Category Archives: Building, furniture, maintenance, energy etc

FIVE essentials that you MUST do to have the best chance of getting your new furniture delivered on time for the new term …….

If you’ve ever had the job of ordering school or college furniture for the start of a new academic year you’ll know that  it can be fraught with  problems.  Will the tables for the new teaching block arrive in time  ?   Will there be enough chairs for the new intake …….?   Will there be enough comfortable new chairs for the staffroom  ?

The production of educational furniture  (desks, tables, storage cupboards, classroom and office chairs etc) is highly seasonal.   Thousands of schools, from Penzance to Aberdeen  place their orders from April to August and expect to take delivery in time for the start of the Autumn term in September…

Unfortunately it’s almost impossible for manufacturers to meet such a demand and ensure that every school or college gets what they want in time….simply because there’s not enough production  and transport capacity to meet the extra demand in the summer months.

And this year,  the year of covid 19,  has thrown a massive big spanner in the works as several furniture manufacturers have already shut  down for nearly two months…..  thus reducing production capacity even more.

 Is there a way to improve the odds of getting your furniture delivered on time ….. ?

 Here are FIVE things you can do:

  1. Decide as soon as possible exactly what products you want to order. This may mean discussion with the site manager, the finance office, heads of departments ….but it should be done as a matter of urgency.

 

  1. If at all possible your premises should be open for deliveries during part or all of the summer holidays. This will mean that manufacturers can make AND deliver your orders before the start of the new  term.   Provide your supplier with  the mobile tel no of your site staff…

 

  1. If possible, be flexible. This is particularly important if you are late in finalising your orders. If you specify a  different type of  chair or table or a different colour it may mean that they arrive in time, whereas  your  ideal choice might not be able to be delivered until  eg. October.

 

  1. Contact some local schools and see if there is a way of collaborating. One school may have spare tables, another may have excess chairs.  It may be possible to borrow / loan / swop to    help each other out.
  1. Last but not least…and this is very important. If you are replacing existing products then do not dispose of them until your new furniture arrives.  This is vital as it means that even if the new furniture does not arrive on time then at least you can continue to use your existing chairs, tables etc.

If you are planning to order new furniture then please contact  Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,

They have been supplying schools and colleges since 2004 and would be pleased to help. They can make suggestions and  offer alternatives if you are having difficulty in obtaining exactly what you want.  Their links with UK manufacturers and importers mean that they are able to source a wide variety of educational furniture….which in turn could benefit your organisation.

Contact:     Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,  PO Box  999,  London  E14 6SH

email:       info@centraleducational.co.uk           www.centraleducational.co.uk

Their advice is free and without obligation, so if you’d like to chat and maybe discuss your furniture  requirements please phone:  020 7515 1797  and ask to speak to Martin Evans. You’ll get the facts and impartial advice without any “hard sell.”    That’s a promise.

Now more than ever it’s vital to order your new school or college furniture as early as possible ……

If you’ve ever had the job of ordering school or college furniture for the start of a new academic year you’ll know that  it can be fraught with  problems.  Will the tables for the new teaching block arrive in time  ?   Will there be enough chairs for the new intake …….?

The production of educational furniture  (desks, tables, storage cupboards, classroom and office chairs etc) is highly seasonal.   Thousands of schools, from Penzance to Aberdeen  place their orders from April to August and expect to take delivery in time for the start of the Autumn term in September…

Unfortunately it’s almost impossible for manufacturers to meet such a demand and ensure that every school or college gets what they want in time….simply because there’s not enough production  and transport capacity to meet the extra demand in the summer months.

And this year,  the year of covid 19,  has thrown a massive big spanner in the works as several furniture manufacturers have been shut down for nearly two months…..  thus reducing production capacity even more.

 Is there a way to improve the odds of getting your furniture delivered on time ….. ?

 Here are FIVE things you can do:

  1. Decide as soon as possible exactly what products you want to order. This may mean discussion with the site manager, the finance office, heads of departments ….but it should be done as a matter of urgency. 
  1. If at all possible your premises should be open for deliveries during part or all of the summer holidays. This will mean that manufacturers can make AND deliver your orders before the start of the new  term.   By doing so this will also reduce the bottleneck at the start of September.
  1. If possible, be flexible. This is particularly important if you are late in finalising your orders. If you specify a  different type of  chair or table or a different colour it may mean that they arrive in time, whereas  your  ideal choice might not be able to be delivered until October.
  1. Contact some local schools and see if there is a way of collaborating. One school may have spare tables, another may have excess chairs.  It may be possible to borrow / loan / swap to    help each other out.

5. Last but not least…and this is very important.    If you are replacing existing products then do not dispose of them until your new furniture arrives.  This is vital as it means that even if the new furniture does not arrive on time then at least you can continue to use your existing chairs, tables etc.

If you are planning to order new furniture then please contact  Central Educational Supplies Ltd., They have been supplying schools and colleges since 2004 and would be pleased to help. They can make suggestions and  offer alternatives if you are having difficulty in obtaining exactly what you want.  Their links with UK manufacturers and importers mean that they are able to
source a wide variety of educational furniture.

Contact:     Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,  PO Box  999,  London  E14 6SH

email:       info@centraleducational.co.uk           www.centraleducational.co.uk

Their advice is free and without obligation, so if you’d like to chat and maybe discuss your furniture  requirements please phone:  020 7515 1797  and ask to speak to Martin Evans. You’ll get the facts and impartial advice without any “hard sell.”    That’s a promise.

 

Three things you MUST do to give your school or college a better chance of getting your new furniture delivered before the start of the new term in September.

If you’ve ever had the job of ordering new chairs, tables, desks, cupboards etc  in time for the start of a new school year then you’ll realise that it’s rarely an easy job.

What’s the problem ….?  

Thousands of schools throughout the UK will  be doing the same thing…all wanting their orders delivered in plenty of time so students have got chairs to sit on, tables to work at and lockers to store their gear in when schools resume in September (or August if they live in Scotland)

The problem is that manufacturing is squeezed into a relatively  short space of time (usually between April and August)  and it’s simply not possible to make AND deliver thousands of orders throughout the UK  in the last couple of weeks in August.  The problem is compounded  if schools cannot take deliveries during the summer holidays.  In such cases not only do their orders have to be manufactured but they also have to be stored until schools reopen and can take deliveries.

 

In keeping with many other industries, some manufacturers of educational furniture shut down for at least two months earlier in the year.  This has had the effect of reducing production capacity even more.

The situation is grim but there are three things you can do to give your school or college a better chance of getting what you need in time for the start of the new term.

 

  1. Decide as soon as possible exactly what needs to be ordered. This often requires discussion between  eg. the finance office, site manager, heads of departments  etc. but it’s vital that orders are finalised as a matter of urgency.   The longer you leave it the less likely you are to get an on time delivery.

 

  1. If possible, make sure that your premises are open for deliveries during part or all of  the holidays, even if it’s just for a couple of weeks.  This will make it easier for  manufacturers to  deliver before school  begins.

 

  1. If possible, be flexible. This is especially important if you have left ordering till “late in the day.”  In  such cases, make enquiries about delivery dates for your first choice products….then consider   alternatives,  eg. different colours,  sizes,  designs.   By choosing slightly different products it may mean that they arrive ready for the new term, whereas your first choice products may not have arrived until the end of September or even the beginning of October.

 

There’s just one other suggestion I’d make, but it’s a very important one.   Never ever dispose of your existing furniture until your new stock arrives.  I’ve known schools who have cleared out old tables and chairs from classrooms (so the rooms could be renovated) and then discovered there’d be a delay with their new furniture.   The result…. ?      No chairs for students to sit on or tables to work at.

 

If you are planning to order new furniture then I’d be pleased to help. My name is Martin Evans and I’m one of the directors of  Central Educational Supplies Ltd.   We have been supplying schools and colleges with chairs, tables, desks, storage equipment etc since 2004.

