Early learning

This sensory harvest tray activity is a wonderful way for babies and young children to explore the sights, smells, textures and sounds of autumn. Using a range of natural harvest-inspired materials, children can investigate at their own pace while developing their senses, curiosity, communication and physical skills through hands-on, playful exploration.

World Afro Day is a Global Day of Celebration and liberation for Afro hair. The day aims to challenge negative attitudes and help people understand and appreciate the diversity of Afro hair and identity. This my hair and me activity provides a wonderful opportunity to explore the idea that everyone's hair is different, and every type of hair is beautiful. Children can explore different textures through play, observation and creative experiences while developing positive attitudes towards difference.

Storytelling is a wonderful way to engage young children, and physical storytelling makes the experience even more meaningful. By combining movement, imagination and language, physical storytelling encourages children to become active participants as they bring a story to life. Use our top tips below to help ensure every child can take part, feel included and experience success.

Storytime outdoors offers children a wonderful opportunity to combine literacy, physical activity and imaginative play. Taking a familiar story into the natural environment encourages children to become active participants rather than just listeners, inspiring them to explore, move, create and collaborate. By inventing their own version of We're Going on a Bear Hunt, children develop communication and language skills, creativity and confidence while building a meaningful connection with the world around them.

Here’s a creative activity that firmly puts process before product. Children explore loose parts and recyclables with only their curiosity and freedom to change their minds and no fixed outcome expected. 

Promote imaginative and outdoor play with a Nature Rangers-themed role play area. Children can search for natural treasures, care for wildlife and discover the wonders of the natural world through exciting adventures.

In this activity, children will become little explorers as they go on a minibeast and bug discovery adventure. 

This activity supports practitioners to create a special picture book by inviting children to draw their own ideas as part of a shared story. Adults are there to support each child with their picture and write down their words, helping to build language and confidence. All the pages are then put together into a book to read and enjoy as a group, celebrating every child’s contribution and creating a lovely sense of belonging

Support children to develop positive attitudes and interests in mathematics through engaging activities to explore shape.

Playdough offers a rich sensory experience that nurtures creativity, imagination and fine motor development. Create an inviting space where children feel inspired to explore and engage in sensory play. This open-ended experience encourages children to experiment, create and express their ideas freely, supporting their curiosity and individuality. 

St George never visited England – so what better way to mark his day than by finding out where he came from.

Gardening week is a wonderful opportunity to support children’s communication and language as they take part in a range of sensory activities in both the natural outdoor environment and indoor environments.  

There are numerous benefits of involving children in gardening experiences, including access to the natural environment, sensory rich activities, working together, promoting curiosity and observing cause and effect.  

Developing confident mathematicians with a positive attitude and interest in maths starts in a child’s earliest years.   Before children can understand and count purposefully, they need to develop a sense of number (what numbers are, what they mean, what different numbers look like as a physical concept and what they can do with them) and singing number rhymes will support children to do this. Check out our number rhyme time learning activity.

Magnets feel magical to young children. Exploring what ‘sticks’ and what doesn’t encourages curiosity, prediction and early scientific thinking while supporting language and problem-solving skills.

Bring a little nature indoors with this fun and simple Cress Caterpillars activity. Children will love creating their own cheerful caterpillar while exploring how plants grow and change.

Research tells us that one important thing that parents can do to help their child’s education is to share books with them. This can help to develop a lifelong passion for reading and enjoyment of stories in their earliest years.  Parents will have a range of experiences of early reading and formal schooling and this may affect their confidence towards reading with their own child. To develop parents' confidence and help promote reading in the home, see our tips on encouraging reading at home.

World Book Day is an annual celebration that offers a chance to celebrate children’s favourite story books and characters. Our activity encourages children to share books they cherish while discovering the favourites of others too.   

The Magic Mystery Box is a playful activity that encourages young children to communicate, listen and share ideas. The surprise element captures interest, while the predictable routine helps children feel safe to express themselves using words, sounds, gestures or facial expressions. 

Freezing water in balloons is an amazing sensory experience and also a great opportunity for children to discover the science behind freezing and melting.