Outdoor Play

It might be cold, damp and grey but the outdoors in winter can be an inspiring place to play and learn.  Winter offers us new experiences which are in stark contrast to spring, summer and autumn.  The change of season enables us as educators to empower children to be adventurous, explore and discover and ignite their innate drive to be...

At Cosy we love all things sustainability and eco-friendly. In fact it’s one of our core values - and one we know is shared across many settings and practitioners in the EYFS. We love nothing more than focusing on sustainable materials, and we know you do too.  This Earth Day we want to champion using sustainable resources, as we always...

We know all too well here at Cosy that many nurseries and schools are opting more and more for natural resources. Wood, wicker, and ‘real’ items are increasingly popular - and for good reason! They look beautiful, follow many theories of effective learning, and make a calm, happy space. They are also, by and large, a more sustainable option as...

We get tagged in some wonderful ways to play with conkers and so we wanted to share these with you in this blog post. Did you know that Conkers is a traditional children's game in Great Britain and Ireland played using the seeds of horse chestnut trees—the name 'conker' is also applied to the seed and to the tree itself...

Fine motor skills are those small, intricate hand and finger movements.  Children's muscles can take time to evolve as the brain builds important connections.  This is achieved through practice, with some children finding it easier to master the skills than others.  Why are fine motor skills important? Fine motor skills are an important factor in early writing.  Children need strong...

Inspire children to get outdoors and let their imaginations fly in a mud kitchen. Cafe's shops, bakeries, Pizza station, Ice Cream Cart. Children develop their gross motor skills through large mixing and stirring movements, mashing with pestle and mortars and in our giant masher and perfect their fine motor skills as they take a pinch of herbs, grass or leaves...

Acorns can be used in play in a variety of ways. They are perfect during the autumn months. Acorns usually drop from their trees late summer, early autumn. Acorns are the fruit of the oak tree. They contain the seeds that can grow new oak trees, and falling to the ground is part of the tree's lifecycle – this is how...

For so many people Autumn is their favourite time of year. The beautiful colours, natural treasures, the smell of autumn, fallen leaves and autumn crafts. Autumn begins in September and is a season famous for its harvest times, turning leaves, cooling temperatures and darkening nights. Did you know that Chlorophyll is the chemical that makes tree leaves green and as...

Here at Cosy, we recognise that it’s an exciting time for Early Career Teachers (ECTs) as they embark on their new roles. However, we also understand that it can be a time of apprehension and stress – we know you want to do your best. Being nervous is entirely normal. With this in mind, we’ve put together 10 top tips for Early Career...

Art and Creative Expression helps the development of children’s imagination, creativity and their ability to use and explore different media and materials. Outdoor art activities encourage children to explore with nature. “Art is as natural as sunshine and as vital as nourishment.” MaryAnn Kohl Art includes a wide range of activities. From exploring colours, textures, making music, singing songs, to...