We’re always glad to give advice, make suggestions or provide quotations for your requirements.  Our advice is free and without obligation.  If you just want a chat about what’s available and the likely lead time then do give us a call  Tel:  020 7515 1797  or an email:  info@centraleducational.co.uk  or visit our website:  www.centraleducational.co.uk   Do get in touch. It could mean you get your new furniture sooner than might otherwise be the case.   One thing I promise. You’ll get straight answers and no “hard sell.”

Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,  PO Box 999,  London  E14 6SH

 

Classroom chairs, manufactured in the UK with a FIVE year warranty and costing from less than £ 10 each (ex vat) …..

At a time when there have been increases in the price of classroom chairs it’s nice to be able to report that it’s still possible to purchase classroom chairs from two established UK manufacturers at very competitive prices.

It’s true that there is a limited colour range and in just one seat height (430 mm) but at these prices, AND with a FIVE year warranty, it’s hard to ignore the benefits  of having extra seating or for fitting out temporary classrooms.

Further information can be found on the website of Central Educational Supplies Ltd

www.centraleducational.co.uk  or give them a call on 020 7515 1797 or email

info@centraleducational.co.uk

Do you need classroom tables and chairs at short notice ….?

It can be rather worrying to find out  with just  two or three weeks before the start of another school year that some classrooms may not have enough tables and chairs.

The explanation may be simple, the person who normally deals with ordering has been unwell or has changed jobs…or perhaps there will be a larger than normal intake.

But whatever the reason you now an urgent need for tables and chairs to fill the empty classrooms as quickly as possible.  If you can be somewhat flexible with specifications  eg. colour, design, size etc then you may stand a better chance of equipping your classrooms sooner rather than later.

If this is, or might be, the situation in your organisation, then a quick phone  call to Central Educational Supplies Ltd on 020 7515 1797 may be a shrewd move (If you prefer email it’s info@centraleducational.co.uk).  Please ask for Martin Evans who will be pleased to assist.

The simple and effective way of cutting hundreds (maybe even thousands) of pounds from your organisation’s costs when choosing new classroom chairs……..

Postura Plus classroom chairs with a TWENTY year warranty can save schools and colleges hundreds or even thousands of pounds  and eliminate time wasted trying to repair damaged or vandalised chairs….…

Improvements in design and manufacture mean that the quality and durability of classroom chairs have improved significantly  since 1996. The result is that it’s now possible to obtain classroom chairs with a TWENTY year warranty.

That’s twenty years with NO replacement costs and NO repair costs …. a considerable saving of time and money compared with many chairs still in use in UK schools.

….and the chair in question  ?  It’s the POSTURA  PLUS, now in its  twenty first year.

Designed not only to be durable and virtually vandal proof it also encourages good posture and is available in 16 colours and six sizes from nursery right through to college and university.

If you’re looking for an attractive,  practical and durable chair  with an ergonomic design which  encourages good posture  and which can be used throughout your organisation then the Postura Plus chair is worth serious consideration.

For further information on Postura Plus chairs (which by the way, are manufactured here in the UK) please visit the website:  www.centraleducational.co.uk  

or contact them by email:  info@centraleducational.co.uk or phone:  020 7515 1797  and ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to help with any questions you may have.

Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,  PO Box 999  London  E14 6SH

Classroom chairs with a TWENTY year warranty

Classroom chairs with a TWENTY year warranty can save schools and colleges hundreds or even THOUSANDS of pounds  and eliminate time wasted trying to repair damaged or vandalised chairs….…

Improvements in design and manufacture mean that the quality and durability of classroom chairs have improved significantly  since 1996. The result is that it’s now possible to obtain classroom chairs with a TWENTY year warranty.

That’s twenty years with NO replacement costs and NO repair costs …. a considerable saving of time and money compared with many chairs still in use in UK schools.

….and the chair in question  ?  It’s the POSTURA  PLUS, now in its  twenty first year.

Designed not only to be durable and virtually vandal proof it also encourages good posture and is available in 16 colours and six sizes from nursery right through to college and university.

If you’re looking for an attractive,  practical and durable chair  with an ergonomic design which  encourages good posture  and which can be used throughout your organisation then the Postura Plus chair is worth serious consideration.

For further information on Postura Plus chairs (which by the way, are manufactured here in the UK) please visit the website:  www.centraleducational.co.uk 

or contact them by email:  info@centraleducational.co.uk or phone:  020 7515 1797  and ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to help with any questions you may have.

Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,  PO Box 999  London  E14 6SH

KM classroom chairs & stools are available again…….

For many years KM Furniture were producing what were arguably the best and most popular classroom and reception chairs.   Their chairs could be found in hundreds, if not thousands of schools and colleges throughout the UK.

However, three years ago KM Furniture went into liquidation.  It was a sad day as it meant that many people in and around Chesterfield  (where their factory was located) lost their jobs;  and schools and colleges were unable to replace their existing KM chairs with the same models.

Now for the good news..…  KM chairs are available again AND they are still made in the UK.

The most popular KM chairs, the P3,  P6 and P7, together with the NP and  CLS  stools can be obtained from Central Educational Supplies Ltd...usually within a couple of weeks  (although delivery lead times may be somewhat longer during the summer). The chairs are available in sizes from nursery through to colleges and in a range of colours.

For more information  about KM chairs and stools plus educational furniture from other  well known brands such as Postura Plus, Titan, Hille, DLB, Spaceforme  and  Metalliform etc, please visit the website:

  www.centraleducational.co.uk  

or contact them by email:  info@centraleducational.co.uk  or phone 020 7515 1797  and ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to assist.

They are always pleased to talk about educational furniture and their  suggestions and advice are free and without obligation.  They would be pleased to hear from you.

Central Educational Supplies Ltd.   PO Box 999  London  E14 6SH

Will you have enough desks for all students when the next lot of exams come round….?

Exams have a habit of creeping up on you when you’re not looking…..  then suddenly you realise that there’s not enough exam desks for all your students……..

If this might be the case in your school or college  and especially if you need more desks in a hurry then a quick phone call or email  to Central Educational Supplies Ltd can help to solve the problem.

Central Educational Supplies Ltd have been supplying exam desks to schools and  colleges throughout the UK for many years and can usually deliver folding exam desks within  three working days …,. sometimes even within 24 hours, depending on when they receive an order.

Their range includes folding desks, cantilever and zimmer  style desks, as well as folding chairs which can be useful in providing temporary seating.

Further details are on their website:   www.centraleducational.co.uk

To contact them  please call  020 7515 1797  or fax:  020 7515 4420  or email:  info@centraleducational.co.uk

Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,  PO Box 999  London  E14 6SH

PS. If you are considering purchasing new classroom tables and chairs then a visit to their website may prove useful.

What is the simplest way of ensuring that school pupils and students keep their property secure and safe?

Curiously, security is not just an issue of having an environment that is secure.  It is also a question of looks.

For if young people are offered a location in which to store their books, equipment, and personal property, and that location itself looks rather worn and old, they will not be inclined to use it, no matter how secure it really is.

This of course applies to school lockers as much as to any other secure area.  But it raises a problem.  How can the school justify paying for a new set of lockers for pupils, students, and indeed staff when there are so many other demands on the school’s finances?

The answer, as many schools have now found, is simple.  One makes a completely new, modern, and thoroughly secure set of lockers available to parents and their children for a modest termly rental charge.  This provides safe storage for everyone, and the rental income from the parents pays for the lockers.

To give an example of the costs, a set of 200 lockers complete with personal tamper-proof locks will cost the school £10000, and can be rented to parents for £0.40 per week, thus covering the cost of purchasing the lockers in just two to five years dependent on the terms of the lease.  Once paid for the lockers provide a valuable source of income.

All lockers come with a ten year guarantee excluding the locks. A maintenance contract can also be built into the purchase plan.

For the locks you have the choice of key lock, padlock or combination code lock.

Now, of course, some will say that youngsters will simply lose their keys or forget their codes, but if this is your concern, the combination locks can be opened by a master key and then be reset.

