selection of stationery supplies, simply visit out site, however if you need any help or advise, please feel free to get in touch with a member of our team on 0870 766 1624.

If you’re looking for a binder which will house large quantities of paper, plastic pockets and general paper work, then a lever-arch file will always be a better option than the ring binder. Although the ring binder is a cost effective solution, they can often be disappointing in terms of capacity and as a result you’ll find that you need to purchase 2 and sometime 3 as opposed to just one lever-arch file. A larger and more robust option, the lever arch file will not only house a large stack of papers, but it will also allow you to easy sift through them too.

Fitted with a D-Rings mechanism, these rings are often fixed onto the inside back cover so that the contents sit flat on the back cover and square on the right hand edge of the ring. For this reason, lever arch-files have a wider cover and so will also allow for additions such as dividers, indexes and tabs. The mechanism also features a lever which is where the binder derives its name from. This lever is responsible for opening and closing the claps with ease.

Choosing a lever arch file for your individual needs isn’t easy at all when the choice is as extensive as this! This is why we’re attempting to alleviate the strain by choosing the best lever arch files for you! Obviously you don’t have to go with our findings; we’re just giving you an easy option should time be in short supply for you!  Given everyone’s current financial state during these times, we thought we’d go with finding you the best cheap lever arch files and based on that have chosen a real cracker for you!

The featured 5 Star Lever Arch File comes in packs of 10 and comes in at a tiny £15.61 INC VAT!

• Lever arch files with a cloud effect paper covering over a high quality board
• Metal finger pull lining and reinforced bottom edge provide added durability
• Slotted covers provide added file stability when in use
• Supplied complete with compressor bar
• Spine label for easy identification of contents
• 70mm spine width
• A4
• Packed 10

These cloud effect paper covered lever arch files are constructed from a high quality board and sport a handy metal finger pull for easy retrieval, added lining and reinforced bottom edge for protection from wear and tear, which all accounts for its added durability. The slotted covers provide added file stability when in use, and what’s more, these files are supplied complete with compressor bar for easy opening of mechanism. Finished with a spine label for easy identification and with a capacity of 7cm, these A4 files tick all the boxes! (Convert cm to inches)

Choosing a lever arch for your personal needs or a collection of lever arch files for your filing needs isn’t easy when the choice is so vast! So following the theme of the past couple of weeks, we’re looking into the top 5 lever arch files for you. Take a look, see what you think and make your own decision! Why not get in touch and let us know your thoughts?

At number one, we felt the best lever arch file was the Arianex Double Capacity Lever Arch File. Its clear to see the reasons behind this choice with it being two files in one! This lever arch file is actual two 50mm A4 capacity lever arch files that come in a secure complete wrap-around cover with a stud fastener for added security. With plastic foot protectors and constructed from tough PVC covered board, this durable binder even has an added A-Z index divider set and plastic protected spine label! So not only is this your file need sorted, but the divider one too making life so much simpler. All this for £27.12 inc VAT!

At number two we have the Esselte No. 1 Power Lever Arch File featured. The 100% recycled, FSC certified file is ideal for those who strive to be eco friendly. Featuring a new mechanism with outstanding locking force for precise closing every time, the file has even been tested and guaranteed for 10,000 times! The prongs have been designed to remain perfectly aligned, even when the mechanism is completely filled with paper! Other bonuses include perfect upright stability (making them ideal for filing paper work on your shelves) a cover lock, thumbhole for easy retrieval, metal shoes for corner protection from fraying and damage and a staggering 3 year guarantee on the mechanism! Finally, this lever arch file will hold a whopping 500 A4 sheets and will allow you to print your own label! Simply go to www.esselte.com/easyprint. This pack of 10 comes in at just £32.15 inc VAT!

At number 3 and chosen for its value for money we have the 5 Star Lever Arch File. This pack of 10 lever arch files is available for just £15.61 inc VAT, making it suitable for all budgets! These cloud effect paper covered lever arch files are constructed from a high quality board and sport a handy metal finger pull for easy retrieval, added lining and reinforced bottom edge for protection from wear and tear, which all accounts for its added durability. The slotted covers provide added file stability when in use, and what’s more, these files are supplied complete with compressor bar for easy opening of mechanism. Finished with a spine label for easy identification and with a capacity of 70mm, these A4 files tick all the boxes!

At number 4 consider our Concord Classic Lever Arch Files. We decided we’d need to find a nice assorted collection here as many people use their lever arch file for filing paperwork and prefer a variety of colours in order to colour code the contents. So we’ve chosen for the fact that they’re an assorted pack of 10, but also for their small price tag. At £35.22 for 10, we felt this wasn’t bad and considering that their foolscap in size too, we thought this price very fair! Featuring metal finger pulls, spine labels, reinforced edges for durability and a useful printed index panel on the inside cover, these 70mm capacity lever arch files get the thumbs up from us.

