This is often seen as the limiting factor, but in fact the commitment to time and organisation is as important as the provision of storage. If things are well sorted and packed, a lot can be kept in a small space. A great heap of unsorted material in an empty room, on the other hand, will annoy everyone and eventually be thrown out.

At Canon Maggs, material is well stored in large labelled cardboard boxes on and under shelves in a specialist art area. Each classroom also has a collection. Michaela Fallon believes that keeping it all in order is an educative process. Sorting, especially, is an excellent exercise for young children.

It pays off, too, to build a regular contact with parents who are known to sort and wash materials well - yoghurt pots, tights, food trays - before bringing them.