7 Top Tips For Implementing Workstations

In my role supporting children with autism in mainstream nurseries I often get asked about start/finish boxes, also known as workstations.  

Coming from a special needs teaching background I have sometimes been a bit dubious about these highly structured, individual working spaces.  However, in a busy, noisy, often overwhelming nursery or classroom environment a well thought out workstation can provide a child with additional needs a distraction free, safe space to learn and work independently – as long as it is set up and used properly!!! 

I have put together my 7 top tips for setting up and using an effective workstation in a classroom environment:

1. Distraction free environment – set up the workstation table against a wall that is free of posters, children’s work and other distractions and preferably in a quiet area to allow the child to focus on the activities.

2. Organised working – on the left hand side have a tray/box labelled ‘Start’.  On the right hand side of the table have a box labelled ‘Finished’.  The child takes the activities from the left hand side, completes them in front of them on the table, then places the finished activity in the finished box on the right hand side.  

All the activities should be complete (no puzzle bits missing!!) and require no organisation by the child – so if the task is to thread the beads onto the thread make sure they are off the thread at the start the activity.  Using zip lock bags can be a great way to keep activities together and organised.

3. Motivational activities – choose activities that interest and motivate the child so they are excited to be learning.  For example if they like sorting use a range of sorting activities.  If they like cutting and sticking can they cut out letters and make words by sticking and matching them? REMEMBER though that just because a child might happily stay at their workstation for hour upon hour use it for brief periods of time as part of a broad and balanced curriculum!

4. Keep it interesting!! – The workstation should be a space for consolidating skills and be a place the child wants to be.  

Keep them interested by changing the activities on a regular basis; if they are accessing the workstation everyday set up 5 trays with a range of 3-4 activities at the beginning of the week.  Ensure that the key skills that the child is practicing remain the same so that they can be successful e.g. if they are developing fine motor skills have a range of threading activities across the week.

5. ALL NEW LEARNING TAKES PLACE AWAY FROM THE WORKSTATION – the aim of the workstation is to provide a secure learning environment where the child can almost always be successful.  

To ensure this teach any new skill or activity in a space away from the workstation so that when the child comes across it at their workstation they are confident to attempt and complete the activity.  Similarly, teach the basic skills of using the workstation i.e. taking activities from the left, using them in the middle, then putting them away to the right in a range of contexts and before asking the child to use the workstation space.

6. Record Keeping – keeping a record of what the child has accessed at the workstation is key to ensuring that you move their learning forward and that it continues to be meaningful for the child.  Also keeping a record of what the child has practiced away from the workstation helps you keep track of their current skills and where to go next.  Keeping records also means that any adult can come and see what the child is working on and support them.

7. Adult Placement – whilst the child is accessing the workstation the adult should be sat away from the child and can complete the monitoring while the child is accessing the activities.  

Try and keep your prompting to a minimum – remember by the time the child is accessing a workstation they should be confident to follow the left to right routine and familiar with the skill the activity requires thus reaching that sometimes elusive goal of independent working!

There are tons of ideas on the internet on developing resources for workstations on the internet and some of the best use everyday things like pegs, egg boxes, bottle tops and much more! So get creative and aim to make accessing a workstation to develop independent working an engaging and motivating learning experience for the child you are supporting.