Beyond the Mess

In Foundation Stage, learning is an adventure for the senses. Children explore, discover and make sense of the world by touching, seeing, listening, smelling and even tasting. Sensory play is at the heart of this exploration, helping children engage with their surroundings, understand their bodies, and develop essential skills for life.

We call it sensory play because it involves all the senses, including balance, body awareness and noticing signals from the body such as hunger or tiredness. Through sensory play, children learn by feeling textures, hearing sounds, observing changes, moving their bodies and experimenting. They might notice the rough cardboard as they build a house, the squelch of mud in the kitchen, the texture of pumpkins in a tuff tray, how the water moves during play, or the scent of natural materials. These experiences are fun, but they also help children build brain connections, develop motor skills, grow their vocabulary and understand how their bodies work in space.

Sensory play is everywhere in the Foundation Stage. It happens as children climb outdoors, paint with their hands, draw, explore water and natural materials, read and interact with adults, or create in the mud kitchen. It is not about keeping children busy, but about giving them opportunities to explore, problem solve, and be creative in ways that matter to them.

These experiences support all areas of learning. Pouring, measuring, and comparing develop early mathematical thinking. Noticing patterns, textures, and changes builds understanding of the world. Talking about what they see and feel strengthens language skills, while sensory play helps children manage emotions, gain confidence, and develop fine and gross motor skills.

In the Foundation Stage, sensory play is far more than messy fun. It is joyful, inclusive, and at the heart of how children learn, explore, and grow together every day.