Gratnells Trays for Schools: Sizes, Colours and How to Organise Them

Why are Gratnells trays used in so many schools?

Gratnells trays are one of the most widely used storage systems in UK schools because they provide a flexible, durable and standardised way to organise classroom resources. Available in multiple depths, widths and colours, they can be used for everything from daily classroom equipment to specialist curriculum resources. When organised effectively, Gratnells trays help reduce classroom clutter, improve resource accessibility and save staff time by making storage systems easier to manage and maintain.

Walk into almost any primary school and there is a good chance you will find Gratnells trays somewhere in the building.

Whether they are being used in a Reception classroom, a science area, an intervention room or a central resource store, Gratnells have become a familiar part of school organisation.

Their popularity is not simply about storage.

It is about standardisation.

Over the years, GLS has supported schools with everything from classroom refurbishments to whole-school resource reviews, and one pattern appears repeatedly: schools operate more efficiently when resources are easy to find, easy to access and easy to return.

Gratnells trays support that goal by providing a consistent storage system that can work across multiple classrooms, subjects and year groups.

For teachers, that means less time searching for resources.

For School Business Managers, it means greater visibility of equipment, fewer duplicate purchases and better long-term value from existing resources.

What sizes of Gratnells trays are available?

One of the reasons Gratnells remain so popular is the variety of tray sizes available.

While exact dimensions vary across product ranges, most schools commonly use:

Shallow trays

Typically used for:

• Exercise books
• Worksheets
• Pens and pencils
• Phonics resources
• Small classroom equipment

Shallow trays are particularly popular in EYFS and KS1 environments where children need independent access to resources.

Deep trays

Typically used for:

• Construction resources
• Art materials
• STEM equipment
• Small world resources
• Curriculum kits

These offer greater capacity while still allowing resources to remain organised and visible.

Extra deep trays

Typically used for:

• Bulk storage
• Large equipment
• Sports resources
• DT materials
• Shared departmental resources

Many schools use these within central stores or specialist teaching areas.

When schools review storage solutions with GLS, the most successful systems often use a combination of tray depths rather than relying on a single size for every purpose.

What do the different Gratnells tray colours mean?

One of the most useful features of the Gratnells system is the ability to colour-code resources.

There is no nationally agreed colour system, which means schools have flexibility to create an approach that works for their own environment.

Common examples include:

• Year-group colour coding
• Subject-based colour coding
• Intervention resource storage
• SEND resource organisation
• Staff-only resource identification
• Shared curriculum equipment

Across many schools supported by GLS, colour coding becomes particularly valuable when resources move between classrooms.

Rather than relying solely on labels, staff can identify resources quickly through colour recognition.

This may seem like a small detail, but over the course of an academic year it can save considerable staff time.

How should schools organise Gratnells trays?

The most effective tray systems are usually the simplest.

One mistake schools sometimes make is creating highly complex storage systems that only a handful of staff understand.

The strongest approaches tend to focus on consistency.

Effective organisation often includes:

• Clear tray labels
• Consistent colour systems
• Standardised resource locations
• Pupil-accessible storage where appropriate
• Regular resource reviews

When GLS works with schools reviewing classroom organisation, a common objective is reducing "resource friction" — the time lost when staff or pupils cannot quickly locate what they need.

Well-organised tray systems can significantly reduce this challenge.

The goal is not simply storing resources.

The goal is ensuring resources remain usable.

Should pupils have access to Gratnells trays?

In most cases, yes.

Particularly within EYFS and primary environments, accessibility plays an important role in promoting independence.

The EYFS Framework places significant emphasis on enabling environments that support children's ability to make choices and manage resources independently.

Well-positioned Gratnells storage can support this by allowing pupils to:

• Select resources independently
• Return resources appropriately
• Take responsibility for classroom organisation
• Develop routines and self-management skills

Many of the classrooms supported by GLS use tray systems not only as storage solutions but as part of wider classroom organisation strategies that encourage independence and reduce unnecessary teacher workload.

How can Gratnells trays help schools save money?

Storage may not immediately appear to be a budget issue.

However, poor organisation often creates hidden costs.

Resources that cannot be found are often replaced unnecessarily.

Duplicate orders are placed because stock levels are unclear.

Equipment becomes damaged because it is stored incorrectly.

One lesson GLS frequently shares with School Business Managers is that effective organisation often reduces spending without reducing resources.

Well-managed tray systems help schools:

• Protect existing resources
• Reduce duplication
• Improve stock visibility
• Extend equipment lifespan
• Simplify resource audits

For schools facing continued budget pressures, these operational efficiencies can become surprisingly valuable.

What resources work particularly well with Gratnells trays?

While Gratnells trays can store almost anything, certain resource types particularly benefit from structured storage.

These include:

• Classroom stationery: Pens, Pencils, Highlighters, Whiteboard markers, Glue sticks
• EYFS resources: Loose parts, Small world equipment, Maths manipulatives, Mark-making materials
• Curriculum resources: STEM kits, Science equipment, Art materials, DT resources
• Intervention resources: Phonics materials, SEND resources, Reading interventions, Assessment materials

Across both classroom and central storage environments, Gratnells trays provide the flexibility to adapt as curriculum needs evolve.

What mistakes do schools make when using Gratnells trays?

The most common issue is not the trays themselves.

It is the system around them.

Common challenges include:

• Inconsistent labelling
• Too many colour variations
• Lack of ownership for resources
• Overfilled trays
• Failure to review contents regularly

The schools that get the greatest value from Gratnells tend to treat storage as part of a wider organisational strategy rather than simply purchasing trays and hoping the system manages itself.

This is where practical planning often matters more than the storage product itself.

Why do Gratnells remain the storage system of choice for many schools?

Educational resources change constantly.

Storage requirements evolve.

Classrooms are reconfigured.

Curriculum priorities shift.

Despite this, Gratnells remain one of the most widely adopted storage systems across UK schools.

The reason is simple.

They provide consistency.

For teachers, they simplify classroom organisation.

For pupils, they improve accessibility.

For School Business Managers, they support resource management and long-term value.

In a sector where efficiency matters more than ever, that combination remains highly relevant.

How does GLS support schools with classroom storage and organisation?

Effective storage is about more than finding somewhere to put resources. It is about creating systems that save time, improve accessibility and help schools maximise the value of the equipment they already own.

GLS works with schools to review classroom organisation, resource management and storage planning, helping teachers and School Business Managers create environments that are easier to manage and more effective for learning. From classroom stationery to whole-school resource systems, the focus remains the same: helping schools reduce complexity and get more value from every resource.

For more guidance, visit our Classroom Essentials hub.

Schools reviewing storage solutions may also find it useful to explore our Gratnells Trays & School Storage Systems category.