Boxes
Urchin's new Jute Storage Boxes (below right) have wooden carry handles and come in either pale pink or royal blue with matching gingham linings. The boxes measure 30(h) x 36 x 50cm, priced 16.95.
Telephone 0870 720 0709 www.urchin.co.uk
Asco's exclusive range of Red Boxes is made from semi-flexible unbreakable plastic. The boxes come in six sizes and can be stacked on top of each other. Baby box measures 9 x 7 x 2.5cm and is priced 1.15; Mini Box measures 12 x 8 x 3.5cm, priced 1.25; Eva Box measures 19 x 12.5 x 4.5cm, priced 2.08; Katy Box measures 23 x 12.5 x 4.5cm, priced 2.56; Sylva Box measures 25 x 14.5 x 5cm, priced 3.75 and Isa box measures 34 x 22 x 9.5cm, priced 4.95. Asco also stocks a range of boxes in different colours.
Telephone 0113 270 7070 www.ascoeducational.co.uk
Communication Boxes (below) from the Reflections on Learning catalogue are intended to be used by children to store their pictures, messages from friends or notes from nursery staff. The boxes can also be used to store small items of equipment and are available in blocks of five in red, dark blue, light blue, yellow and green. Each box measures 15 x 13.5 x 19.5cm and each block measures 80.5 x 15.5 x 20cm. The blocks can be wall mounted or free standing and could also be stackedto form different colour combinations. Made from MDF, the 5-Way Communication Box is priced 42.50 from Commotion.
Telephone 01732 225 859 www.reflectionsonlearning.co.uk
New to Hope are Tidy Boxes (left). Made from corrugated fibreboard, they are designed to store any item up to A4 in size. The boxes have hinged lids and are supplied flat-packed for simple assembly. They are available in yellow, red, green or blue and measure 32 x 24 x 5cm. Suppliedin packs of 12, priced Pounds 8.25.
Telephone 08451 202 055 www.hope-education.co.uk
Units
LFC's 9-Bin Storage Units (pictured top right) holds the bins flat or tilted, according to how much space you have. If you choose the tilted model the contents of the bins are more visible to children when in use, but the flat bin units take up less height. The frames of the units are made from yellow ABS plastic tubes, which means they are light but durable.
Special clamps are included in each pack to secure the frames to the wall when they are not in use. The plastic bins come in red, blue and yellow, with transparent lids and coloured handles. 18-Bin units are also available and these have lockable castors. The flat 9-Bin unit measures 71 x 84 x 34cm, the tilted unit is 84cm high. Priced 185.99 each.
Also new and exclusive to LFCis the Circular Storage Unit designed to house smaller items. The unit is made from toughened resin and comes with 12 totes, which slide in and out on two-way runners, and 12 trays that lift out. The unit comes in grey with bright purple trays, four integral handles and castors to make it easy to move to where it's needed. It is 76cm high and x 81cm in diameter, priced 249.99.
Telephone 08458 506 507 www.lfcdespatchline.co.uk
This wooden chest of drawers (below left) contains four deep drawers, painted in bright red, yellow, blue and green. The chest measures 68cm in height and is also available in a pastel version with a white painted frame and pink, lilac, lemon and lime drawers. Priced 49.99 from Letterbox.
Telephone 0870 600 7878 www.letterbox.co.uk
The See'n'Store Box (below) can be used for storing items for the youngest in the group through to the oldest. The box has 'pull me up' bars to encourage younger childrento inspect the contents and clear Perspex sides to allow everyone tosee what's inside. A moveable divider is also included to help you organise items. See'n'Store is made from heavy-duty hardwood, MDF and Perspex and measures 94(l) x 43(w) x 34(h)cm. Priced 109.95 from SbS.
Also new to SbS is the Large Drawer Mobile Storage Unit (below). Each of its three drawers are transparent while the frame, which slots together, is navy blue. The unit is made from hard-wearing plastic and measures 47(w) x 33(d) x 71(l)cm, priced 19.99.
Telephone 08451 252 550 www.sbs-educational.co.uk
Urchin's new Stacked Storage Unit (above) might make a very useful addition to staff room storage, as you can see what you've filed away through the transparent mesh drawers. The unit is available in different formations: sets of four drawers, six drawers, or two drawers are priced 39.95 each; an open unit is priced 31.95; a set of four units is priced 146.80. The units all stack on top of each other and can also be wall mounted. Each set measures 27(h) x 36(w) x 28(d)cm and the height of four stacked units is 108cm.
Telephone as above
Trays
Gratnells supplies an enormous variety of trays to schools, colleges and nurseries. These come in a range of colours and with a wide selection of housing units. The latest addition is the F25 Tray - this is 22.5cm high and is designed to fit with all existing school furniture. If you are purchasing trays and boxes to extend your existing stock, and the frames and units you already have are 'standard school furniture', you will need to ensure that the trays you buy are always 312mm wide if they are to fit properly. All Gratnells trays stack into each other for easy carrying and have optional transparent lids. The F25 is priced 2.50.
Telephone 01279 401 550 www.gratnells.com
Useful extras
The Bits & Pieces Wall Organiser can be put up wherever you have room for a couple of hooks - on the wall or the back of a door - and is useful for holding either bits and pieces that the children won't need until they go home or even inhalers and other medicines (providing it's out of the children's reach). The organiser is made from 100 per cent washable cotton and comes with four small pockets, two medium-sized and one large pouch.
Available with a red, green or blue base colour with contrasting pockets, its measurements are 73 x 49cm and the price is 15.95 from Spottiswoode Trading.
Telephone 01903 733 123 www.spottiswoodebabygifts.com
The Seat Sack is intended to help you keep desks and other surfaces clutter-free. The cloth sack slips over the back of children's chairs to provides space for stationery, books and other items. It comes in a range of sizes (from 30 to 41cm in length) to fit primary and junior chairs. The sack is made from hard-wearing blue canvas that can be easily wiped clean.
Priced 6.99 each (6.25 for orders of 25 or more). An Over Chair Organiser is also available with five different sized pockets in primary colours that will hold everything from pencils to large books.
Measurements are 60(h) x 38(w)cm, priced 9.99 each or 9.49 if you buy 25 or more from LFC.
Telephone as above
