We are proud and pleased to announce that during 2017 we have raised £4781 for various charities and donated over 1209 food items to the local Food Bank.

A healthy and balanced diet is beneficial to everyone, however it is even more important for children for many reasons. For example it helps to improve their concentration, learning and behaviour whilst at school. It also promotes proper physical growth and development, and encourages resistance to infection.

Children can benefit greatly from access to the internet, educational games and educational apps on tablets.

In a modern learning environment, classroom layout and the use of space is an increasingly important factor. Believe it or not it, the way classroom furniture is laid out can affect children’s behaviour and academic success.

It’s quite normal for most children to lose focus and get distracted easily. It’s important for adults to understand that it’s not a result of any impending issues, it’s just down to their natural curiosity and exuberance.

The outdoors offer limitless opportunities for children to learn through play. Regular exploration and learning in an outdoor environment supports the development of an active and healthy lifestyle in children and aids them in developing a better understanding of the world around them.

On Friday 17th November staff at Early Learning Furniture in Orton Southgate took part in a Where’s Wally themed fundraising day to raise money for Children in Need.

There are so many benefits for young children who participate in sport – both physically and emotionally – here are just a few reasons for kids to get sporty

Celebrations for Halloween, on 31 October, seem to get bigger and bigger each year with more and more people wanting to take part in trick or treating and using the occasion to dress up.

Classroom storage is becoming ever more important in schools today, with class sizes increasing and space being at a premium, you’re going to have to be creative with your storage solutions.

Getting children involved in arts and crafts activities is an integral part of early education. These activities provide a range of benefits to children that will prove invaluable throughout their lives.

Phonics is a method of teaching beginners to read and pronounce words by learning the phonetic value of letters, letter groups and especially syllables.

When thinking about what affects and influences learning, colour probably isn’t the first thing most people think of. However, different colours can have a variety of different effects on mood, temperature, creativity, security and even hunger.

We have come up with some simple tips that will help you and your child overcome the concerns about starting school

In any educational environment, be it a school, nursery or pre-school, storage is always necessary and can be hard to find!

The majority of us can remember dreading homework when we were younger, doing anything possible to avoid it – stressing out our parents, teachers and especially ourselves in the process. Perhaps if it were made fun (while still educational of course) we wouldn’t have made such a fuss!

Our Folding School Dining Tables are premium in the industry and offer a wide range of benefits to all educational establishments. All of our school dining tables have undergone vigorous testing and comply to relevant British Standards conducted by FIRA.

Integrating play with learning is one of the most beneficial ways for children to explore life and different aspects of how the world works.

Safer Internet Day will be celebrated globally on Tuesday 7 February with the slogan “Be the change: Unite for a better internet”

Creative play encompasses a range of different activities that just about all children love participating in, from drawing and painting to building with Lego and dressing up.

Arts and crafts activities are an integral part of children’s development in early years. The skills gained from participating in arts and crafts activities during the early years of a child’s life are invaluable throughout their lives.

Being outdoors is great for children. As well as the fact kids love the great outdoors, the fresh air works wonders for them, and outdoor activities keep them active.

We’ve recently launched a brand new range of Classroom Carpets, Rugs and Activity Mats that are perfect for schools, pre-schools, nurseries and even the home.

Reading is a key driver in the development of children from a very young age. In the very early years, reading helps them to recognise sounds in order to string along simple words.

Junior easels are specially designed to be used by young children in nurseries, pre-schools and primary schools. They are lower in height so can easily be accessed by little ones who want to draw, write or paint.

Songs, rhymes and musical instruments are a great way to help children progress their language and communication skills. It’s never too late or too early to start introducing music into your child’s lifestyle.

Sand and water play encourages sensory development and provides the ideal opportunity for children to explore the benefits of messy play.

In the UK Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June and this year it is on Sunday 18 June. This is a special day to honour fathers and father figures such as grandfathers, stepdads and fathers-in-law.

Technology is becoming more and more predominant in classrooms and the use of computers, mobile devices and the internet is a part of everyday school life.

Lunchtime is always a busy time of the day in any school. With a limited time to set up, feed everyone and clear up, lunchtimes need to be well organised and planned.

Here at ELF, we offer a range of classroom lapboards and mini whiteboards which are specially designed for use in primary and secondary schools.

Here at ELF, we offer a range of classroom lapboards and mini whiteboards which are specially designed for use in primary and secondary schools.

Feed a child’s imagination with our imaginative play range – a selection of school play equipment which will help stimulate group play and encourage active imaginations. We love our imaginative play resources and here are a few of our favourites:

World Book Day is back! Thursday 2nd March 2017 sees World Book Day celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The thought of unleashing young children into the kitchen may fill you with dread but they can learn so much from cooking and baking simple meals

Recent studies on literacy confirm that a child’s reading skills are important to their success in personal development, school life and work later on in life. Reading is not only beneficial to the education and development of children but it can also be a lot of fun for them.

As the summer holidays begin many people will be going on holiday with their families. Holidays are great but getting to your destination can be tiring, especially if it’s a long journey and you have young children.

Gardening in schools is becoming more and more popular and has been proven to really enhance a child’s learning experience.

In the UK Mothering Sunday, or Mother’s Day as it is now more commonly known, is held on the fourth Sunday of Lent, exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday.

Reading should be promoted and encouraged through every stage of a child’s school life, from pre-school right through to secondary school.

It’s nearly that time of year again that everyone looks forward too – Spring! We can start to look forward to longer, warmer days, nature blossoming and our children wanting to burst outside and play.

Outdoor activities for kids are a great way to let the young ones explore the outdoors and keep them occupied so the dreaded “I’m bored” phrase is nowhere to be heard.

Having a dedicated area for outdoor play is essential in an early years setting as it allows children to have regular opportunities to explore and learn outside the classroom

Enjoying books and reading stories from a very early age is crucial in the development of children. It helps with their ability to understand words, use their imagination and develop their speech, as well as being something they really enjoy.

Your child might like the idea of a packed lunch, most do, but which lunchtime choice is best for your little one?

The past few years has seen a change in the way children are taught to read in schools. Phonics is recommended as the preferred way children are taught so they can understand, and learn how to read and spell.

Traditionally the Chinese New Year is organised around the movements of the moon with the New Year typically falling between January 21st and February 20th.