The Nursery World Equipment Awards are made to products that were rated Five Stars for excellence by our testers - nurseries, schools, pre-schools and childminders - during 2006. Congratulations to all our winners.
BIRTH TO THREE
NURSERY WORLD equipment awards 2006 GOLD - Fagus wooden vehicles Asco
Beechwood vehicle sets, including steerable fork-lift truck and lorry, with figures and stacking boxes. 'The vehicles have good details and stimulated lots of imaginative play.'
From 38.50 per set, www.ascoeducational.co.uk, tel: 0113 2707070
NURSERY WORLD equipment awards 2006 SILVER - Lil' Movers motor train Fisher Price
Train and track with three figures and four stops, plus own sound effects.
'This has excellent accessories and I liked the multicultural figures, one with spectacles.'
24.99, www.fisher-price.com, tel: 01628 500000
NURSERY WORLD equipment awards 2006 BRONZE - Farm Four in a Box Orchard Toys
Set of four farmyard jigsaw puzzles of varying numbers. 'Younger children chose these over other puzzles. They are sturdy and brightly coloured.'
4.99, www.orchardtoys.com, tel: 01953 423422
FOUNDATION STAGE
NURSERY WORLD equipment awards 2006 GOLD - Come Alive Stories
Yellow Door
Resource packs including CD, storyline cards and teachers' notes. The Billy Goats and The Three Little Pigs are retold in rhyme and set to music. 'We had so much fun. Are there any more stories in the series?'
15 each, www.yellow-door.net, tel: 0845 6035309
Around My School
Active Designs
Wall chart of a neighbourhood with landmarks and name tags. 'It has great potential for developing early geography skills, helping the children to identify features in their own environment.'
32.50, www.activedesigns.co.uk, tel: 01327 858522
First Computer Station
Reflections on Learning
Desk and chair to accommodate two children, made from MDF panels and rubberwood, 'extremely well designed; high quality, yet reasonably priced'.
175, www.reflectionsonlearning. co.uk, tel: 01732 225850
The Fun Chair
Corrugated board kit to make a chair and decorate it, flat-packed with instructions. 'Excellent learning potential for design and technology and creativity. It has lasted well.'
9.99, www.thefunchair.co.uk, tel: 0191 5153722
Bee-Bot starter pack
TTS Early Steps
Programmable floor robot with sequence cards, activity mats and rechargeable battery unit - 'a welcome addition to control technology resources; speak to your ICT co-ordinator now!'
99.99, www.tts-shopping.com, tel: 0800 318686
Scooter Green
Hope
Scooter with adjustable handlebar height. 'It has excellent play value and proved very popular, especially with a disabled four-year-old, who was extremely happy he could master it.'
39.95, www.hope-education. co.uk, tel: 08451 202055
Foundation Steps
Clever Clogs Educational Games
Themed resource packs with masks, puppets, activity ideas etc, including Three Little Pig Tales - 'a well thought-out product with excellent open-ended suggestions'.
34.95, www.cleverclogsgames, tel: 01823 327836
NURSERY WORLD equipment awards 2006 SILVER - Happy Hammer Farm
Asco
A set for designing pictures or copying pattern cards by hammering plastic farm shapes on to cork boards - 'it has the wow factor and immediately captivated the children'.
45.95, www.ascoeducational. co.uk, tel: 0113 2707070
Big Cook Little Cook baking set
Born to Play
Set contains cooking utensils, recipe cards and apron. 'Boys and girls equally enjoyed reading the recipe cards, mixing and whisking.'
17.95, tel: 01706 346500
Smart Splash
Learning Resources
Sets of ducks, turtles or frogs for mathematical fun in the water. 'They cover shape, colour, counting and number recognition. There are so many uses for these little creatures'.
12.95 per set, www.learning resources.co.uk, tel: 0845 2410484
Skeleton floor puzzle
Learning Resources
A 15-piece, life-size puzzle. Children 'enjoyed discussing where the pieces would go and comparing where they would find each part on their bodies.'
17.95, www.learningresources. co.uk tel: 0845 2410484
Shared Emotions puzzles
Galt
Set of four puzzles showing how our emotions affect people around us.
'These are super jigsaws. Sequencing pictures were a brilliant resource to support speech and language.'
11.95, www.galt-educational. co.uk, tel: 08451 203005
WoodyClick
Peterkin
Wooden building block system using a click construction method, with themes including farm, construction and police. 'It really sparked the children's imaginations and they enjoyed sharing it.'
From 20, www.peterkin.co.uk, tel: 0116 2543645
Movin' Monkeys
Learning Resources
Set with plastic gears, cranks, connectors and base plates, 136 pieces in all. 'Kept them engrossed and encouraged; plenty of thinking and talking through how to alter parts.'
29.95, www.learningresources. co.uk, tel: 0845 2410484
NURSERY WORLD equipment awards 2006 BRONZE- Trace and Learn cake
Learning Resources
Pretend birthday cake with writing surface for early literacy and numeracy activities. 'Our pre-school children enjoyed using the icing pen to decorate the cake.'
19.95, www.learningresources. co.uk, tel: 0845 2410484
Story Sequence Puzzles
Galt
Thick, hand-cut wooden puzzles displaying the sequence of everyday events.
'The simple pictures are ideal for promoting language.'
17.95, www.galt-educational. co.uk, tel: 08451 203005
Inflatable alphabet and number blocks
Learning Resources
26 blocks linked by Velcro - 'excellent way to learn letters and numbers'.
Pounds ??, www.learningresources.co.uk, tel: 0845 2410484
Big Racing Car puzzle
Orchard Toys
A 45-piece floor puzzle made from thick, recycled board. 'Children found lots to talk about and it appealed to the girls as much as the boys.'
8.50, www.orchardtoys.com, tel: 01953 423422
First Experiments set
Reflections on Learning
Wands, magnetic marbles, super magnet and more. 'I would definitely buy this if ordering science resources.'
24.99, www.reflectionsonlearning. co.uk, tel: 01732 225850
FLoatiT
Doodle World
New modelling material floats on water. 'It sustained children's interest and inspired plenty of experimentation.'
9.80, www.doodle-world.com, tel: 0191 5100188
TESTERS WANTED
If you would like to join our panel of testers from early years settings and primary schools., please write to the address on page 3 or e-mail liz.roberts@ nurseryworld.co.uk. Let us know the ages of the children you work with and full contact details of your establishment.