Pupils and students who forget their code more than once can be charged a small fee for looking the code up thus recovering the cost of the administrator’s time.

To take a look at our lockers visit http://www.staylock.co.uk

To see the prices for typical locker installations. Please request a quote by clicking here davidknight@staylock.co.uk

To discuss installation at a time and date convenient to you, please call 01253 733 049 or 07899 911 302.

Or email us at sales@staylock.co.uk

Vandal Proof Lockers at no cost to the school

Staylock Ltd manufacture, supply and install vandal resistant school lockers.

 www.staylock.co.uk

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GENERATE INCOME FOR YOUR SCHOOL WITHOUT ANY CAPITAL OUTLAY?

WHILST PROVIDING SAFE STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR CHILDREN’S BELONGINGS

Install our vandal resistant lockers with 10 year guarantee maintenance provided.

All sizes manufactured and bespoke options.

Choice of locking options – keys, padlocks, code locks

With our all-inclusive low cost rental plan, ensuring no hidden or unforeseen cost to the school during the rental period, and with contributions from parents from as little as 50 pence per week generating a four figure income for the school!

FOR FREE NO OBLIGATION SURVEY AND DISCUSS ADDITIONAL SCHOOL INCOME

Call 01253 733049 or 07899911302

Email  sales@staylock.co.uk

www.staylock.co.uk

How would you like new classroom chairs with a warranty which lasts until 2036?

How much could your organisation save? With a TWENTY year warranty there’ll be no maintenance or replacement costs for twenty years… Think how much that will improve your furniture budget!

The Postura Plus range of chairs has been designed not only to be good looking and extremely durable (hence the 20 year warranty) but also to encourage good posture for your students, as well as being easy to stack and move from room to room if necessary.

Postura Plus chairs are used successfully in thousands of UK schools, often just as a trial in one classroom and then being “rolled out” throughout the school as funds allow.

Postura Plus chairs are available in a range of 15 attractive colours and six sizes for ages four years upwards. The TWENTY year warranty (and its associated benefits) means that these chairs are likely to be one of the best investments that a school or college could ever make.

Further information about Postura Plus chairs including very competitive pricing may be found at:

www.centraleducational.co.uk/classroom-postura%20plus.html

 Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,   PO Box 999, London E14 6SH 

You can contact them by email: info@centraleducational.co.uk or phone on: 020 7515 1797
Ask for Martin Evans who will be pleased to assist.

Postura+ warranty doubled after 20 years of proven performance

Postura+ was the first one piece polypropylene chair introduced to the UK education market in 1996. Twenty years on, it stands unsurpassed as the only chair in its class to outlive its warranty.

Tried, tested and proven in the most demanding environments, we can now confidently double the chair’s warranty to 20 years knowing that it can be substantiated by real world, everyday use by millions of students all over the country.

Setting the benchmark for comfort, quality and versatility, it has stood the test of time and will continue to provide comfort and flexibility for millions more children in years to come, growing the ranks of what we call “#GenerationPostura”.

#GenerationPostura
Central Educational Supplies Ltd are pleased to be a partner with KI in distributing the excellent Postura+ chairs to schools and colleges throughout the UK. Postura+ chairs can be ordered directly from Central Educational Supplies Ltd. Further details and pricing can be found on their website: www.centraleducational.co.uk

Alternatively, please email: info@centraleducational.co.uk  or call 020 7515 1797 and ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to assist.

Find out more | Postura+ datasheet | KI’s Schools, Academies & Colleges Brochure

Why schools should be making the most of every method of communication that is available to them

Last month I went to pick up my friend’s children from school and was surprised to find that the school noticeboard had only two notices on it, one of which was about last year’s Christmas party.

Since then I have discovered that this is a common occurrence and that many other school noticeboards across the UK are similarly out-of-date and uninformative.

Why this surprises me is simple given that I am often approached by school leaders who complain about how incredibly difficult it is to communicate with parents (which I don’t doubt).

But surely this means that schools should be making the most of every method of communication that is available to them, including the school noticeboard.

If your school is thinking about buying a new school noticeboard, Greenbarnes has a range of styles of outdoor noticeboards which you can see on our website.

Alternatively, please do call us on 01280 701093 and we’ll be pleased to discuss our boards, send you a brochure, and give any advice and guidance that you may require.

Postura Plus stools and high chairs …. an attractive choice for the science department…. and with a FIVE year warranty.

Ever since Postura chairs were introduced to UK schools and colleges in 1996 they have been a remarkable success……. and not without good reason.

a.   Excellent ergonomics to provide comfortable seating for your students.
b.   Now in 15 attractive colours.
c.   Available in a range of seat heights.

Postura Plus stools and high chairs have a skid base design which discourages leaning back and is kind to floor surfaces…. PLUS a FIVE year warranty.

Postura Plus stools and high chairs can be obtained from:

Central Educational Supplies Ltd., PO Box 999, London E14 6SH

More information and pricing can be seen on their website:

www.centraleducational.co.uk

Contact them on: info@centraleducational.co.uk or telephone: 020 7515 1797 and ask for Martin Evans who will be pleased to assist.

What is it that children always notice?

The answer has to be change.

For children, the school and playground become such familiar areas, a regular part of their lives.

Which is why a change – and that can be any change – will be a matter of huge interest, and even excitement, for all the children.

So of course when the change is one that has an educational message at its heart, it can be a very good way of influencing the children’s behaviour.

And there is no better way of doing this than putting up signs containing a message of your choice.   The message can then be discussed for a moment in class and the meaning behind the message can be further understood.

The message itself can be anything.  We have put a few sample ideas on our website but of course the choice of both message and colour are up to you.    You can write about playing safely, making friends, being positive, anything you wish.

Some schools create texts relating to their school values, some change it to school rules, some offer school quotes, class names, house names…  The choice is of course yours.

The signs can be purchased individually or as a collection, and in a variety of sizes.  To see how the price changes with size do take a look at this sample idea and then change the size in the grid, to see the implications for the price.

For more information or to order click below:

Positive Pebble sign – Blue

Positive Pebble sign – Yellow

Positive Pebble sign – Red

Positive Pebble sign – Orange

Positive Pebble sign – Lime

Set of 5 Positive Pebble Signs

Alternatively you can call us on 01423 521654 or fax us on 0844 443 2455

Email info@upsondowns.co.uk

Upson Downs
13 Claro Court Business Centre
Claro Road, Harrogate
North Yorkshire, HG1 4BA

How can you limit the extent to which your students develop back and neck pain as a result of their school days?

There are two things which have been proven to cause back and neck pain among students: carrying heavy school bags; and sitting for long periods of time.

Which is why a growing number of schools no longer require their students to carry around heavy course material – often by providing them with lockers where they can store books until needed.

Unfortunately, however, the issue of sitting for long periods of time cannot be avoided quite so easily.

So there is clearly a need for classroom chairs which enhance wellbeing, comfort, and concentration. And which are durable and able to withstand even the toughest of environments.

And it is for this reason that Don’t Lean Back (DLB) has produced the Max 2 chair.

The Max 2 chair, which has been designed by a teacher, reduces incidents of back and neck pain, is designed not to rock back and forth, and is built of the sort of materials that will ensure a long life (they come with a ten year guarantee).

Furthermore, the Max 2 chair has been designed to inspire a fresh approach to learning spaces which have an immediate impact on the expectations of all stakeholders within a school.

And there are other positives as well, such as the zero environmental impact of the chairs (they are 100% recyclable) and delivery in just 7-10 days from order. You can see the chairs (and all the colour options) and find out more here along with details on how to buy.

If you want any further information or if I can help in any way, please do call us on 0345 257 8850 or email info@dlb.co.uk

Tom Wates

Probably the most popular laboratory and art room stool in UK schools and colleges………….. and often available at short notice.

WSM laboratory and art room stools are used by thousands of students in many UK schools and colleges and there are FIVE good reasons why…..

