early years

A simple Spooky Halloween Mushroom activity for little hands to get involved with. It is really easy to create these spooky mushrooms using just a skewer and mushrooms. Larger mushrooms are slightly easier for children to work with if available. You could ask children to bring them in from home. They can also be roasted and eaten as a tasty...

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...

Play in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) can involve mess – whether that’s mud, paint, glue or baking ingredients.  Sometimes, just the term ‘mess’ and conjure up negative images of this type of play, making it seem chaotic and out of control.  However, the truth is that mess can be a sensory, hands on, practical experience.  It holds immense...

Welcome to the realm of the fairies, pixies and elves. If you're close enough you may even spot a mischievous tree troll! Below we explore creativity, imagination and share ideas on how to create a fairy garden. This is the beauty of imaginative play like that of a fairy garden - it allows children to explore their own imaginations. It’s...

Small world play can be a creative, inspiring way to support the learning and development of young children through play.  Through this type of play, rich opportunities can evolve which impact on development across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).  This makes small world play a valuable part of provision, not to mention a versatile way to build on children's...