Big Swiss resorts- Verbier, Grindelwald etc. are megabucks so rent before you go.

The Supermarket Migros La Praille in Geneva has cheap prices but unless you have local connections I do not see how you would organise it from UK.

 Hi, there's been a few posts since I was last here....

 To pick up on this thread, I have done a few trips to Switzerland and haven't really found it any more expensive than the rest of Europe, especially France.  The key is to pay for everything upfront with the tour operators.

As Blazer says the tour operator should help with hire in the resort but my experience with helmets is that some shops have old gear and also quickly run out of the correct sizes; they're also quite grubby by late season if you are not careful.  I am sure this will improve as helmets continue to become more popular.  I think students should be made to wear helmets where ever they are skiing and it is law in Italy for children under 14 to wear them.

I would use a UK supplier to hire helmets as well as ski gear so that the students have enough time to check that the fit is correct and that the helmets aren't old, damaged and worn.  As I said previously snow-kit (www.snow-kit.com) can help out with helmets as well as with accessories and hire clothing.

With regard to lifts closing and losing children on the mountains, this was probably just unfortunate and I would imagine it happens to most groups at some point.  The key to this is understanding what to dio if it does happen!!  There are ski companies however that provide English ski instructors who take the groups from the doorstep to the slopes and see them onto the lifts at the end of the day.  This is a really good idea as the students are in experienced hands for the whole day on the mountain.

 Hope this helps...

Hi again,

Sorry been runnning around a bit so haven't had a chance to reply. Thanks for all the help and ideas. really useful.

Just to clarify - we are getting all the skis and boots out in resort, it was the clothing & accessories etc that i was asking about. I looked at the Aldi / Lidl stuff and it seems pretty good but the parents seem to have so many questions about whether it's the right quality of stuff that i'm not sure how to advise them.

I'm definitely going to suggest that all the kids should use helmets to the HT and then it takes away the worry. Although the comment about old used / smelly stock from Susiehockey got me thinking. Have you used this snowkit company. I had a look at the website and it looks like it could be interesting. Especially if they'll come and visit the school as i think a lot of the parents would like somebody who knows what they're talking about to be there to offer advice when they're looking to buy kit for their little darlings!

Anyway - back to the marking - joy!

Rich