1. Manufactured in the UK with a SIX year frame warranty for peace of mind.

2. The frame is fully welded for strength and durability.

3. A choice of ten seat colours and five frame sizes.

4. A choice of two frame types: four legs or skid base.

5. Moulded and shaped seat for comfort.

For more details of sizes and competitive prices please see the website:

WSM skid base stool     WSM stool four legs

Central Educational Supplies Ltd can be contacted by email on: info@centraleducational.co.uk

or tel: 020 7515 1797 and ask for Martin Evans who will be pleased to assist.

PS. As many of you are aware, delivery lead times tend to be longer during the summer months so if you are planning to order, sooner is better than later !

Central Educational Supplies Ltd., PO Box 999, London E14 6SH

Re your toilet ventilation cleaning

Hello There

We sent out some information to you via post regarding the servicing and maintenance of the natural ventilation systems and
that are located in your school. We are following up to see if our services could be of any use to you.

We offer a full clean and service of your natural ventilation systems and/or toilet ventilation through one-off or 5 year contracts.

If you did not receive the information for any reason, here is our website which will explain what we offer in detail: http://www.ventcleangroup.co.uk/Toilet-Ventilation-Cleaning-Service/

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like more information or a quotation.

Kind Regards,
Delme Davies

On behalf of Vent Clean Group

Delme@ventcleangroup.co.uk
01443 858656
www.ventcleangroup.co.uk

How can you make the most of your school hall in terms of saving space, saving time and increasing capacity?

Providing that the school hall isn’t otherwise occupied and there is enough space to do with what you want, there is no doubt that the school hall is an ideal place to create a pop-up learning zone. But there are problems.

One – some schools find that there isn’t enough space due to the amount of room that the tables and chairs take up (even when packed away).

Two – setting up enough tables and chairs for students for the lesson (and packing them away again afterwards) can eat into a significant amount of lesson time.

Three – if the lesson follows lunchtime, it can be incredibly distracting to your students’ learning if the lunchtime supervisors are still packing away and cleaning the school hall.

Indeed, to overcome these problems and ensure that your school hall can become an ideal pop-up learning zone, we have developed Wall Pocket – a table system which can seat up to 20 students and which can, within seconds, be folded up into a neat pocket on the wall.

Now let’s imagine that you had six of these tables with their built-in seats (enough for 120 children). Packing them away can all be done within a matter of five minutes.

Thus, learning can start almost immediately and continue right up to the bell. Which makes the benches ideal for breakfast clubs/afterschool clubs and school lunches, as well as lessons.

Of course, with such an innovative product there are many other interesting features. Around 100 colours are available and colours can be mixed and matched. And the lift-assist spring system makes packing up and opening out the tables the simplest thing you could imagine.

What’s more, there’s no compulsory maintenance contract (you can have one if you want) – there is a 15 year guarantee no matter what.

Here’s a picture of how the tables look when set out for lunch or lessons.

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To see how they look when packed away click here.

And for more information please call 01752 306 200 or email ideas@versadesign.co.uk

A chair, a chair… a chair to change the way students behave and enhance attainment…

It might seem curious, but it turns out to be true.  The chairs you install in classrooms affect student behaviour and learning.

In fact the chairs we use affect all of us.  If we are comfortable when we sit to study, we will study more, and study better.  If we are uncomfortable the reverse is true.

Research has shown that around three quarters of secondary school students report their school chairs as uncomfortable.  Around nine in ten say that the chair they have to sit on affects their ability to focus and concentrate.

And given that in the course of a year the average student will spend around 800 hours sitting in class it is not surprising that the impact of the humble school chair is huge.

But there is more because Ofsted has reported that just about the largest source of disruption in classrooms came from students swinging on chairs.

Worse, many of those students who engaged in this sort of action, were students who do not engage in other low level disruptive behaviour.  It is just that they are uncomfortable, the chairs can be used for tilting and swinging, and so students who otherwise would never disrupt lessons now do so.

Thus changing the design of chairs makes the students more able to focus (because they are more comfortable) and less likely to be disruptive.

It was this understanding which led to the development of the Max2 chair; a chair designed to aid study, focus and concentration.  It naturally comes with a 10 year guarantee, has a zero environmental impact, is delivered within 7-10 days from order and which can be discounted by up to 40%.

There is more information HERE, along with images and details of how to buy.  If you would like to talk about any of the issues raised here or indeed any other point related to the Max2 chair, please do call us on 0345 257 8850 or email info@dlb.co.uk

Tom Wates

Supporting SEN Through Careful Design

It seems that anything with the SEN tag is more expensive. Yes, the products need to be strong, supportive, and fit for purpose but why so expensive?  It also appears that most products designed for SEN schools look old, cumbersome and, to be honest, rather ugly.

When Don’t Lean Back Ltd approached the Max 2 chair it was to design a mainstream chair that looked stylish but with all the durability and practicalities of the best educational chairs in the world.  SEN schools were always a major consideration in this design process to give extra support to children’s backs as well as the anti-tilt frame to avoid pupils rocking on their chairs.

The Max 2 Chairs are beautiful products and add real, measurable value to any SEN schools.

For more details, please click here or call us on 0345 257 8850 or email info@dlb.co.uk

Book your copy now for summer installation

Adding a canopy to your school can bring much more than just protection against the weather, CambridgeStyle Canopies is at the forefront of providing the solutions.

Working within schools everyday we have a thorough knowledge of the exacting requirements demanded

New facilities for staff & students alike include new outdoor covered walkways and areas for learning/play/parents waiting areas and new modern cycle storage solutions.

Extremely proud of our reputation for highest quality of both products & service at very competitive costs to our clients, why not see how we can help you with new facilities.

Don’t delay. Call or email us today to book your site survey. Please quote HH1

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cambridge1 cambridge

Brian Taylor
Managing Director
CambridgeStyle Canopies

01353 699009
SEE OUR VAST RANGE OF OUTDOOR COVERED AREA SOLUTIONS
www.cambridgestylecanopies.co.uk
“WE’VE GOT IT COVERED   NOBODY DOES IT BETTER”
 ESPO CONTRACT 615     BUY WITH CONFIDENCE
  office@cambridgestyle.org

KM classroom chairs are available again…..

For many years KM Furniture were producing what were arguably the most popular classroom chairs in the UK.

However, two years ago KM Furniture went into liquidation. It was a sad day as it meant that many people in and around Chesterfield lost their jobs; and schools and colleges were unable to replace their existing KM chairs with the same models.

Now for the good news…..

Two years later KM chairs are available again AND they are still made in the UK.

The most popular KM chairs, the P3, P6 and P7, together with the NP stool can be obtained from Central Educational Supplies Ltd…usually within a couple of weeks (although delivery lead times are likely to be somewhat longer during the summer).

For more information, please visit their website:

www.centraleducational.co.uk

or contact them by email: info@centraleducational.co.uk

or phone 020 7515 1797 and ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to assist……..
or fax 020 7515 4420

Central Educational Supplies Ltd., PO Box 999 London E14 6SH

100,000 keys and locks online next day

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The key number is stamped on the lock and on the key

 Site Managers Order Locks and Keys Online

Over 14,000 security products and 100,000+ keys are available to academies and schools throughout the UK from LockDoctor.biz.

On lockers, filing cabinets and desks the replacement key number (e.g. FM123) is stamped on the original key and on the lock face just beside the keyhole.

So when there are no keys to copy from go to www.LockDoctor.biz, type the number on the lock and get the replacement key in the post next day at trade prices.

For free support email a good photo of what you need to sales@lockdoctor.biz.

!cid_7611f2386c3eff41f1557a41e6538f60 !cid_2c1a81ab5effc7112bf108c8369cd296 !cid_98b6d3d3116c1494939c00377f26caf1 !cid_9999701a3dc09624bfb40aa30da38186To ensure you never miss out on our industry updates, news and offers, follow us below

Lock Doctor Services Ltd
PO Box 592 – Edgware – HA8 9LS

 

What is the single most effective way to ensure that your school’s values are clearly and overtly expressed?

