Reduce, reuse, recycle
I am known for skip hunting and finding things on the side of the street. No, seriously. That’s how my current Headteacher, fondly, introduces me. Looking though the hundreds of photos I have on my phone I realised that a lot has been saved from a skip, the side of the road, or from going in the bin. In this post I will show you how by looking at things in a different way you too can work towards getting the provision you’ve always dreamed of.
Here are just a few examples with each item having its own adventure story…
Reading Hut
One of the old storage huts had been damaged in a storm. The doors had been left open (grr!) and in the wind, they’d snapped off. Bin? NOT so fast! Added some artificial grass, cushions, and created the perfect reading den!
Construction Block Enhancements
Carpet samples are often given away for free or for a donation to a charity (these cost me £1 each), and the placemats were free in M&S’s Dine for Two YEARS ago.
Woodland Kitchen BBQ
This was a table but its top, which was thin plywood, had got wet and damaged. I used old wire racks and attached them with cable ties to create a BBQ.
Bug Hotel
Old laminate flooring and some left over timber. This took time and a lot of help from my Husband but it was definitely worth it!
Group Seating
Next time the school gardener is in, have a chat with them! They work on lots of different sites and if you ask nicely you’ll come to school one morning to a pile of logs! Here, I made seats for group sessions.
Playdough Table
I was driving to a meeting one morning and saw a tree being felled. I stopped and asked the tree surgeons if I could have some slices of the tree. How many? As many as will fit in my boot! After my meeting I drove back and picked them up. If you don’t ask…
Sensory Garden
This was an old sand pit. The lid was broken and the base rotten; it was headed to the bin! I stapled black plastic bags to the inside of the frame, punched some drainage holes, filled with soil and plants, and here you have it!
So you see, you don’t always need money to create opportunities for learning; just a little bit of time and thought.
Email me at earlyyearsonashoestring@gmail.com if you want help with re-purposing something rather than sending it to the bin. I’d also love to see your success stories; send me a photo!