Sensory Toys for EYFS and Nursery Settings: A Buying Guide

Why is this important in education?

Sensory experiences sit at the heart of effective Early Years practice.

Long before children can explain their thinking through words, they learn about the world through what they see, hear, touch, move, smell and experience. Every day in Nursery and Reception classrooms, children are developing understanding through hands-on exploration.

This is why sensory provision remains such an important part of high-quality EYFS environments.

The best sensory toys do much more than keep children occupied. They help children develop fine and gross motor skills, strengthen communication and language, build confidence, explore creativity and regulate their emotions.

At Hope Education, we understand that sensory resources are often some of the most well-used materials within an EYFS setting. They support independent exploration, encourage collaborative play and help practitioners create learning environments that feel welcoming, engaging and inclusive for every child.

When thoughtfully planned, sensory provision can become a powerful tool for supporting development across multiple areas of learning simultaneously.

What does current guidance say?

The Department for Education states within the EYFS Statutory Framework 2025 that children should learn through play, active exploration and hands-on experiences.

The framework places particular emphasis on supporting children to develop physically, communicate effectively, express themselves creatively and build positive relationships with others.

Development Matters 2021 highlights the importance of providing rich environments where children can investigate materials, explore ideas and develop their understanding through direct experiences.

Similarly, Birth to 5 Matters encourages practitioners to create sensory-rich opportunities that allow children to engage with their environment using all their senses.

Sensory toys can support these aims by providing opportunities for children to:

• Explore independently
• Develop physical coordination
• Build language and vocabulary
• Express emotions
• Solve problems
• Engage in imaginative play
• Develop confidence through experimentation

Importantly, sensory provision should not be viewed as a separate part of the curriculum. It is often woven naturally throughout children's everyday experiences and supports learning across multiple areas of development.

Why are sensory toys valuable in EYFS and nursery settings?

Sensory toys help children connect physical experiences with learning.

When a child squeezes a sensory ball, balances on stepping stones, builds with translucent blocks or investigates a textured surface, they are developing far more than sensory awareness alone.

Many of these experiences support:

• Physical Development
• Communication and Language
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Expressive Arts and Design
• Understanding the World

In Early Years settings, sensory resources can also help children remain engaged for longer periods of time. Open-ended resources encourage children to revisit activities, test ideas and discover new possibilities through repeated exploration.

At Hope Education, we often see practitioners use sensory resources not only to support specific learning outcomes but also to create environments where children feel confident to investigate, experiment and take ownership of their learning.

What challenges do schools and practitioners face when choosing sensory toys?

While sensory resources can provide enormous benefits, selecting the right toys is not always straightforward.

Identifying genuinely useful resources

A common challenge for practitioners is deciding which sensory toys offer real educational value.

Many products are marketed as sensory resources, but not all encourage meaningful exploration or support children's development over time.

The most effective resources are usually open-ended, allowing children to engage with them in different ways depending on their interests, abilities and stage of development.

Supporting a wide range of needs

Every child responds differently to sensory experiences.

Some children actively seek movement, touch and sensory stimulation, while others may benefit from calmer, more predictable experiences.

Practitioners need resources that provide flexibility and can support children with a variety of developmental needs and learning preferences.

Balancing quality and budget

For many settings, budget considerations are an important factor.

Choosing resources that support multiple areas of learning often provides greater value than purchasing highly specialised toys with limited applications.

Maintaining children's interest

Even popular resources can lose their appeal if they remain unchanged for long periods.

Many practitioners find that rotating sensory resources and introducing new provocations helps maintain engagement while extending learning opportunities.

What practical strategies can help when buying sensory toys?

Rather than choosing sensory toys based solely on appearance or popularity, it can be helpful to consider the learning opportunities they provide.

Prioritise open-ended resources

Open-ended resources often provide the greatest educational value because they can be used in many different ways.

A set of textured discs, for example, might be used for sensory exploration, language development, sorting activities, pattern making or physical movement games.

Because children can revisit these resources repeatedly, they often remain engaging for longer than toys with a single fixed purpose.

Look for resources that support multiple areas of learning

The strongest sensory resources rarely support just one developmental area.

Construction resources can strengthen fine motor skills while also encouraging problem-solving and collaboration.

Light exploration resources can support scientific enquiry while encouraging creativity and communication.

