Now's the time to go out on a leaf hunt and discover how many areas for learning they can lead you to. Try starting with these ideas from Carole Skinner, Fran Mosley and Sheila Ebbutt.
Children's perennial fascination with knickers and monsters can be explored fruitfully using this quirky, beautifully illustrated book, says Judith Stevens.
The principles that should underpin putting the Early Years Foundation Stage into practice are set out by Julie Fisher in this excerpt from the revised edition of Starting from the Child.