In practice, treasure baskets are a tried and tested resource that provide endless fascination for the babies who explore them, but their originator was strict about how they should be made and used....
Pretend shops are a magnet for young children – and the role play can be meaningful too, explains Nicole Weinstein, who also provides some useful resourcing pointers
Winner - Little Barn Owls Nursery & Farm School, Horsham, West Sussex
This first in a two-part series looking at resources for developing children's fine motor control starts with the under-threes. Nicole Weinstein reports.
A course in enabling environments helped Sayyeda Meghji convince her staff change was needed. By Gabriella Jozwiak
What is it that makes enclosed spaces so appealing to many children, and how can early years settings support them in this? Annette Rawstrone reports
A small outdoor area provides huge opportunities for play and learning at one pre-school that can draw on Forest School leadership. Michelle Shaw and Ruth Thompson describe how they created it.
A three-year place-based learning project helped children to locate themselves in the community and wider world, says Will Coleman.
The evolution of a magical garden shared with the community is described by Mary Weston, programme manager at Little London Children's Centre in Leeds.
Dolls happily lend themselves to use in extended play across all areas of early years provision, and their houses make the perfect resource for domestic and construction activities, says Judith...