Children love dens - crawling into small spaces, being hidden away, adding their own treasures, pretending to be somewhere else - is all so appealing! One nursery setting explain how they are using a wooden pod, usually found outdoors, to bring the excitement of a den inside. Read more

Writing at its best is a creative process but it is also a very complex skill to master. It requires mastery of fine motor skills, attention span, memory, language and higher order cognition. If a child struggles with any of these components then their creative aspirations and ideas may become hidden. Why should this potential be stifled through lack of fluency with a physical process when we now have alternative means of recording our thoughts? I decided to explore how as teachers we could break the chains. Read more

For some SEN learners programming directly onto the Blue-Bot can be a challenge, perhaps in remembering what they have pressed, this might be because there is no immediate, visible reinforcement of what they have done until they press ‘Go.’ This is where the Tactile Reader comes in. Read more

Natural and open-ended resources provide a vast range of opportunities; they can be used by children in their original state, or imagined into something else. The use of natural resources allows children to experience what they are and what they could possibly be used for. So, eradicate the old plastic fantastic way of learning and encourage more natural, open-ended resources and loose parts. Read more

Composting is one of the most environmentally friendly activities you can do. The cycle of plants growing and dying within the seasons is fascinating. Composting (the breaking down of natural waste), is a valuable activity for children to take part in and is a good lesson in ecology and sustainability. It helps reduce waste and also makes excellent free fertiliser for the garden. Read more

Sally Northen has put together a week’s worth of fun science lesson openers all about food. She has used her fabulous Flip-It cards, but they are not essential. The cards can be used as a directed class exercise, in small groups or individually. They encourage stimulating conversation and early discovery of scientific phenomenon! Read more

Get data logging outdoors! Use a Log-Box to measure light levels in different locations; record temperatures in rivers, streams and puddles and even measure sound. Here are 3 simple project ideas to get children excited about science whilst collecting and investigating their own data. Read more

The new TTS Maths Mastery leaflet picks out the best and most versatile resources to help you make the most of your mathematics budget – whatever the size. As promised, within this blog are links to some free resources! Read more

My children were very excited about a package that arrived containing our new project....a butterfly garden in which to watch caterpillars grow into butterflies before our eyes! Read more

Who knew corks could be so versatile? If you ever needed an excuse to crack open a bottle of prosecco (or four…) these cute cork crafts by Lottie Makes are it. We’ll show you just how easy it is to create budget-friendly resources for story-telling, small world play, maths games (who wouldn’t enjoy sorting and counting with ninja turtles?) and much, much more. Read more

Many of us gain a sense of satisfaction from arrangements that feel 'just right', whether it is the furniture in our rooms, the objects on our desk, or the tins in our cupboard. Children gain the same sense of satisfaction from exploring how things look and feel when they are positioned in different ways relative to each other. Read more

Happy New Year! Well back to our settings we go, with dreams of changes we have aspired to in our Pinterest filled holiday evenings. Traditional teaching methods leave many of us feeling like we need to start afresh, with new role play, no decorations and definitely no mention of the “C” word! In this blog, Kirstine examines whether changing everything for a new year or new term is really the best way to help children engage in learning. Read more

The Government has published new guidance on the Primary PE & Sport Premium grant, which was doubled this September. What does this mean for your school and how can you ensure you are effectively using the funding? Read more

Our aim as teachers is to develop children’s understanding of mathematical concepts. We need to encourage children to explore their own mathematical ideas and challenge potential misconceptions. Manipulatives are a key component in the teacher’s toolkit, allowing the structure of the mathematics to be uncovered and hence understood more deeply by the children. (Humphreys and Parker, 2015, pg.26). A 2012 Ofsted report stated that too few schools used these resources well. Read more

No one runs a marathon without first training their legs to cope with the amount of exercise they will have to endure, SO WHY do we expect children to write before we have developed their shoulder muscles, arms and finally their fine motor muscles? It is imperative for Early Years settings to support children's early development, but does this mean giving them a pen and asking them to write? How can we expect them to write when we haven't "trained" them with the techniques they will require? Read more

How often does your classroom set-up change? Every year, every term or more often? Do your children have a say in how their learning space is organised or are they completely directed about where to sit and what to do? Eden Learning Spaces has some thought-provoking ideas about making the learning environment as flexible as possible, as well as giving children the ability to be more proactive in how this can be achieved. Read more