The way a nursery is set up can profoundly influence the quality of children's experiences there.
Musical instruments can help children develop the sound recognition skills essential for reading, spelling and writing. Early years settings call the tune as they try out a few for Nicole Weinstein.
Children in one West Sussex school have been getting close to nature thanks to a creative project and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust free visits programme, says Jordan Chamberlain.
In providing resources for playful learning we need to remember the process in which they will be used, not just the outcome at the end, says Anne O'Connor.
A 'monster' sighting at one nursery sparked a project looking at a range of themes.
The aims and principles that went into developing an innovative children's centre outdoor area are explained to Karen Faux. Photographs by Teri Pengilley at Woodlands Park Nursery.
School and nursery children took the principles of Forest School to the water, with an added environmental message, in ecological sustainability activities beside the seaside.
Before spending a lot of money on an outside playhouse, settings must think carefully about how it fits their specific needs, says Nicole Weinstein.
The work of a project helping childminders create communication-friendly spaces was put on show in a multimedia exhibition in Cardiff Bay this week.