Play to Z Limited

Customer Reviews

Stepping Out Activity Cards 16-36 months Review by Yvonne Wright, childminder

The Playscope activity cards are a handy way of extending the use of your treasure/heuristic play basket. Treasure baskets are usually considered of most use for younger children, in particular those who are not yet walking. This is based on safety concerns over the contents of the baskets and what could happen if a child moves around with them.
These cards are helpfully made from wipe clean card and held together with a metal key ring for ease of use. They offer a range of activities suitable for children up to 36 months. They are colour coded, unless suited for all age groups, and even have guidance as to how much preparation time each activity requires.
Playscope promotes inclusive play, and encourages practitioners to make the activities a regular group exercise through use of specific songs to be used at the beginning and end of each session. This is not essential if the practitioner prefers not to, however, as each card is presented as a stand alone activity.
The cards come with a laminated A5 sheet giving advice on how to stock a treasure basket. This is useful but easily lost, so would have been better as an additional card to the pack. The cards are, however, a brilliant idea and could be easily stored with your heuristic play items, as they are pretty robust and likely to withstand any exploration by small hands!

PLayscope 16-30mth Activity Cards Review by Yvonne Wright - Childminder

The Playscope activity cards are a handy way of extending the use of your treasure/heuristic play basket. Treasure baskets are usually considered of most use for younger children, in particular those who are not yet walking. This is based on safety concerns over the contents of the baskets and what could happen if a child moves around with them.
These cards are helpfully made from wipe clean card and held together with a metal key ring for ease of use. They offer a range of activities suitable for children up to 36 months. They are colour coded, unless suited for all age groups, and even have guidance as to how much preparation time each activity requires.
Playscope promotes inclusive play, and encourages practitioners to make the activities a regular group exercise through use of specific songs to be used at the beginning and end of each session. This is not essential if the practitioner prefers not to, however, as each card is presented as a stand alone activity.
The cards come with a laminated A5 sheet giving advice on how to stock a treasure basket. This is useful but easily lost, so would have been better as an additional card to the pack. The cards are, however, a brilliant idea and could be easily stored with your heuristic play items, as they are pretty robust and likely to withstand any exploration by small hands!

found the activities to be extremely easy to set up and carry out with the children. Review by Jennie Turkington Team Leader, Orchard Barns Private Kindergarten, Ardleigh

I found the activities to be extremely easy to set up and carry out with the children. The activities for the basket were excellent and produced in such a way that all of the children were able to participate in all areas. I found the variations and extensions ideas very helpful as it allowed myself and my staff to differentiate the activities to meet the needs of each individual child in the group. As the activities were laid out so easily and clearly I was able to select which activities to use to support the learning needs and style of my group of children. By using the basket I was able to promote all of the areas of learning in the foundation stage. The children particularly enjoyed singing the songs at the beginning and end of the sessions. When I begin to sing the Discovery Song ‘Gather around the basket of fun’ the children begin to get very excited and know it is time to gather on the floor in a big circle. Again at the end of the session the children happily tidy away singing the tidy away song.

The children loved exploring different marks in the sand Review by Rachel Smith, Sparrows Team Leader, Orchard Barns Private Kindergarten , Ardleigh

The children loved exploring different marks in the sand. This led to naming various shapes. One child made repeating patterns of squares with a wooden hammer.

The children gathered round the Basket as the song began.

(These comments are based on observations of children aged 2 -3 years playing with the resources).

The cards have the ‘wow’ factor. Review by Nasen Awards Panel Judge

The cards have the ‘wow’ factor.

The resources offer some imaginative ideas for role play which could be related to the National Curriculum. Review by Clare Harris, Key Stage 2 teacher at Sunfield Training and Residential School for children with autism

The resources offer some imaginative ideas for role play which could be related to the National Curriculum. The activities can also be presented in a 1:1 situation with the teacher and the child if an individual finds a group situation too difficult. I feel the Playscope cards are a useful resource for teachers, particularly in key stage 2. Ideas are given to implement the curriculum through play. I feel the resources are appropriate for all children who benefit from learning through play, across SEN and mainstream. I will continue to use some ideas suggested by Playscope.

From the very first time I saw the children’s responses to this resource I knew it would be something we would use Review by Susan Moss-Thomas, EYPS NVQ Nursery Manager, Orchard Barns Private Kindergarten, Ardleigh - winner of UK Nursery of the Year (Nu

From the very first time I saw the children’s responses to this resource I knew it would be something we would use to support children’s learning over and over again. Inspirational, fun and flexible, Playscope provides a resource which can be used spontaneously or as part of a planned activity. It is great!