Cosy Direct

By Juliet Robertson Here’s a few simple outdoor learning experiences and play suggestions to do that can be easily squeezed into the hectic schedules in schools and pre-schools in the run up to Christmas. No more cabin fever. Let’s get out, get more sustainable and get going with free or low cost ideas.  If you work in Early Years, some...

By Kimberly Lawson Your mental health and wellbeing matters and I remember when I was striving to be a successful early years practitioner I would attend courses, read books and reflect on my teaching daily in setting. Yet none of this had the impact I desired when I didn’t have the tools I needed to look after my own mental...

By Juliet Robertson This blog post was originally written in June 2010. Although there is no doubt that the outdoor space will now look very different, the idea of a community celebration of the outdoor space is a great way of enabling children and their families to meet and enjoy the outdoor space. Very often, parents who are very busy...

With Halloween fast approaching, it's a good time to reflect on how you can incorporate this seasonal event into your mud kitchen area. The joy of the mud kitchen lies in its versatility - it's so much more than mud and water! A fantastic way to encourage children to get creative at the same time as nurturing communication and language...

By Juliet Robertson Halloween is a day where dressing up and having fun outside is celebrated. The origins of this festival are a matter of debate but this article is a useful starting point for any teacher wishing to acknowledge the cultural or religious connections. My favourite Halloween took place many years ago whilst I was working in a tiny Highland school with 9...

I am aware that confusion and controversy exists around the use of tyres. I hope this blog post is informative and helpful so that adults who work with children can make sensible decisions based upon their own specific context. It has been written in good faith based upon material I can find out and my own experiences of working outside with...

Books really are a fantastic resource, aren't they?! We love how they can be used in many ways to promote learning and development in a child-friendly way. With educators thinking ahead to the start of the new school year, it's a good time to focus on the power of books in helping children to navigate the transition as they start...

The way that we organise, present and store learning resources, can really make a difference in children’s independence and learning. Thinking carefully about how we present and organise our resources can create opportunities for children to develop their concepts of shape, size, space, number, sorting and literacy skills. When organising your provision, the old adage of, ‘Everything in its place...

Most schools are feeling the pinch in terms of having money to spend on resources and equipment. Thankfully, working outside does not have to rely on expensive kits. Here’s a selection you can make from cardboard, paper and other easily available materials. Remember – your class can make their own kit! There’s lots of skills to be learned along the way...

When we think of sensory play we often think logically to the five main senses; sight, smell, touch, sound and taste. We can create a plethora of scented potion play set ups, introducing smell and touch into fun festivities. We can use lights, and glow sticks, balloons filled with rice, messy outdoor painting boards and more. When thinking of outdoor...