There is a widespread feeling that it is right to honour our predecessors, not least to ensure that the fundamental principles that lie behind our current way of doing things aren’t taken for granted.

And one way in which this can be achieved is by commemorating the work of the school and its scholars (past and present) on an honours board displayed in your school’s assembly hall, office, or entrance hall for all to see.

In this way the school is able to communicate its values to parents, pupils, and visitors, clearly and instantaneously.

Furthermore, for schools that have been rehoused in new premises in recent years, the honours board can establish a connection between the exciting new building of today and the previous premises, encompassing the school’s symbolic and momentous history.

Greenbarnes has a long history of creating and supplying honours boards for schools across the UK. You can see examples of such boards on our website.

What’s more, if you can’t find an honours board on our website which corresponds to your school’s design, architectural features, and values, please don’t hesitate to call us on 01280 701093 to discuss what you would like or for any guidance that you may require.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Michael Barnes

The dlb chairs genuinely improve the teaching and learning experience for all stakeholders.

At dlb we are all too aware of the budget constraints of schools, academies, etc… but we also feel that classrooms are starting to look the same.

The trend to purchase a cheap, one-piece poly chair is understandable with their durability and low price tag.  However, the Max 2 Chair and the Max 2 Tech offer outstanding value and not only are these chairs as strong, but they are also designed to promote a modern learning environment with their contemporary style.  We are driven to create products that capture the imagination of learners so our products must be as stylish as they are functional. Our ambition is always to leapfrog our competitors.  We certainly have achieved that with the dlb chairs.

Why?

Affordable – For as little as £23.85

Don’t Lean Back Frame – stops 11% of classroom disruption, OFSTED

Beautiful Design – inspires learning

Durable – 10 year warranty

Outstanding Posture Benefits – Promoted by a leading children’s physiotherapists

Colourful – Unlimited options for seat and leg colours

Green – 100% recyclable

Local – UK design UK manufacturing

There is more information HERE, along with images and details of how to buy.  If you want any further information or if I can help in any way, please do call us on 0345 257 8850 or email info@dlb.co.uk  

Tom Wates

What’s the most effective way of ensuring that no new school equipment is “lost”?

It is strange to think that there is a very simple process which, if carried out at the right time, will eliminate the chance of equipment being “lost” from the school premises.

Strange, because not only is it simple but also very low cost – and yet not every school follows the process.

All one has to do – and this is what increasing numbers of schools do each year – is order enough SILVER MARK security labels ready for the new equipment that arrives in September or during the summer break.

Sadly, what does happen in some cases is that the labels are not ordered until after the new equipment has arrived and been put to use – which can of course be a little too late.

ID SILVER MARK are precision cut stencil labels which are ideal for labelling IT equipment (including iPads, tablets, and mobiles) as no one can remove the label without it fragmenting and even if they get peeled off, the UV paint still shows the school name and postcode.

This system is also ideal for tracking equipment if it goes missing. Thus the ID SILVER MARK enables you to protect your valuable equipment with a permanent visual security mark and to keep a record of each item so marked.

Better still, the police and insurance companies have noted that the ID MARK conforms to Home Office Guidelines – by using your school name and postcode as a way of identifying your property, this helps with item recovery in case of theft.

ID SILVER MARK is available in black or silver materials with permanent adhesive. All Dantech asset identification labels are personalised with your school name as well as sequential numbering.

There is more information on our website.

If you would like to know more please do get in touch – we are very happy to discuss your marking requirements throughout the school. Just call Dantech on 01354 688 488 or email us at dantech@btconnect.com for free and unbiased help and advice.

Not every chair reduces neck pain, won’t tip over, is built of the strongest materials, and looks good.

But there is one.

The way children and students sit in the classroom has long been one of debate, not least because studies reported in 2013 showed that the vast majority of school children suffer from back and/or neck pain as a result of sitting in school chairs.

There is clearly a need for chairs that enhance wellbeing, comfort, and concentration. They also have to be durable and able to withstand even the toughest of environments.

One point often overlooked, particularly within the SEN sector, is the need to design furniture that inspires a positive environment. What is needed is not a chair which looks like a relic from a 1960s asylum but a chair fit for the most contemporary of environments such as a high-end design office. This fresh approach to learning spaces has an immediate impact on the expectations of all stakeholders within a school.

This is why we have worked so incredibly hard to create the Max 2 chair. It reduces the incidence of back and neck pain, it will not rock back, and is built of the sort of materials that will ensure a long life (they come with a ten year guarantee).

Plus, the pupils and students love the look and style.

Of course, there are other positives as well, such as the zero environmental impact of the chairs (they are 100% recyclable) and delivery in just 7-10 days from order.  You can see the chairs (and all the colour options) and find out more here along with details on how to buy.

If you want any further information or if I can help in any way, please do call us on 0345 257 8850 or email info@dlb.co.uk

Tom Wates

How can the hall in which students take examinations affect the results they achieve?

Almost every institution that runs examinations acknowledges that some students can underachieve because of a feeling of nerves as they enter and sit down in the exam room.

However, it is only recently that schools and universities have started to consider the impact on students that the room in which the examinations take place can have.

But when it comes down to it, the room certainly can have an impact. For example, if you are using a room that has no sound-absorbing material, then every chair movement, every pen drop, is going to be heard by many of the students.

For those students who are readily able to focus on their exam this will hardly matter, but for those who are suffering from exam nerves, such extraneous sounds can totally disrupt their already shaky thought patterns.

Which is why schools are now investigating the Smartsquare carpet system. It is made up of 2m x 1m tiles designed temporarily to transform a large hall into a carpeted venue so it can be used for examinations and indeed other events.

Smartsquare carpet systems come with a purpose-built Smartcart trolley designed to hold approximately 200m² flooring. The trolley is built with non-marking wheels, and the average school hall will only require between 4m² and 7m² of floor space for storage.

It is these trolleys that are the key to the efficiency of the system as they can be moved around as the tiles are being laid, enabling quick and efficient installation.

When not in use Smartsquare carpets pack neatly away into the Smartcart.

And best of all, the carpet tiles are very easy to maintain. To clean a badly soiled tile you simply take it outside, hose it down, and leave to dry.

Smartsquare can be purchased outright or bought on a lease over a period of time.  It is also available on a two-week free trial – along with a Smartcart – so you can see for yourself.

Furthermore it is not only possible to transform a sports hall or other large area into an exam hall, but such rooms can also be transformed into areas suitable for end of year awards ceremonies, conferences, etc.

You can read more about Smartsquare on our website.    Or if you would like to talk about these possibilities please do call us on 01302 836 777 or email jon@smart-square.co.uk.

Jonathan Layton

Challenge Supply Co .
Unity House, 14 Durham Lane, Armthorpe, Doncaster, DN3 3FE

A school noticeboard is usually bought for one reason. But that is not all a noticeboard is good for.

A school noticeboard is usually bought to communicate messages to parents where previous methods of communication have been problematic, or failed. But that is not all a noticeboard is good for. Indeed, the noticeboard might just be the hub of your school.

It provides parents with a topic of conversation and school staff with what can loosely be described as a teamwork activity – something which became apparent to Greenbarnes following the analyses of the results of a questionnaire distributed to schools.

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To summarise, a school notice board is not just the responsibility of one, but the responsibility of many, and it not only creates a sense of cohesion among staff, but also among parents at the school gates.

We have a range of styles of outdoor noticeboards which you can see on our website. Alternatively, please do call us on 01280 701093 and we’ll be pleased to discuss our boards, send you a brochure, and give any advice and guidance that you may require.

Every noticeboard says two things to those who see it. The key task is to make sure that both messages are the same.

Imagine a noticeboard that contains up-to-date information on all the exciting, different, new, and indeed exhilarating things that are going on in your school.

On such a board there are two overall messages. One is the information that a certain event takes place on a particular day in a particular place.

The other is the sub-consciously sent message that this school is lively, engaging, and up-to-date.

But supposing the noticeboard itself looks a bit worn down and uncared for.  Suddenly all the overt information on the noticeboard is less appealing.  It is the sub-conscious message that now becomes the main focus.

