Nursery World - Enabling Environments: Around the nursery - Sand Area

Wet and dry sand can provide a useful basis for further learning when combined with careful planning and an interesting variety of resources, says Jane Drake. Photography at lescudjack nursery in Penzance, Cornwall, by Jim Wileman.

A well-equipped sand area is a popular and busy feature in a nursery. When planning for this area, it is important to remember that children should have experience of both wet and dry sand and that learning outcomes will differ according to the consistency of the sand and the resources provided.

RESOURCES

Aim to provide:

- a large, deep sand tray at an appropriate height for children to work at. They may choose to work in a standing position or at floor level

- smaller, individual trays

- a large, shallow tray (for example, a builder's mixing tray)

- bags of play sand

- sweeping brushes (long and short handled), dustpan

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