And last but not least, in 5^th place we have the Leitz Presentation Mini Lever Arch Files featured. This unique lever arch file has a patented 180° mechanism which opens at 180° to allow filing from both sides and additions in the middle of a file whilst also ensuring perfect alignment. The clever mechanism will allow you to file larger amounts of paper in one go because the mechanism opens wider than standard Lever Arch Files and what’s more the cover has been constructed from FSC certified 100% recycled board! With a very handy 2 outside pockets for inserting covers and 1 inside pocket for inserting loose leaves of paper, this A4 lever arch files has a capacity of 52mm holding approximately 350 sheets of paper. Available in packs of 10 for just £81.38 inc VAT!

Are you looking for a new way to jazz up your ring binder system? The very first ring binder or lever arch file you’ll ever own will be for organisational purposes, and this will continue to be the case for every binder you own throughout the years. Most people find that their first is during the educational period of their lives, most likely beginning during the year prior to GCSE’s, when course work and studies have begun and work must come home, must be kept safe and is of great importance. Using a binder then will ensure that any work you produce that will count towards your grade can be kept safe and pristine, and any study materials can be kept together ensuring optimum organisation and ease of successful studying. Having said this however, my daughter had her first ring binder a couple of years back in 4 or 5 in junior school! This was purely for ‘club’ purposes with her friends and for her drawings.

Later on, as the years go on, you’ll find that binders are useful in your home for keeping you bills and paper work together. Used together with plastic pockets, ring binders are perfect for storing not only your utility bills, but your various certificates too, whether this be children’s awards and achievements (and your own), or your birth, deed-pole and/or marriage certificates! You’ll also find them very useful for other area’s in the home such as to store your recopies, and in my strange and wonderful families case; to store the bizarrely adjusted lyrics to traditional Christmas songs for ‘Sing Alongs’ on Christmas Eve.

In the workplace the binder is used, normally as a collection in order to file various customer and client accounts. Used as a set these binders can be grouped together and filed upon a shelf, stored alphabetically for ease of retrieval. With the addition of dividers and indexes, you’ll find you can create the perfect filing tool! Another popular use for the binder in an office environment is for various guides and manuals. Commonly used for training guides, health and safety reference folders, but also to showcase work and services for prospective clients and customers; the binder in a priceless tool.

Most ring binders and lever arch files have the facility to add a cover so that it can either be personalised or so that the binder can be labelling in some way. A cover will indicate a variety of things such as who it belongs to, what it contains, which date or letter of the alphabet the binder covers, the name of the club or association and so on. One unique way of producing a binder cover is to use OHP Film, also known as Over Head Projector film. This clear film can be written upon or fed through and printer for more accurate fonts and designs. We’ve found that black printing on transparencies is very effective, attention grabbing and can look exceptionally professional.

At Office 365 you will not only find a complete array of ring binders and lever arch files, but you will also enjoy the full spectrum of transparencies too. You can place orders online, or for enquires, quotes for bulk orders, or simply to speak to a human when placing your order, you can call on 0870 766 1624.

Lever Arch Files are the chosen filing option over ring binders for the sole reason that they can hold are larger quantity of paper. Thanks to this, it is not necessary to use more than one file for your home files, coursework, schoolwork, recopies and so on. With the simple use of index dividers and tabs, your lever arch file can be used to the max effectively filing away whatever you choose allowing for the quick and easy retrieval of your paper work when needed!

However it gets even better. There is a new and more developed version of heavy duty lever arch file which will withstand more use. Arianex (a brand who are normally overlooked here at Office 365) have developed the ingenious double capacity lever arch file which features two 50mm capacity spines! Due to its clever design, you’re getting two files in the space of one, and for the price of one! Take a look for yourself!

Featured is the Arianex Double Capacity Lever Arch File which boasts the following qualities:

• Two 50mm A4 capacity lever arch files in one
• Secure complete wrap-around cover with press stud fastener
• Made from tough PVC covered board, with plastic foot protectors
• Spine label in plastic holder
• Fixed Mechanism
• Index A-Z dividers included‼
• A4
• Blue
• RRP £30.25 – Our price £22.60!
• Call for quotes on bulk orders or check ‘order in bulk’ prices at the product page!

For more than 75 years Arianex have been leading the way with their innovative range of planning and filing products, when in 1930, they opened their first factory close to the Pleyel Crossroads at St. Denis (France – 93)! Their unique filing products first took off in 1983 and have continued to do so at a rapid rate in the years that followed. Their products are positioned at ‘top of the range’ standard and their products are appreciated for their quality and usability by all their customers. Arianex products are also known for their exceptionally long life and their exquisite presentation making them one of the most popular brands in the office world.

Arianex can without any doubt boast their exceptional client retention with a staggering 90% plus, 10 year repeat custom. When purchasing Arianex products, you will no doubt make unbelievable savings in space, time and environment plus cost when you purchase from Office 365. The first rule of Ecology applies here, consume less and consume better, all Arianex products are recyclable.