When planning provision, many practitioners find it useful to ask:

Include a balance of sensory experiences

Effective sensory provision includes opportunities for children to explore through:

• Touch
• Sight
• Sound
• Movement
• Manipulation

A balanced approach helps ensure children experience a wide range of sensory inputs while supporting different interests and developmental needs.

Consider inclusion from the outset

The SEND Code of Practice highlights the importance of creating environments that support all learners.

Sensory toys should be accessible, adaptable and suitable for children with a wide range of abilities.

At Hope Education, we often encourage practitioners to consider how resources can be used flexibly across different ages, stages and individual needs rather than selecting toys for one specific group of children.

Which sensory toys are most useful in EYFS settings?

While every setting is different, certain types of sensory resources consistently support high-quality learning experiences.

Tactile resources

Tactile resources encourage children to investigate textures, materials and sensations through touch.

Items such as sensory balls, textured discs, tactile panels and fabric resources help children describe experiences, compare materials and develop increasingly precise language.

These resources can also support fine motor development through squeezing, gripping, pressing and manipulating objects.

Construction and manipulative resources

Construction toys are often some of the most versatile resources within an EYFS environment.

Children develop coordination, hand strength, spatial awareness and problem-solving skills while building, balancing and creating.

Many practitioners also find construction resources provide valuable opportunities for collaborative learning and sustained engagement.

Light and visual exploration resources

Light-based resources can encourage curiosity, creativity and investigation.

Children may explore colour, shape, transparency and pattern while developing observational skills and scientific thinking.

These light exploration resources often support both Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.

Sound and music resources

Auditory experiences play an important role in sensory development.

Musical instruments, listening games and sound exploration activities help children develop communication skills, rhythm, concentration and self-expression.

Movement-based sensory resources

Physical movement remains a key part of sensory development.

Balance equipment, sensory pathways and coordination resources help children build confidence in their physical abilities while supporting gross motor development.

The EYFS Statutory Framework 2025 identifies physical development as a prime area of learning, making movement-based sensory experiences particularly valuable.

For additional ideas on creating rich sensory environments, visit our main hub page.

What does this look like in practice?

A Nursery sensory investigation area

A Nursery practitioner creates a sensory exploration space using tactile materials, natural objects and construction resources.

Children independently investigate textures, compare materials and describe their observations while adults introduce new vocabulary and extend conversations.

A Reception light exploration station

A Reception class uses translucent resources and light exploration equipment to investigate colour, shape and pattern.

Children make discoveries, ask questions and test ideas while developing communication skills and scientific thinking.

A calm sensory space

An EYFS classroom introduces sensory cushions, tactile resources and calming visual materials within a quiet area.

Children access the space independently when they need opportunities for reflection, regulation or focused sensory exploration.

These examples demonstrate how sensory resources can support learning, wellbeing and independence throughout the day.

For more sensory and messy play inspiration, visit our relevant category page.

What common mistakes should be avoided?

Many practitioners find sensory provision becomes more effective when they avoid a few common pitfalls. These include:

• Choosing resources simply because they are labelled as sensory.
• Purchasing multiple resources that provide similar experiences.
• Focusing on entertainment rather than educational outcomes.
• Overlooking opportunities to develop language and communication.
• Neglecting physical development when planning sensory provision.
• Failing to rotate resources regularly.
• Selecting toys that have limited flexibility or long-term use.

Often, a smaller collection of carefully chosen resources creates richer learning opportunities than a large collection of highly specialised toys.

How can educators get the most from sensory toys?

To maximise the impact of sensory provision:

• Choose resources with multiple possible uses.
• Follow children's interests when introducing new materials.
• Use sensory experiences to develop vocabulary and communication.
• Encourage exploration rather than directing every activity.
• Balance active sensory experiences with calming opportunities.
• Review provision regularly.
• Observe how children interact with resources.
• Consider accessibility for all learners.
• Rotate resources to maintain curiosity and engagement.
• Link sensory experiences to wider learning opportunities where appropriate.

Thoughtful planning helps ensure sensory resources continue to support meaningful learning throughout the year.

How does Hope Education support this area of learning?

Hope Education understands that effective sensory provision is about much more than providing toys. Sensory experiences help children communicate, explore, create, move, investigate and build confidence in their own abilities.

Our Early Years specialists understand the realities of busy Nursery and Reception environments and the importance of resources that genuinely support development.

Through practical guidance, curriculum expertise and carefully considered sensory resources, Hope Education helps practitioners create engaging, inclusive environments where every child can thrive through exploration and play.