It may be regrettable, but it is a fact of modern living that appearances mean a lot. That’s why we take the trouble to ensure that pupils and students attend in uniform, so that there is a sense of order and well-being within the school.

Noticeboards do have a key part to play in this; the modern, well-organised, engaging noticeboard announces that this is a school that puts things in order and make things happen.

In short, it proclaims what sort of school this is.

Greenbarnes Ltd is probably best known in the education sector as the supplier of high quality honours boards. We offer a range second to none, backed up by an efficient service so that you can update your noticeboards simply and economically.

We have a range of styles of outdoor noticeboards which you can see on our website.

Alternatively, please do call us on 01280 701093 and we’ll be pleased to discuss our boards, send you a brochure, and give any advice and guidance that you may require.

Do we have enough exam desks for all our students?

GCSE exams are just around the corner but sometimes it’s only at the last moment that someone realises there’s not enough exam desks. If this happens it’s panic all round and a desperate search to find a supplier who can deliver more exam desks at short notice.

If you need exam desks in a hurry then Central Educational Supplies can help. With prices from £13.75 (ex vat) for folding desks plus quick delivery (often next working day) you can see the range on their website.

www.centraleducational.co.uk

For exam desks, folding chairs plus a wide range of classroom tables and chairs you can check out the options on their website or give them a call on 020 7515 1797 or email your requirements.

Central Educational Supplies Ltd., PO Box 999,  London E14 6SH

www.centraleducational.co.uk      signpost@talk21.com

Tel: 020 7515 1797   Fax: 020 7515 4420

PS. Whatever else you do, don’t throw your old furniture in the skip until the new stock arrives!

If you would like more information or discuss a possible order, call 020 7515 1797 and ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to assist.

What problem do the majority of primary schools have in common? And how can we solve it?

This increasing demand for primary school places that we have seen since 2009 continues to be a challenge for schools, many of which are simply running short of space. Expansion is obviously not always a viable option, and consequently many schools are having to be increasingly resourceful in finding ways to make the best use of the space available.

One space-saving solution that we have come up and that is proving popular with schools is Benchmark.

Benchmark is a table with built in seats which can seat up to 20 students and which can, within seconds, be folded up and wheeled away.

Imagine that you have six of these in your school hall (enough for 120 children). The total amount of space taken up by the tables once packed away is… 1.5m x 2.4m… not much more than a double bed, and taking up far less space than a conventional table and chairs or bulky ‘stool-type’ tables.

This can leave schools with as much as 56% more storage space than before freeing up the space for storing other things and keeping your hall clutter-free.

Furthermore, the amount of setting up and tidying away time is minimal, making the benches ideal for breakfast clubs and afterschool clubs as well as lessons.

Of course, with such an innovative product there are many other interesting features. Around 100 colours are available and colours can be mixed and matched. And the lift-assist spring system makes packing up and opening out the tables the simplest thing you could imagine.

What’s more, there’s no compulsory maintenance contract (you can have one if you want) – but there is a 15 year guarantee no matter what.

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For more information
click here.

Or please call 01752 306 200 or email ideas@versadesign.co.uk.

See us at Acadamies Show – London Excel next Weds 20th

Overcoming the problems that schools typically have with storage space (or lack thereof).

To overcome the numerous and various problems that schools have with storage space (or lack thereof) not only in the school hall but elsewhere in the school, we’ve developed Benchmark.

Benchmark is a table (with built in seats) which can seat up to 20 students and which can, within seconds, be folded up and wheeled away.

Now let’s imagine that you have six of these in your school hall (enough for 120 children)… Amazingly the total amount of space taken up by the tables once packed away is… 1.5m x 2.4m… not much more than a double bed.

Providing schools (in many cases) with 56% more storage space than before which means you can use the space for storing other things, keeping your hall clutter-free.

Furthermore, the amount of setting up and tidying away time is minimal, making the benches ideal for breakfast clubs and afterschool clubs as well as lessons.

Of course, with such an innovative product there are many other interesting features. Around 100 colours are available and colours can be mixed and matched. And the lift-assist spring system makes packing up and opening out the tables the simplest thing you could imagine.

What’s more, there’s no compulsory maintenance contract (you can have one if you want) – there is a 15 year guarantee no matter what.

Here’s a picture of how the tables look when set out for lunch.

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To see how they look when packed away click here.

Or for more information please call 01752 306 200 or email ideas@versadesign.co.uk.

See us at Acadamies Show – London Excel next Weds 20

Solar on schools Yes or X? Join us

It’s never too late to see if your school could get solar panels for free. We manage over 50 systems in schools throughout the UK giving them renewable energy at no extra cost to the school.

Join us and register your interest (no commitment). See if you qualify for free panels.

http://www.solarforschools.co.uk/track/hamilton/submit

Our aim is to help you

1. secure a renewable green energy,

2. deliver practical real-time data that can be analysed by your pupils as part of their learning experience and,

3. reduce the amount you pay for the electricity in the medium to long term.

Despite cutbacks in government’s support for solar panels, you can still make solar power work for you. We may also be able to offer you a free solar power system. But you need to act quickly before all government support disappears.

Please register so we can discover what’s possible for your school.

http://www.solarforschools.co.uk/track/hamilton/submit

Best wishes

Helen and Ann

The Solar for Schools team

Do you urgently need new classroom chairs & tables or exam desks in March?

It’s not too late to equip your classrooms or staff rooms even at this late stage.

If you can be somewhat flexible in your choices, then in some cases it’s possible to supply within two weeks, possibly sooner.

Central Educational Supplies Ltd. have been supplying UK schools and colleges since 2001.
They can be contacted on: Tel:  020 7515 1797
or email: signpost@talk21.com  Fax:  020 7515 4420
or visit their website: www.centraleducational.co.uk

If you  simply want to know what chairs desks or tables might be available at short notice, or would like to discuss a possible order,  please phone 020 7515 1797 and ask  to speak to  Martin Evans.  He can usually let you know within  a couple of hours whether they can be of help with your furniture requirements.

What is the simplest way to ensure that every locker has a key. No matter what

It is a sad, but inescapable fact of school life, that students occasionally lose the key to their locker.  Or “forget” to hand their key back at the end of term.

It’s annoying, but it happens.

Which means you will almost certainly need replacement keys for some of the lockers in the school, and you may even quite possibly need them on a fairly regular basis.

The solution to this problem is simple.  You simply call or email Keysplease, and tell us the code number for the lock in question, (normally stamped on the face of the lock) and we will supply you with keys for that locker.

We can even, if you wish, supply a new lock as well.

And the great benefit is that the locker keys can be supplied for as little as £1 each in some cases, which means that if you charge a deposit of £5.00 per locker, your costs of replacements and administration are covered.  Locks are available from just £5*.

Ordering is simple, by phone, email or direct online.  And there is a full list of the range of makes that we stock, on the web site.  But don’t worry – 99% of the locks in use in UK schools are covered by the manufacturers whose keys we stock.

*Please quote promotional code HH2 to gain these special rates.

Terms and conditions apply. Please call 0208 343 2943 for details, email us at sales@keysplease.co.uk or visit our website www.keysplease.co.uk

This Is No Ordinary Outdoor Classroom

This Is The SEN Centre
And We Can Help You Get Funding*

Click - Show images
Benefits

  • An outdoor classroom building and educational resource combined into one
  • Whole host of options including multi-sensory light panels, planters, sounds and abstract tactile panels
  • Renewable energy systems including electric dynamo bikes or hand-cranks & wind turbine and solar panels with bubble making machine and multi-coloured sensory lights
  • The ultimate product to take learning outside of the classroom

 
Click For Further Information*Contact us for further details on our grant consultancy service


The Hideout House Company Limited

86% of school buildings contain asbestos, yet 44% of teachers are unaware that their school is one.

Naturally, as time goes on, buildings age. And whilst this might increase their value, it also increases the likelihood of the building containing substances which have been found to harm the health of those inhabiting it on a regular basis.

