The third teacher

In a world that can often overwhelm the senses, a consistent, familiar room can become a safe haven. I’m Rob Fox, owner of Happy Bunnies Nursery School, and in this article I’ll share personal insights, real experiences, and practical advice on how to create homelike, consistent environments that are truly inclusive.

Sensory-friendly spaces play a key role in this. They not only help children regulate their experiences but also provide the warmth and security of a second home – a place where they feel safe to pause, focus, and explore. Let me take you through a day in our pack-away nursery and show you how we’ve created spaces where children feel that sense of homecoming every day.

A morning transformation

It’s seven o’clock. The doors to Shepreth Village Hall open onto a wide, empty space, the same space used the evening before for a community event. The polished wooden floor gleams, and the hall is still and quiet. But to the children arriving soon, this is more than a hall. This is their nursery, their safe place, and their second home.

Our team begins its daily ritual. Rugs are unrolled to create soft, familiar spaces. Books are arranged on low shelves where small hands can reach them. Storage units filled with carefully chosen resources are wheeled into position. These units do more than store materials – they define the nursery itself, creating reading nooks, sensory zones, and imaginative play areas that feel both familiar and welcoming. This consistency gives children the reassurance of home, even in a shared, pack-away space.

By eight o’clock, the children arrive. Some pause, scanning the space to find their favourite cosy corner. Others rush straight to the sensory area, excited to discover what’s inside the baskets. There’s no hesitation – they know where things belong, and that sense of order feels safe.

Consistency creates security

Creating a sensory-friendly environment is essential for your neurodivergent children, but so too is making it consistent and predictable. Familiar spaces allow children to focus on exploration rather than uncertainty.

As the day unfolds, children enjoy a blend of free and structured play, interactive mealtimes, and time for rest. Each child is unique, with different rhythms and needs, and our environment reflects that while maintaining a dependable structure. Structured play helps some children build confidence to join in with peers, while familiar, repeated play opportunities – like working with Play-Doh or navigating a simple obstacle course – provide the security of routine alongside the chance to grow.

Free play, too, is supported by consistency. Baskets filled with the same familiar sensory items – sponges, wooden spoons, ribbons, or foil – allow children to explore at their own pace, always knowing what to expect. A quiet corner, tucked away with soft lighting and cosy textures, provides the comfort of a homelike retreat whenever they need to reset. These predictable spaces give children the confidence to manage sensory input on their own terms, which is key to building independence.

Establishing stability in a changing environment

By the evening, the fairy lights are unplugged, the books are packed away, and the floor is cleared once more. To an outsider, it might look as though the nursery has vanished – but for the children who spend their days here, it never truly disappears.

Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio Emilia approach, described the environment as the “third teacher.” When that environment is recreated each day, what endures is not just the furniture or rugs but the sense of stability and belonging they bring. For any child, the familiar greeting from their key person, the quiet corner that always feels like a retreat, or the favourite book waiting for them each morning matter just as much as the physical space. Even in a semi-pack-away setting, we make sure the essence of home is always present.

Encouraging independence and confidence

Consistency also supports independence. Inviting children to help set up the room each morning builds both confidence and ownership. One child may take pride in aligning the chairs just so, while another carefully arranges the sensory baskets in their usual order. These small rituals ground children in familiarity while giving them a sense of purpose and control.

For neurodivergent children, this consistency reduces anxiety and fosters security. When the environment is predictable, children feel more confident making choices, solving problems, and taking initiative. Thoughtfully designed, homelike spaces – with open shelving, labelled storage, and clearly defined areas – support this independence, allowing children to feel at ease in their surroundings.

Over time, these opportunities empower children to become confident participants in their learning. For us, early years education is rooted in connection – and that connection is built on environments that feel consistent, homelike, and safe.

Conclusion

At the heart of it all, creating a familiar, homelike environment isn’t about perfection in setup – it’s about giving every child the reassurance of a safe space. When classrooms are predictable, children feel at home, and that sense of home becomes the foundation for exploration, self-regulation, and learning. For my team and I,  the goal is simple: every child should walk into a space that feels like theirs, every single day.