John Dabell, Teacher & Author, looks into how schools can help develop a child’s character using a programme based around storytelling and celebrations. Read more

Combine peg dolls with pom-poms to create beautiful, festive tree decorations. These cute fairy dolls are so easy to put together and would make an exciting class project, as well as being lovely home-made presents for children to give to friends/relatives, or possibly sell at a Christmas Fair! Read more

Deaf Awareness Week (4th -9th May 2021) aims to raise awareness about hearing loss in the UK. It is a great opportunity to talk about and challenge perceptions about what this means for children in particular. It is also the perfect time to begin to acquire, what for many will be, a new and exciting skill. Read more

My wife is one of three girls and tells me that on Christmas morning when they were growing up, once the excitement of unwrapping the presents was over, they would take all of the crumpled paper, smooth it out and re-wrap the presents, then repeat the unwrapping. This perfectly illustrates the satisfaction children get from wrapping up, and the schema known as 'envelping'. It is partly a magic trick - the object is no longer there. It has been transformed by the child magician into something else. Read more

Why not try and recreate this festive Christmas 'How to’ make a Santa's Grotto… in your classroom or learning environment?  With the help of this step by step guide to follow, and using one of our giant dark dens along with some of our Christmas themed materials, you too can have a Santa’s Grotto. Read more

Give pupils an opportunity to extend and use knowledge of electrical circuitry and switches to produce a fairground ride. Models can be driven by a motor, which has been geared down to a suitable speed by the use of a simple pulley system. Children can produce their own models, work in pairs or work together as a whole class! Read more

Have you had snow yet? Bring snow into your learning environment with this wonderful sensory resource. It can be used in a variety of contexts and at any time of the year. Children love this amazing sensory magic snow as it's light, soft and fluffy. Read more

As it gets colder and Christmas is getting nearer, children will be fascinated by everything linked to the changing of seasons. A fantastic way of creating awe and wonder is to add sensory materials into your messy play activities. Using snow, soap flakes, shaving foam etc. is great for recreating a winter wonderland. Read more

Sunday 6th April 2014 marked the second annual TTS Dream Team race day, where 28 colleagues, friends and family participated in the Derby 10k race to raise money for Kariandusi School Trust. Read more

Develop mathematical fluency and reasoning with our Silicon Number Frames. The visual aspect helps children to grasp a deeper understanding of number and they are perfect to support the development of mathematical skills and problem solving. Read more

In my work in schools and nurseries I get to observe a lot of different children at play. It's fascinating to stand back and watch what they are doing, springing, twirling rolling and running about. At first so much of it seems completely random, but if we spend enough time paying close attention to what they are doing, we can see there are clear patterns in their types of play, movements and actions. Read more

A garden offers a natural framework for understanding about sustainability and the natural world and will help to improve a child’s environmental attitude. As children plant their own fruit, vegetables and flowers, they will learn to appreciate the wonder and power of nature, which will instil an appreciation and respect that will last into adulthood. Read more

Follow this 10-step guide on how to make your own pulley-driven vehicle. This is suitable for KS2 pupils exploring electric circuits, pulleys, wheels, axles and bearings. It is also suitable for KS3 students investigating series circuits, friction, average speed and energy transfers; simple machines giving bigger force at the expense of smaller movement, and vice versa. Read more

Bonfire Night is one of our most loved celebrations. But why do we celebrate it? Read more

Diwali is celebrated all around the world by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. It is known as the 'festival of lights' and is one of the most significant and colourful events in the religious calendar. The light is a symbol of hope and of good triumphing over evil. Read on to explore Diwali arts and craft activities and enjoy the festival through the fun of making. Read more

A good reading corner can take minutes to create yet can provide a child with hours of imagination, days of anticipation and years of progression- do you really need persuading? Read more