Kevin Courtney, NUT general Secretary, reported that between 200 and 300 former school children and a rising number of teachers die of mesothelioma each year, thought to be caused by the asbestos found in 86% of school building across the UK.

NUT lead on asbestos, Sarah Lyons, commented, “The asbestos that’s in our schools now is getting older and older, so it’s deteriorating and if it’s in a poor condition then it’s in a more dangerous state”

So where does the responsibility lie?

The responsibility for managing asbestos in schools lies with the duty holder, this is normally the employer which in state schools is often the local authority. For academies, free schools, voluntary-aided and foundation schools, it will be the school governors, proprietor or trustees.

It is important that all staff, particularly those responsible for the running of the buildings, are made aware of the potential hazards.  All staff should be instructed not to disturb or damage asbestos containing materials, Damage to school fixtures or fittings that could lead to the release of asbestos fibres need to be reported.

How does the school know if there is asbestos present and how does it manage it?

The Asbestos Man is able to work with you to devise and implement a comprehensive Asbestos policy that starts with a consultation, followed by a full site survey including the analysis of any suspect materials. We will compile a user friendly report containing photographs, annotated plans and the appropriate recommendations from the survey findings. Where asbestos has been identified we will then work with you to put in place a management plan so that the occupants of the premises are protected.

We can’t afford a full survey

For schools where budget does not allow a full site survey we can in many cases update an existing survey.

Did you know?
It is a legal requirement to undertake a refurbishment or demolition survey for asbestos containing materials prior to any works taking place.

If you have any enquiries regarding asbestos please do not hesitate to call:-

  Alan the Asbestos Man on 07510104323

 info@theasbestosman.co.uk

 www.theasbestosman.co.uk

Funding Opportunities for Playground Projects 2016

If you have any forthcoming playground projects on your “wish list” for 2016 – be they play equipment, outdoor classrooms & shelters, nature and forest school areas etc – then it would be perhaps worth your while contacting us.

The reason being is that we have invested a lot of our time and effort in trying to help schools raise the necessary funds in these financially difficult times but the good news is that what we are doing is working. We have secured full funding for all of our school clients last year who asked for our help and even better news for you, it doesn’t have to cost you anything apart from a bit of your time to initially brief us on your school and project. The rest of the hard work is then down to us. We know you are busy so we will work alongside you at your convenience.

Please therefore have a look at our website for the products we currently offer but if you have something else in mind, please do let us know. And then give us a call about the above and we will tell you how it all works.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Simon Fearnehough
Director

Email: simon@hideouthouse.com   Telephone: 01865 858982
Websites: www.hideouthouse.com

See whether your school qualifies for a brand new sports facility at no cost whatsoever to the school

This is true – your school can get a brand new sports facility at no cost whatsoever to the school (and indeed many schools already have), but it does require a little bit of planning – which, fortunately, Notts Sport can help you with.

So, the immediate question is, how does it work?

There are two stages. First, we develop the facility that you require on your school grounds using Fast Track Funding, which means no payment is required until the facility is complete. After that, payment is arranged over a period of time – normally five or seven years.

This is when the second part of the arrangement comes in. Schools are finding that it is not at all difficult to hire out their new facility to local clubs on occasional evenings and weekends, and through that are able to cover all the costs of the development (and more).

And there you have it – a brand new sports facility at no cost whatsoever to the school, all whilst helping to promote sport and healthy lifestyles in the local community which will inevitably create a significant amount of positive PR for the school.

Such sports facilities that we install for schools under the Fast Track Funding Scheme include a new all-weather pitch for football, cricket, hockey, etc., and at the heart of the development plan is England Hockey’s Official Facilities Partner.

Unfortunately our seminars about Fast Track Funding have now finished. However we have created a presentation for those who couldn’t make it to the seminars and are interested in Fast Track Funding. You can view this presentation by clicking here.

We will be doing live Fast Track Funding webinars in the New Year. To register your interest or if you have any questions about the Fast Track Funding Scheme, please don’t hesitate to contact us, either by calling us on 01455 883 730 or emailing us at info@nottssport.com.  

There is further information about Fast Track Funding on our website.

What’s more, you can find out more about the various pitch surfacing systems designed and developed by Notts Sport, by visiting http://nottssport.co.uk/.

See whether your school qualifies for a brand new sports facility at no cost whatsoever to the school

This is true – your school can get a brand new sports facility at no cost whatsoever to the school (and indeed many schools already have), but it does require a little bit of planning – which, fortunately, Notts Sport can help you with.

So, the immediate question is, how does it work?

There are two stages. First, we develop the facility that you require on your school grounds using Fast Track Funding, which means no payment is required until the facility is complete. After that, payment is arranged over a period of time – normally five or seven years.

This is when the second part of the arrangement comes in. Schools are finding that it is not at all difficult to hire out their new facility to local clubs on occasional evenings and weekends, and through that are able to cover all the costs of the development (and more).

And there you have it – a brand new sports facility at no cost whatsoever to the school, all whilst helping to promote sport and healthy lifestyles in the local community which will inevitably create a significant amount of positive PR for the school.

Such sports facilities that we install for schools under the Fast Track Funding Scheme include a new all-weather pitch for football, cricket, hockey, etc., and at the heart of the development plan is England Hockey’s Official Facilities Partner.

Unfortunately our seminars about Fast Track Funding have now finished. However we have created a presentation for those who couldn’t make it to the seminars and are interested in Fast Track Funding. You can view this presentation by clicking here.

We will be doing live Fast Track Funding webinars in the New Year. To register your interest or if you have any questions about the Fast Track Funding Scheme, please don’t hesitate to contact us, either by calling us on 01455 883 730 or emailing us at info@nottssport.com.  

There is further information about Fast Track Funding on our website.

What’s more, you can find out more about the various pitch surfacing systems designed and developed by Notts Sport, by visiting http://nottssport.co.uk/.

What is the most effective way of reducing the likelihood of opportunists stealing your school’s laptops, Chromebooks, iPads and tablets?

A couple of month ago a School Crime Report was released revealing that in 2014 30,000 crimes were reported in schools – 43% of which involved theft.

As with most crimes, the culprits were opportunists. And your school’s ICT classroom, where portable, high value items such as laptops, Chromebooks, iPads and tablets are stored, presents the perfect opportunity for thieves.

One way that you can protect your school from these crimes is, of course, by improving security with, for example, CCTV and burglar alarms, but the most effective (and least expensive) way to protect your school from opportunists is by removing the opportunity.

This can be achieved by ensuring that at the end of each day your school’s devices are out of sight, housed in a charging trolley with a secure locking system which can then be taken to a location within the school which either has heightened security or is unlikely to be sought out as a source of IT equipment – or, indeed, both.

Our charging trolleys are ideal for housing and charging an array of school devices for not only are they secure, but they are also safe in terms of the reduced risk that they pose to your pupils and colleagues compared to other traditional charging trolleys.

This is because the trolley’s robust ABS plastic shell (which is, of course, non-conductive) will ensure that electrical faults are isolated at once. And as the trolley is 70% lighter than a traditional metal charging trolley, it can also reduce the risk of injury when it’s being wheeled from A to B.

Our plastic charging trolley is also safer for the environment, as the built-in Power Management system features an energy-saving timer module which will help to reduce your school’s carbon footprint. Not to mention that the trolley is 100% recyclable.

To review all the details and see the pictures, please visit our site at www.nuwco.com.

Just choose the device that you think is right for you, click on that trolley, and you will be able to see a full description, including the dimensions. You will also be able to download the product specification and device compatibility sheet – in fact, everything you need to know.

If you have any questions please do call 01628 666 775 or email me at sales@nuwco.com

Ashley Hutton

“It looks like we have a problem. We have 319 students entered for the exams, but only 248 exam desks. What can we do at such short notice ?”

Sometimes it’s only at the last moment that someone realises  there’s a shortfall. If this happens it’s panic all round and a desperate search  to find a supplier who can deliver more exam desks at short notice.

