It's that wonderful time of year again - the kids are heading back to school. It's been a fun summer, nice to see children playing and enjoying their holidays, but there's something great about packing them off back to school again, complete with new uniform, pencil case and lunch box. But it's not just these things which might need to be replaced at this time of year; teachers, carers and community organisers might also need to think about back to school furniture, replacing old items of furniture with attractive and versatile pieces.

Chairs are very important, especially for children, and this is why schools often choose their chairs very carefully. Allowing students to sit in a slouching position is unlikely to be good for their academic attainment or spinal positioning, so finding a chair which can be sat on properly is very important. We all know that kids have a tendency to misbehave, so often school chairs will get broken or fall into disrepair. Sometimes they appear worse for wear, and are replaced in order to give a better appearance.

Folding chairs are a very versatile school seating solution, allowing easy transportation and storage. Occupying minimal storage space when not in use, lightweight folding chairs can be quickly put into action, transported to their desired location and erected. Folding chairs can be durable and hard wearing.

An alternative to folding chairs is stackable benches. These benches can seat several pupils and can stack up to reduce the required storage space when not being used. Stackable benches are a popular choice for seating many children at a low cost, and are a basic but durable seating solution.

Tables could also need to be replaced, whether this is due to weakened structures, wobbly legs or vandalism. Aluminium folding tables are a cheap, versatile and storage-savvy alternative to the real thing. Folding tables can be quickly packed and transported, occupying a minimum of storage space when not in use. Trestle tables are also a popular alternative to standard classroom desks.
When you think about schools you might consider teachers and textbooks above tables and chairs, but furniture plays an important role in ensuring that pupils are comfortable, engaged and ready to learn. When vandalism or lack of maintenance means school furniture needs to be replaced, consider some versatile, lightweight alternatives such as folding tables, chairs and stackable benches. These items can be quickly and relatively simply moved around at the last minute, and can be used for a variety of purposes.