Outdoor Play Equipment for EYFS: What Primary Schools Need
Outdoor play is a statutory requirement within the DfE EYFS Statutory Framework and should be considered an integral part of children's daily learning rather than an optional extra. Effective outdoor provision supports Physical Development, Communication and Language, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design. The most successful EYFS outdoor spaces are not necessarily the largest or most expensive; they are the ones that provide purposeful opportunities for exploration, movement, creativity and independent learning.
Natalie McMunn
EYFS Areas of Learning: Which Resources Support Each Area?
The DfE EYFS Statutory Framework identifies seven areas of learning and development that form the foundation of Early Years education. Effective EYFS environments do not treat these areas as separate subjects. Instead, they provide resources and experiences that allow children to develop multiple skills simultaneously through play, exploration and meaningful interactions. Understanding how resources support each area helps teachers create purposeful provision while ensuring every part of the classroom contributes to children's development.
Carla Bonner
How to Set Up an EYFS Classroom: A Practical Guide
An effective EYFS classroom is organised around the seven areas of learning within the DfE EYFS Statutory Framework, while remaining flexible enough to support child-led exploration, continuous provision and individual development. The best classroom setups balance structure with independence, ensuring children can access resources easily, move confidently between activities and engage in meaningful learning experiences throughout the day.
Carla Bonner
Why Primary Schools Should Order Back-to-School Stationery in July, Not September
For most primary schools, July is the most effective time to order back-to-school stationery. Ordering before the summer holidays allows schools to review stock properly, prepare classrooms, avoid September procurement pressures and ensure pupils have access to the resources they need from day one. Waiting until September often creates unnecessary workload, emergency purchasing and avoidable disruption during one of the busiest periods of the school year.
Carla Bonner
Top 10 Classroom Setup Essentials: A Practical Guide for Teachers and School Business Managers
Every primary classroom relies on a small collection of everyday resources to function effectively. Whiteboard pens, staplers, scissors and sticky notes may not feature prominently in school improvement plans, but when they are missing, broken or in short supply, teaching time is quickly lost. At GLS, conversations with teachers, teaching assistants and School Business Managers often highlight the same reality: the smooth running of a classroom depends on having the right resources available at the right time. Ensuring classrooms are properly equipped is not simply a matter of convenience. It is a practical way to reduce workload, improve organisation and make school budgets work harder.
Natalie McMunn
Sticky Notes for Schools: Sizes, Uses and How Many to Order
Sticky notes are one of the most versatile classroom resources used in schools, supporting assessment, feedback, planning, intervention work and classroom organisation. While they may seem like a minor stationery item, they are used daily by teachers, support staff and pupils across multiple curriculum areas. Choosing the right sizes, understanding typical usage and ordering appropriate quantities can help schools improve efficiency, reduce waste and achieve better value from everyday classroom supplies.
Natalie McMunn
Copier paper for schools: gsm, sizes, quantities and value buying
Copier paper is one of the most heavily used consumables in schools, supporting everything from classroom resources and assessments to parent communications and administration. For School Business Managers, choosing the right paper involves more than comparing prices. Understanding GSM, paper sizes, usage patterns and purchasing strategies can help schools reduce waste, improve printing efficiency and achieve better long-term value from one of their most frequently purchased resources
Jack Clarke
Pencil cases for schools: size guide by year group
The best pencil case size for a pupil depends on their age, classroom requirements and the resources they need to access throughout the school day. While younger pupils often benefit from simple, compact pencil cases, older primary pupils typically require larger, more organised solutions. Choosing the right size can improve classroom organisation, reduce lost equipment and help schools make better use of their stationery budgets.
Natalie McMunn
Felt Tip Pens for Primary Schools: Berol vs Classmates and How Many to Buy
Felt tip pens are one of the most frequently used classroom resources in primary schools, supporting everything from early mark-making and art activities to topic work, displays and creative learning. For most schools, the decision is not simply whether to buy felt tips, but which type offers the best balance of quality, durability and value. While Berol remains one of the best-known classroom brands, many schools are increasingly comparing it with education-focused alternatives such as Classmates to manage budgets without compromising the pupil experience.
Carla Bonner
Folders and Plastic Wallets for Schools: What to Buy and How Many
Folders and plastic wallets are more than simple stationery supplies. They help schools organise learning, support assessment, improve home-school communication and reduce administrative workload. Choosing the right types and quantities can help schools create more consistent systems, reduce unnecessary spending and ensure important information remains accessible when it is needed most.
Natalie McMunn
Highlighters for primary schools: classroom packs, colours and teacher use
Highlighters are a simple but powerful classroom tool. Used effectively, they help pupils identify key information, engage with feedback, organise their thinking and become more independent learners. For schools, the challenge is not choosing the brightest colour or the most recognisable brand, but creating consistent systems that support learning while keeping classroom resources easy to manage and cost-effective to replenish.
Carla Bonner
Laminating Pouches for Schools: Sizes, Thicknesses and Quantities Explained
The right laminating pouch can help schools save money, reduce teacher workload and extend the lifespan of valuable learning resources. Understanding which sizes, thicknesses and quantities are best suited to different educational settings allows schools to make informed decisions that support both budgets and classroom outcomes.
Carla Bonner