If you need exam desks in a hurry then Central Educational Supplies can probably help. They can be contacted on: 020 7515 1797 or email: signpost@talk21.com

For exam desks, folding chairs plus a wide range of classroom tables, chairs and storage you can check out the options on their website or give them a call on 020 7515 1797 or email your requirements.

Central Educational Supplies Ltd,
PO Box 999,
London
E14 6SH

www.centraleducational.co.uk
signpost@talk21.com
Tel: 020 7515 1797
Fax: 020 7515 4420

PS. Whatever you do, don’t throw your old furniture in the skip until the new stock arrives!

Does your school or college have classroom chairs with a warranty which lasts until 2025?

One obvious advantage of such a TEN year warranty is that you’ll have no maintenance or replacement costs for a decade or more.

This could mean significant financial savings compared with alternative products.

But that’s not all……….

The Postura Plus range of chairs has been designed  not only to be extremely durable  but also to encourage good posture for your students, as well as being easy to stack and move from room to room.

Postura Plus chairs are used successfully in thousands of UK schools, often just as a trial in one classroom and then being “rolled out” throughout the school as funds allow.

Postura Plus chairs are available in a range of 15 attractive colours.  The TEN year warranty (and its associated benefits) means that these chairs are likely to be one of the best investments that a school or college could ever make.

Further information about Postura Plus chairs including very competitive pricing and how to obtain a sample for evaluation, may be obtained from Central Educational Supplies Ltd, PO Box 999, London E14 6SH

Tel: 020 7515 1797 to speak to Martin Evans or email: signpost@talk21.com.

More details are also available on their website: http://centraleducational.co.uk

PS.  In addition to the Postura Plus chairs described above you’ll also find details of desks, tables, storage units, cupboards etc.

Learning-outside-the-classroom: providing real-life applications of concepts learnt in the classroom

Without a clear vision of what it is exactly that your colleagues want to achieve by taking their students on a school trip, it is unlikely that the LOtC experience will be as beneficial to students’ learning and development as they might have hoped.

Therefore, before your colleagues go any further with their planning, it is important that they ask the question, “What do I want to achieve?”

Of course, if your colleague in the English department plans to take his or her students on a trip to the Globe Theatre, it is clear that the purpose of this visit is to cement the learning that they have done in the classroom for their upcoming exams and beyond.

In other instances, it might be that your colleagues wish to use learning-outside-the-classroom to provoke an emotional response among students, as opposed to using the visit as a revision tool or for learning new knowledge.

Where your students are encouraged to engage on an emotional level with a subject or topic area, they will be able to remember information about it more readily. So your colleague in the history department might plan to take his or her students to a WW1 memorial site.

However, not every school trip has to be focused on learning. Sometimes, if there is time left at the end of term and the budget allows for it (or parents are willing to pay for it), your colleagues might plan a school trip as a reward, to boost morale, or perhaps to re-ignite students’ passion for a subject.

But it doesn’t end there – school trips, or learning-outside-the-classroom, can also be highly beneficial to secondary school students when it comes to deciding which career they would like to pursue.

School trips enable students to experience activities and events that they don’t have the opportunity to experience in the classroom, thus giving them a better understanding of where, in society, they (could) fit in.

Benchmark has created a Facebook and Twitter page especially for teachers where we post and tweet a constant stream of activity and location ideas for whatever it is you or your colleagues wish to achieve by undertaking learning-outside-the-classroom.

To get notifications of school trip activity and location ideas and how LOtC can be used to benefit your students’ learning and development, follow us on Twitter @MinibusLeasing or like our Facebook page – Benchmark Minibus.

For more information about Benchmark Leasing you can go to our website, call us on 01753 859944, or email minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk .

Inventiveness unleashed

Revealed: some of the amazing things that schools have done with modern flexible staging

When schools show us what they have done with the staging we have supplied, my colleagues and I are always totally stunned.

Of course we shouldn’t be – for we supplied the staging and know its potential; but the creativity and inventiveness that exists in schools never fails to astound us.

And that’s why we have put on our website some of these really impressive examples of how our staging has been put to use.

But, of course, we also know (because many Head Teachers have reminded us) that the flexibility of the staging is not the only consideration when choosing what to buy.  You also need to consider how you are going to store it when the hall or room is required for other uses.

Which is why we developed a stage system that can be compacted into such a tiny space that even Dr Who would be proud of the effect.

In fact in our latest designs we’ve now arranged matters so that a complete stage of up to 40m² can be stored in just 2m² of floor space.

Another issue to consider is whether you wish to be able to use the staging both inside and outside the school (be it for tiered seating for guests at sports day, the school fete, or any other event).  Not all staging is suitable for outdoor use – although many schools have never considered using staging outside prior to purchasing from us.

Then there’s the lifetime guarantee.  It is hard to imagine what might go wrong with staging, but if it does go wrong, the guarantee is there.

I do hope you will visit our website and take a look at what other schools have done with our staging. Just click on any of the pictures to enlarge it.  Click on the arrow at the end of the pictures, and you’ll see more. And more.

There’s still time to order staging for your Christmas play and events – don’t hit the panic button just yet! A free, no obligation, professional demonstration is readily available, and we’ll show you how to maximise the space in your school hall.

If you would like to know more please do email me at sales@seatingandstaging.co.uk or call me on 01302 741888.

Tim Gilson

Schools are saving money by using eco-friendly technology

Eco-friendly technology that will reduce your school’s carbon footprint and running costs.

The attitude that “for something to be eco-friendly it must be expensive” has become somewhat out-dated – particularly when we consider the advances in eco-friendly technologies over the last decade or so.

In fact, in the modern world eco-friendly technologies are typically much more cost-effective. And eco-friendly charging trolleys for the laptops, Chromebooks, iPads or tablets in your school are no exception to this.

The Power Management system, which is built in to the ABS charging trolleys supplied by NUWCO, features an energy-saving timer module which will help to reduce both your school’s carbon footprint and your school’s running costs.

And to further save your school money, the timer can be set to charge your school’s devices at the time when electricity is at its cheapest, including in the evenings and at the weekends.

What’s more, in the event of a computer or the mains having an electrical fault, the Power Management System and the charging trolley’s plastic shell will ensure that the fault is isolated at once.

Our plastic charging trolley, which is 100% recyclable, also has the added benefit of it being 70% lighter than a traditional metal charging trolley which will of course make the process of moving the trolley around much easier.

To review all the details and see the pictures please visit our site at www.nuwco.com.

Just choose the device that you think is right for you, click on that trolley, and you will be able to see a full description, including the dimensions. You will also be able to download the product specification and device compatibility sheet – in fact, everything you need to know.

If you have any questions please do call 01628 666 775 or email me at sales@nuwco.com

Ashley Hutton

“Have we got enough exam desks?”

What can you do if you suddenly find that you’re short of exam desks with only a few days to go before the exams start?

Exams usually come round just twice a year and it’s perhaps easy to forget that there may not have been quite enough desks to go around last time……

So what can you do if you suddenly find you need exam desks in a hurry?

Central Educational Supplies have been supplying folding, cantilever and “zimmer” style desks from 2001, with prices from only £ 14.95  ex vat, as well as transporters for folding desks. They can usually supply exam desks within a couple of days although it’s always easier if you give them a few days notice!

Central Educational Supplies Ltd.,  PO Box 999,  London E14 6SH

You can see the range of exam desks by visiting their website:

http://centraleducational.co.uk/product-category/tables-desks/exam-desks-folding-chairs

Tel:  020 7515 1797    Fax:  020 7515 4420

email: signpost@talk21.com

PS.  It may be helpful to have an extra supply of chairs available exclusively for exams so that lessons aren’t disrupted while exams are taking place. Folding chairs are particularly useful as they can be moved easily and stored in confined spaces. Details on the Central Educational Supplies website: www.centraleducational.co.uk

If you’d like more information about any of their products please call Martin Evans on 020-7515-1797.