There is no better way to set the foundations for early mathematical thinking than getting outdoors, getting messy, taking risks and having fun!  Today I want to share with you some of the ways I have implemented maths in my outdoor environment. Read more

Communication-friendly classrooms are those which accept that children communicate in a variety of ways which are very often visual but not always verbal. Read more

Any child will enjoy having a go at this simple craft, but especially lovers of magical fiction such as Harry Potter! Pretend you are in Olivander's workshop and imagine taking the wands back to Hogwarts to try out spells such as 'Expelliarmus' and 'Wingardium Leviosa'. This is a perfect school holiday activity, perhaps for a rainy day; make your own beautiful bespoke wands, then cast a spell for sunshine! Read more

In May and June, we ran a competition to find the best and most inspirational classroom wall display. The winner received a whole set of classroom furniture! To share all these wonderful ideas, we thought that we'd showcase some of them in this blog post. Which is your favourite? Read more

I’m often asked for product recommendations and have tried and tested many resources both at home and in the classroom over the years. There are things like magnets, tweezers and filter papers that we use almost weekly and more expensive items like K’NEX, LEGO, circuit materials and microscopes that we use slightly less often but wouldn’t be without. Read more

Imagine you are five years old, you are playing outside and there, slightly obscured by grass and moss is a curious, tiny door. It is magical looking and nestled into a gnarled old tree trunk. A magical doorway...How excited would you be? Read more

Around 3 years ago we installed double doors from our preschool room directly to our outdoor area, this provided many benefits for both the children and practitioners who were able to freely access both the indoor and outdoor environment as they pleased. One of the biggest benefits was the extra space we suddenly had. Many practitioners see the outdoor space as separate to their indoor space, however, we see it as a continuation which means we can provide many more open-ended opportunities for the children to explore and discover. Read more

Treasure baskets can be filled with everyday objects which then become a treasure trove to ignite and spark imaginations and learning. Becky includes a rich diversity of items in her baskets to evoke different responses. Here she tells us about their appeal, both for herself and her children. Read more

Batik is an ancient technique used for making designs onto fabric. The word comes from the Javanese amba (to write) and tik (dot), but it is practised in many forms all over the world including India, China, Japan, Thailand, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. There are many different ways of doing batik, including painting the wax on with a sponge and using mud or dipping the whole piece of fabric in natural dyes. Indonesia is famous for printing with wax using a tjap (brass stamp). Read more

Used in settings for over a decade, Active World Tuff Spot Trays offer a flexible contained space for open-ended play. The large size (1m in diameter) and 8 sides encourage group play - there's room for up to 6 children to play comfortably together. The octagonal shaped tray has raised sides that are perfect for containing sensory materials, messy play and small world scenes in one place. Used with babies, toddlers or with children in Key Stage 1, you'll keep thinking of new ways to deliver quality learning opportunities with this versatile resource. Here are some favourites: Read more

Caring for a school garden has shown to improve a child’s social skills and behaviour. The process of planting and tending a crop will help children develop skills, such as respect and patience. Gardening also encourages teamwork skills as they take part in group work activities and encourages children to take responsibility, by caring for their own crops. Read more

Emma from the wonderfully inspiring Science Sparks talks us through her favourite items and how she uses them. Read more

I am the author of Tip of the Tongue and teacher of a multigrade (mixed-age) class in a disadvantaged area. It was through noticing the word gap in my pupils that I realised I had to focus on the development of vocabulary to improve their confidence and competence with oral language, which would in turn also improve their literacy skills. Read more

As a qualified teacher and previous SENCO I believe in the importance of providing children with sensory breaks. I've witnessed first hand the positive difference a short, active break from the normal routine of the lesson can have on a class. Improving concentration, focus and engagement. I was therefore delighted to try out this valuable resource that provides details of fun, active, sensory movement breaks. Read more

...for the musically nervous! We love listening to your hints and tips, so when one of our friends, Oliver Armstrong, suggested some great ideas for music making, we asked him to write it down so we could share it with you. Read more

In the Early Years we assess children’s learning by observing what children are doing and saying, and many of the observations we make are of ‘wow’ moments. These may take place at unexpected times, often the result of a spontaneous action or response by a child - magical moments! Read more