Planning & supplies

One basket by the table covers most lessons all year.

• Plain paper and a pencilThe only truly required thing in the whole school.Every roomprobably at home
• Child scissors, glue stick, sticky tapeBlunt-nose scissors are fine.Art, Scienceprobably at home
• String, elastic bands, paper clipsUsed for vibration, pendulums and simple machines.Science, Musicprobably at home
• A notebook they choose themselvesBecomes the wonder journal. Letting them pick it matters.Wonder, Languagemay need buying

Cheap materials are genuinely better here — less fear of wasting them.

• Washable paints and one thick brushRed, yellow, blue, black and white mix everything else.Colour studiomay need buying
• Crayons or oil pastelsGood for rubbings and pressure practice.Line and lookingprobably at home
• Playdough or air-dry clayHome-made salt dough works just as well.Materials studioprobably at home
• A folder or box for the portfolioWhere finished work lives, unmarked and uncompared.Portfolioprobably at home

Kitchen science. Nothing here needs a laboratory.

• A packet of fast seeds (beans, pumpkin, cress)Buy in early autumn or spring. Beans sprout in days.Growing thingsmay need buying
• Measuring cups and spoonsDoubles as the maths-is-a-language lesson.Science, Languageprobably at home
• A magnifying glassA phone camera zoom does the job too.Looking closelymay need buying
• A couple of fridge magnetsEnough for the whole forces unit.Push and pullprobably at home
• Baking soda and vinegarThe classic fizz. Do it in a tray or outdoors.Change and reactionprobably at home

Homemade instruments teach vibration better than bought ones.

• A descant recorderOptional, inexpensive, and the fastest route to reading notes.Instrumentsmay need buying
• Rice or dried beans in a sealed jarYour first shaker. Free.Beat and rhythmprobably at home
• A box and elastic bandsA string instrument that shows vibration you can see.Vibration and soundprobably at home
• A free tuner appLets children check pitch themselves — evidence, not authority.Singingprobably at home

Handwriting and language systems.

• Lined or dotted-third paperPrintable free online; useful for cursive.Sounds into lettersmay need buying
• Index cards or cut-up paperFor word building, sorting and sentence machines.Spelling, Grammarprobably at home
• A handful of coinsMoney is the first system lesson.The systems around usprobably at home

Almost all of it is free.

• A towel or matFor stretching and the calm-first practices.Calm firstprobably at home
• A soft ball or beanbagThrowing and catching builds rhythm and focus.Movementprobably at home
• A simple timerFor self-guided time, so nobody has to nag.Daily rhythmprobably at home