Do you allow your children to take risks in their play, or do you wrap them up in cotton wool? Laura England considers the benefits of allowing children to play as they would like, developing important life-skills alongside a greater understanding of risk. Read more

Follow these easy steps and transform your classroom into an exciting prehistoric land, enabling your children to step into the forest and walk with the dinosaurs! These spaces are ideal for learning locations - why not have a dinosaur themed reading area or use it to stimulate story telling and writing. Let the children's imaginations soar with this inspirational area. But watch out…. with their beady eyes, monstrous jaws and crushing teeth they might have you in their sights if they are feeling a little ‘peckish’! Read more

You may remember as a child playing with your little people in your doll’s house, or stomping your dinosaurs up and down the living room whilst bellowing ‘Roar’ at your family. Perhaps at nursery you fought with your friends over who was going to be Batman or Superman? Children naturally love small world play and can benefit a great deal from getting into character and acting out scenarios whilst using their wildest imagination. One of my memories from childhood was playing cars with my elder brother. He would constantly tell me off for driving on the wrong side of the road, or for going around the roundabout the wrong way. Little did I know I was actually learning a practical life skill! Children can learn almost anything through their play with small world resources. Read more

When I was a busy school SENCO I’d often have teachers asking me for resources to help their children. I would always give them what I had from my cupboard but with a limited budget I often had to find resources that were cost effective and very, very versatile. Read more

With winter just around the corner be inspired and take the opportunity to transform your classroom into an enticing, ‘icy’ learning and role play environment! Who wouldn’t want to crawl inside the cosy igloo for a read, a mark-making session or to go fishing with the penguins? Read more

Want to find more ways to use the 100 square? If so read this blog to get activity ideas. Read more

Autism, or autistic spectrum (AS) is a lifelong neuro-developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. People with autism also interpret the world around them in a different way from 'neuro-typical' people. Children with autism tend to have limited spheres of interest and may be hyper-sensitive to sensory stimulation. Read more

This step-by-step guide will help you to create a fantastic winter-themed immersive learning environment that will inspire and engage children. The frozen-themed backdrop is a super quick way of creating an area that is beautiful, long-lasting and open-ended. Read more

How cute does this dragon look hatching from his handmade papier mache egg?! Make them for Dragons, Dinosaurs, Penguins - anything that hatches from an egg! Read more

A Dyslexia friendly classroom includes a variety of teaching and learning strategies, enabling every child full access to the curriculum. Done in the right way you will encourage confidence and success, as well as helping children to develop good self-esteem. Read more

Imagine setting the scene for a learning journey with some giant dinosaur eggs - you can spark some excitement that will engage children, feed their imaginations and become a provocation for learning! Read more

Natural materials provide a rich variety of textures and properties to compare and contrast. By providing the opportunity to explore these materials you are enabling children to make vital mathematical connections. Read more

Today's children are growing up surrounded by and becoming familiar with Digital Technology. Through play opportunities children can experience a range of resources that support their knowledge and understanding as well as enhancing other key skills. Read more

Adorable and super-simple to create, these penguins require very little prep work. Recycle a plastic bottle and pillow stuffing for the large penguin or, if you're short on time, the cute fluffy chicks only take minutes to make. Once finished the penguins could be used as wintry display figures or form characters from a favourite story book. The same technique can then be used to make other characters - why not try making a polar bear, or add in a cardboard tube to make a giraffe? The possibilities are endless! Read more

Make this impressive display piece using willow to create a big impact in your classroom or school reception area. It could be a whole-class project or a fantastic after school craft activity. Withies or willow comes in two types; quick soak and long soak. It’s easier to work with the quick soak type, and hosing them down with water outside works great. Put some plastic underneath to stop the water running away and keep soaking them every ten minutes or so. If you have a big water container to stand them in, that’s even better - the task becomes much easier! Read more

This simple and effective Halloween craft idea that can be completed in just 7 easy steps, using budget-friendly and readily available items such as toilet roll tubes and paint. We've included clever candles to make the windows light up to look like someone is home for trick or treating. You could also make pumpkins, toadstools, cauldrons or potions to set the scene! Read more