Creating your first Therapeutic Classroom is really exciting but where should you begin, especially if you are on a low budget?
Whether you have a full therapeutic classroom, elements of a therapeutic classrooms or a standard UK classroom, there are some essentials every room should have that are low cost and effective.
Strip back the clutter!
(Photo: Example of clutter)
Lets be honest, classrooms are notorious for their lack of storage but if we are honest, we aren't always using the storage that is available in the best way. Storage cupboards are often full of old books and resources, cupboards haven't been cleared out in a while and that can mean the sides/ windowsills and draw tops become cluttered.
A cluttered environment isn't conducive to a calm working environment and can create/ contribute to feelings of overwhelm and even anxiety. A calm tidy space helps promote order, structure and clarity of mind.
Our tips: Start by getting rid of everything you don't need and organising available storage. Try to remove anything on the sides so nothing is on show. Buy some simple baskets to put on surface tops to organise storage.
Cost: Free! If you want to add baskets you can pick them up for between £5-10 each
Be purposeful about what is on the walls
Another simple, free thing you can do is take down as much as you can from the walls. Unfortunately we have subscribed to the belief that walls should be full of laminated sheets/ prompts/ number lines/ work and washing lines! The truth is, this contributes to environments that feel overwhelming, cluttered and 'busy' and they create an invisible 'noise' that silently affects children's ability to concentrate. Children tell us the things on the wall make them 'mess with their head' and make them feel stressed.
Our tips: Take down anything you don't actually need. Our advice would be to hang important information in photo frames and have almost nothing on the walls other than things you might find at home like plants or shelves.
Cost: Free!
Be careful with colour
(Photo: Example of a school who was purposeful with colour on minimal budget)
Walk into most classrooms in the UK and you will see blues, reds, yellows, greens and everything in between. We have coloured carpets, chairs, desks, display boards, backed work, washing lines and resources all competing for our attention and they rarely match or compliment one another. The use of bright, colours in schools (especially primary schools), like clutter, create a sense of overwhelm, anxiety and stress and are particularly challenging for children with ADHD, Autism and sensory processing needs. The children might not realise it, but the presence of such a clash of colours impacts how they behave and their ability to work.
Our tips: Be purposeful with the use of colour, opt for calming, neutral colours if you can. We would always avoid colour and go for beige, natural browns, greens from plants and greys but if you don't have a choice or are stuck with bright chairs/ tables try to choose 1-3 colours and create a theme around those. If you have purple chairs for example. you could create white and purple display boards, buy some purple baskets and use purpose tones here and there to tie it all together. We promise it will make a huge difference to the children ( and the teachers in the classroom too!)
Cost: Free mostly but if you want to add baskets you would be looking about £5-10 per basket.
Add Plants
Plants are the perfect addition to every space and are proven to reduce stress levels and improve wellbeing- just by looking at them! It doesn't matter whether they are real or fake (we use fake!) the impact is the same.
Our tip Would be to have a minimum of 7 plants in every room, with one plant on every table. You can then dot them about on windows and storage too!
COST: Ikea plants are perfect at just £5 a plant and £1 a pot.
Re think Lighting
Classroom lighting is terrible! It is often harsh and bright and can leave children feeling overwhelmed and hypersensitive. The lighting is particularly harsh for children with ADHD and Autism (we have done the research and the children say its true!) There is also a very clinical feel about the lighting in schools. We are huge fans of using soft, warm lighting to create a feeling of calm and safety and we have seen a huge impact in schools where teachers have only used soft lighting (without any other changes!) They tells us that children are quieter and settle after break and dinner more quickly, they also tell us that they feel calmer in the space too!
If you still have a standard UK classroom with display boards- try putting up fairy lights around the board- it is a game changer! You can also add lamps to the space (the ones you would find at home) and LED lamps on the tables.
Our tip: Use fairy lights alongside floor lamps you would find at home and table lamps. Opt for soft ones with a warm white light rather than a white light and with lamp shades to create a homely feel.
Cost: Lighting doesn't have to be expensive, a set of fairy lights can be very cost effective at £10 for a pack of two from amazon. Floor lamps from Ikea at £55 are our go too and you can pick up some lovely lights from BNM for £5 and above! Have fun with it, but try not to buy anything that won't last very long.
Our gorgeous calm LED lights are the perfect addition to any classroom (we use them in every project) when you touch the top they change colour which children love. They are great for children with sensory needs! We recommend putting one on every table and usually use x5 per room!
Watch our reinventing classrooms YouTube series for more top tips and inspiration