The importance of choosing furniture for your nursery or early years classroom
Choosing the right classroom furniture or library furniture for your nursery or early years setting is an important choice that requires some consideration. Not only do you have to think about how you want your setting to look, but the most important factor to also consider is how it will affect and benefit children. You want to maximise opportunities for learning while giving them a sense of purpose in their day to day, all while attempting to keep their attention. That in itself is a big task, but it’s easily overcome with the right guidance and information.
Young children will always respond positively to their environment if it feels safe, comfortable and has areas that clearly communicate and encourage participation in active learning. The issue is, finding the right type of furniture to create this environment is tough. It’s either too bulky or too tall and can be rather intimidating for our crawlers, wobblers and stompers.
The right furniture helps to:
- Create a happy, engaging environment and makes children want to learn: Child-sized furniture that encourages independent access will motivate children to explore their surroundings and take the initiative to seek out new experiences.
- Improve focus and concentration: Youngsters can easily be distracted, so furniture and storage that helps keep everything in place and organised will help promote a calm, clutter-free environment that is without distractions.
- Develop important skills: every aspect of a room plays a role in child development, and furniture is in many ways a learning tool for youngsters and helps them cultivate a range of skills. For example, it can teach them to be disciplined and listen as you instruct them to put books, toys and resources back into their respective homes. Furniture such as tables and chairs for schools allow for the creation of collaborative spaces that promote social skills and communication.
Furniture ranges
Having considered the above, the next step is to consider pieces that will not only compliment each other but compliment the setting. At EYR we offer a variety of furniture ranges from our own developed Scandi range, to our Foundation Stage furniture and the Home from Home range.
EYR Foundation Stage Furniture
Launched in 2015, the EYR Foundation Stage range was designed to create an enabling environment that could also be adapted, allowing different areas to be changed and developed according to areas of learning and children’s interests.
This range is designed specifically for children aged around 3-5 making it suitable for any EYFS classroom or as an addition to your nursery setting furniture. Each piece of the EYFS furniture is manufactured from high quality MDF with rounded edges for safety and plinth bases for stability.
Home from Home Range
The Home from Home range has been designed specifically for young children with the aim of easing the transition from their home environment to an early years setting. The range features key pieces that children associate with home to provide a sense of familiarity that helps to support comfort and wellbeing.
This is different to your typical education furniture as instead of school chairs and a school table, children have the choice of tub chairs, armchairs and even dining room style tables.
EYR Scandi Range
Available only at EYR, the Scandi Furniture Range is designed to be mixed and matched to create a calming environment. The classic Scandi colours and patterns easily compliment a focused setting for little learners. The bean bags and even sofas could be used as chairs in the classroom for a quiet zone or reading area.
What to consider when selecting furniture pieces:
- If the piece is sturdy, durable and able to withstand busy environments
- Free from sharp edges and corners
- Age and size-appropriate
- Comfortable and safe
- Foldable and space-saving if your setting is limited in space
- Easy to move around so you can make the most effective use of space when necessary
Certain aspects should be at the forefront of your decision-making when selecting furniture. But most importantly, you should consider investing in quality resources that will last for years to come and contribute towards creating a motivating environment.
Choosing the right furniture for your early years setting or classroom is only part of the process. Designing a learning environment also takes much thought and consideration. At EYR, we offer a room design service free of charge. We gather all the relevant information from you, conduct a more detailed consultation, create CAD drawings and provide additional advice on suitable resources, all for free. If you’re interested in this service all you need to do is fill in a form or email us and we’ll take it from there!
