Equipment: tried and tested - Messing around

TRI-WAY EXPLORE AND DISCOVERY TRAY

TTS EARLY STEPS
AGE RANGE: 3-5
PRICE: £49.99
CONTACT: 0800 318686
www.tts.shopping.com

This tray, which comes with a lid, can be used for sand, water and other materials, and the stand allows for height adjustment. It can be packed away for easy storage.

Tested by Frederick Bird Primary School, Coventry

'This gave the children the opportunity to experience and explore a wide variety of multi-sensory materials independently. These included shaving foam, tree bark, leaves and stones and cornflour gloop for writing letters in. It also allowed them to extend their imaginative play when we placed shredded green paper and grass in the tray alongside jungle animals and green jelly and frogs and tadpoles to create pond life. The baby dolls also got bathed in it and, at one child's suggestion, we even used it as a realistic baby incubator in our hospital role play. The equipment was very easy and quick to assemble and because we could alter its height, it was suitable for both nursery and reception children. Another plus is that being lightweight, it's easy to transport between the indoor and outdoor learning environments.'