Cosy Direct

As June looms ever closer, year 1 teachers across the UK may be hearing the call of the year 1 phonics check. Your school may make this a quick and easy process, or it may feel high stakes. We hope it's the former! With the growth of phonics schemes and mandatory assessments across the UK curriculum, it can be all...

It’s been one week since many of our team at Cosy got involved in the fantastic SkegVegas 100, and we’re still absolutely buzzing. The 100 mile bike ride from Derby to Skegness is in its 11th year of raising funds for the fantastic children’s holiday charities, and it’s been a real privilege to be involved. Read on to find out...

Learning is a joy at any age. While we love the excitement and creativity of preschool and reception classrooms, we also have a real soft spot for baby and toddler provision! In fact, did you know that we have a specialised range just for babies and toddlers, designed for smaller hands, tiny toes and younger explorers? In this post we’ll...

After a brief hiatus the Cosy blog is back, and we have some very exciting new things to share with you! We've been working away behind the scenes on an exciting new project to help you make planning your indoor and outdoor spaces a breeze, and this week, we’re thinking about all things outdoor classroom. Why they’re important, what makes...

1. Shadow Play: Use a torch or a lamp to create different shapes and shadows on a wall or ceiling. Encourage babies to reach out and touch the shadows, fostering their visual tracking skills. 2. Light Box Exploration: Place various translucent objects, such as coloured blocks or plastic animals, on a light table or a clear plastic container with a...

Loose parts play has gained significant recognition for its ability to foster creativity, problem-solving skills, and imagination. While loose parts traditionally include objects like blocks, sticks, and shells, one often overlooked yet incredibly versatile loose part is light. Incorporating light as a loose part in early years settings can unlock a world of possibilities for children's exploration.  Light, as a...

Whether it's exploring shadows, experimenting with colours, or engaging in sensory experiences, light play offers a multitude of benefits that foster cognitive, emotional, and physical development. In this blog post, we will delve into the captivating world of light play and shed light on its numerous advantages for children in the early years. 1. Stimulating Sensory Development It provides an...

By Creative STAR Cones are a wonderful resource yet are often overshadowed by the sleekness of sticks and the smoothness of stones. So this post is written in honour of the cone and its mathematical versatility and diversity. I am grateful for the gifts of intrigue and interest provided by these remarkable seed keepers. Cones can be collected sustainably from woods...

By CreativeSTAR Around my home town, there are some horse chestnut trees which always have a good supply of conkers. They are a much sought after fruit with children looking for and commenting on the availability of the conkers. I now plot some of my walks to pass these trees at this time of year. Conkers hide themselves remarkably well...

Written by Creative STAR Going back to school after the holidays is always exciting. If you are getting a new class, then often the first few days are spent on introductory activities which help everyone get to know a bit more about each other. One activity I often used to do was, “Twenty Things You Need To Find Out.” The...