We’ve just begun an exciting new project called Bright Futures, working closely with an infant school over the next 18 months. This is the start of a journey with both teachers and children, exploring how creativity, storytelling, and playful learning can help shape skills for the future.

One of the first things I’ve noticed is how different Reception feels compared to other classes—there’s so much space for free play and exploration. It’s a playful environment where children are constantly making choices, experimenting, and discovering.

Already, Phil and I are thinking about how our skills can support the children’s fine motor development through art, storytelling, and imaginative activities. For example, Phil has been dreaming up playful characters—like a crab with pinchy pincers tracing letters in the sand, only to have the waves wash them away. And I’ve been linking art activities to the children’s Book of the Week.

This week, we explored The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. I invited the children to become artists themselves—experimenting with dots using fingertips, paintbrushes, and cotton buds. We thought about the importance of our hands and did little exercises to warm them up before diving into the materials.

The response was inspiring. Children who don’t usually choose art activities came to the table, curious about the different tools and textures. Some filled empty picture frames I drew, creating their own mini galleries. One child even named each piece of work she created, while another who often struggles to focus spent a long time carefully filling his page with colourful dots.

The morning ended with us sharing and celebrating their artwork together. It was joyful, creative, and a reminder of how much possibility lies ahead on this journey. Bright Futures has only just begun, and we can’t wait to see where it takes us.