5 fantastic ways to use flexible seating in primary schools
For this post, we’ve enlisted the help of Faye Booth, an education researcher and content creator with over 20 years’ experience in teaching. We know that many schools use flexible seating such as bean bags and cushions in their reading corners – when she first started teaching, Faye enlisted her mum to make some for her classroom – but we’re wondering how else flexible seating might be effectively used in primary schools?
Research and studies on the use of soft seating – including our own – show that there are many benefits to using flexible seating in schools. Flexible seating can support students’ wellbeing and their learning: it can provide comfort and physical support; it can engage and motivate learners; it can aid focus and collaborative learning; and it can help develop independence.
Flexible seating in classrooms
Flexible seating – sometimes referred to as alternative seating – can include floor cushions, balance balls, bean bags, bean pods, bean bag chairs, wobble chairs and cushions, tilted seats, posture wedges, floor mats and tiles, and stools. Some options can be used with classroom desks and tables, while others can be used for floor-based learning or play.
Some flexible seating, including soft seating, can help learners feel more comfortable, like our Posture Wedge, or even more cosy, safe and secure, like our Faux Fur Bean Bag. Soft seating is also often used in sensory spaces in schools, where different textures can support learners with sensory preferences or needs, such as our Sensory Cushions.
For children who need to move (which, let’s be honest, is most children), flexible seating can provide the stimulation they need. Pupils who might usually be up and out of their seat throughout the school day may find staying seated less of a challenge if their seating allows them to wiggle, bounce or rock.
You can introduce flexible seating options to your classroom even if you have a traditional setup. Pupils will need to be taught how to use alternative seating and they may need a little time to adjust.
Some flexible seating is more – well, flexible – than other flexible seating. By this, we mean that smaller, softer seating options offer the most flexibility when it comes to moving them and using them in different ways, in different locations. Seating that can be easily stacked or stored is useful and seating options that children can easily move themselves is ideal for regular use, such as cushions with carry handles. And because this seating is going to be moved and used often, you’ll want to ensure you buy good-quality, durable products that are easy to clean and maintain.
Of course, flexible seating options don’t have to be confined to classrooms. There are plenty of opportunities to use flexible seating around the school to support a range of activities.
How to make the most of flexible seating in school
There are lots of different types of flexible seating and loads of ways to use them. Let’s explore five fantastic ways to use flexible seating, such as bean bags, floor cushions, bean pods and bean bag chairs in primary schools to facilitate various activities.
1. Interventions and group work
The reality of working with small groups of children, perhaps to pre-teach or provide additional support with certain aspects of learning is that this may need to take place at unscheduled times, outside of the classroom. Adults working with small groups may also find themselves roaming the school in search of a space where they can work with their pupils. Portable seating can prove extremely handy on these occasions.
Flexible seating provides a comfortable temporary option that can be used anywhere, anytime. It is especially useful for activities where children won’t be required to write or record their learning. Phonics games, maths games, shared or guided reading, speaking and listening activities and social skills group work are all activities that lend themselves to using carry cushions, floor cushions, or bean seat pods, like those found in our Essentials Soft Seating collection.
2. Imaginative role-play areas
It’s great to have role-play areas in Early Years and Key Stage 1 classrooms and the addition of flexible or soft seating can really enhance the space. For a really immersive experience, teachers can consider the designs, textures and prints used for soft furnishings and how this can support learning in certain topics.
For example, our Galaxy Multi-way Floor Mat is perfect for a role-play area when children are learning about space. Children learning about underwater worlds will love the addition of our BazZoo Sea Life Octopus, Fish or Whale. And if you’re teaching a topic all about nature and plants, your role-play area could become a green oasis with our Meadow or Grass Bean Bags and Floor Cushions.
3. Outdoor learning
One of the major benefits of flexible seating is that it enables teachers and their pupils to make use of the outdoor learning spaces in their setting. Not all flexible seating will be appropriate for outdoor use, so consider this when making new purchases.
Our Learn About Nature products are water-resistant and wipe-clean, making them ideal for outdoor use. Whether it’s taking groups outside during a science lesson, sharing a story outside with the whole class, or running a weekly Forest School club, portable soft seating is incredibly useful. There are many benefits to spending time outdoors and making use of the outdoor spaces can alleviate issues caused by small classrooms and large class sizes.
4. Circle time activities
Many primary teachers use circle time in their PSHE lessons. The circle creates a sense of belonging and enables each pupil to see and hear all the other pupils, as they take turns to speak. Sitting in a circle formation is also great for discussions and debates, speaking and listening activities, drama games, music lessons, and revision sessions at the end of a topic.
Moving desks to create a space large enough to arrange the chairs in a circle is a lot of time and effort. Making just enough space on the floor is easier, but not very comfortable without soft seating. An ideal setup is each child in the circle being seated on soft seating such as cushions or bean pods. The circle time activity could even take place in a hall or outside using portable seating, such as our Carry Cushions, meaning the furniture in the classroom can be left where it is.
5. Using technology in the classroom
As our pupils use more devices to support their learning, such as reading, research or spelling or times tables apps, teachers can consider the most appropriate seating for these activities. Bean bags, floor cushions and bean bag chairs provide comfort and support for sustained focus.
Hands-on learning in subjects like design and technology or computing often lend themselves to pupils being seated on the floor and being able to move around. Picture a group of children programming a floor robot – and how much more comfortable they’d be if they had floor cushions to sit or kneel on. Our Grab & Go Cushions would be perfect for these sorts of activities.
6. Reading corners and school libraries
Yes, we know we said this post would contain five ideas, but we decided to give reading corners and school libraries a mention, too. Lots of teachers already use flexible seating in their classroom reading corners or school libraries, so this isn’t a new idea. It certainly is worth considering, though, if your setting doesn’t currently have soft seating available to support reading.
Soft seating options, such as bean bags and bean bag chairs have been shown to encourage reading in learners of all ages. Our research into The Science of Soft Seating has shown that teachers often use bean bag furniture as a motivational tool to encourage engagement with books, which can be particularly effective with reluctant readers.
Ergonomic, high-backed bean bags or bean bag chairs, like our Bean Bag Reading Chair, were found to improve comfort levels and increased the time pupils spent reading. With many schools still prioritising pupils’ progress in reading, the physical environment and seating options may be a useful element to consider.
Classrooms of the future
Flexible seating is likely to become a core element of classrooms in the future – in both primary and secondary schools. Teaching approaches and the design of learning spaces will aim to facilitate a range of learning styles and correspond to the needs of individual learners. Schools wishing to help their students develop relevant life skills, such as teamwork, communication, creative thinking, problem-solving, resilience and independence will be looking to create adaptable pupil-centred spaces. And flexible seating plays a significant role in this vision.
If you would like to find out more about how you can create a bespoke seating solution for your class, contact Eden’s Dan Boden for more information or a consultation about your space.
