Autumn is here, the perfect time to refresh your EYFS provision.
Autumn gives early years practitioners endless opportunities to turn everyday experiences into meaningful learning. From crunchy leaves and woodland walks to pumpkins, harvest, phonics, counting and storytelling.
We’ve selected 10 of the best early years resources for Autumn 2026, covering phonics and early maths, plus books, sensory play, fine motor skills, play and outdoor learning.
Whether you’re setting up a nursery, preschool, childminding setting or Reception classroom, consider these resources this autumn to refresh your provision.
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Best Autumn EYFS Resources 2026 – Our Quick Picks
| Resource | Best for | Approx. price* |
|---|---|---|
| All About Autumn: An Early Reader Book for Toddlers and Kids (Exploring the Seasons) | Seasonal learning | £10 |
| Autumn Tree Mix & Match Decoration Kits | Seasonal crafts | £5 |
| Janod – Large Wooden Magnifying Glass | Nature exploration | £12 |
| Orange Tree Toys Wooden Stacking and Balancing Toy With Woodland Animals | Develop key motor skills | £16 |
| Autumn Stencils | Mark making | £3 |
| Learning Resources Changing Seasons Sensory Tubes | Learning about seasonal weather | £22 |
| Learning Resources Sensory Leaves Maths Activity Set | Early years maths | £22 |
| Little Dutch Building Blocks – Forest Friends | Motor skills | £16 |
| Little Dutch Wooden Sound Puzzle | Problem solving | £22 |
| ZAC HOME Autumn Acorn Number Learning Set | Maths and colours | £17 |
*Prices checked in September 2026 and may change.
1. All About Autumn: An Early Reader Book for Toddlers and Kids (Exploring the Seasons) — Best for seasonal learning
This delightful book introduces early readers to Autumn’s wonders.
The book covers nature’s changes, including the changing colours of leaves, leaves falling from trees, and how animals prepare for winter, as well as Autumn traditions such as apple picking, pumpkin patches and Halloween.
Why we like it:
- Includes lots of interesting facts about Autumn
- Perfect for EYFS, the simple text and vibrant images engage young readers. Use it to introduce children to seasonal changes and nature.
- Introduce children to seasonal changes and nature.
Our verdict: 5/5 | Age range: 2 – 6 years.
2. Autumn Tree Mix & Match Decoration Kits — Seasonal crafting
These autumn-themed craft kits let children create their own colourful tree decorations while exploring the season’s colours and themes.
This ready-to-use crafting activity is ideal for settings with limited time and practitioners who want a seasonal activity that doesn’t take much time to set up.
Why we like it:
- Covers areas of learning such as Understanding the World, Expressive Arts & Design and Communication & Language.
- No glue required.
- Mix and match – children can choose their preferences.
- Ready to go
Our verdict: 4/5 | Age range: 3 – 5 years.
3. Janod – Large Wooden Magnifying Glass — Outdoor learning
This is a sturdy magnifying glass for exploring nature up close and discovering the little details in the environment.
The magnifying glass has up to 4x magnification, making it perfect for exploring pebbles, leaves and insects. Sparking curiosity in young minds, the magnifying glass is easy to use and lightweight, making it perfect for little hands.
Why we like it:
- Natural design
- Easy to clean – use a soft cloth.
- Made from FSC wood – no plastic.
Our verdict: 4.5 / 5 | Age range: 3+ years
4. Orange Tree Toys Wooden Stacking and Balancing Toy With Woodland Animals — Developing key motor skills
A perfect way to make learning fun this Autumn, from colour and shape recognition to imaginative play.
This woodland-themed stacking toy can help encourage children to develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The pieces are big enough for children to pick up and hold. They can also be used in continuous provision, tuff trays and activities as standalone objects.
Why we like it:
- Painted with non-toxic paint.
- No plastic.
- Meets European Safety Standards.
- Covers several areas of learning
Our verdict: 4.5 / 5 | Age range: 1 – 4 years
5. Autumn Stencils — Best for mark making
They come in different designs, allowing children to explore Autumn colours and shapes.
These Autumn stencils are great for seasonal activities, in tuff trays to spark imagination, or in continuous provision. They are washable so that you can use them with paint and chalk.
Stencils are a great way to create confidence in the early years, encouraging them to mark-make. They also support fine motor skills, grip strength, and spatial awareness.
Why we like it:
- Supports shape recognition
- Builds confidence in early mark-making.
- Can be used in cross-curricular learning.
Our verdict: 4/5 | Age range: 3+
6. Learning Resources Changing Seasons Sensory Tubes — Best for learning about seasons
Introduce and explore all the seasons with these seasonal sensory tubes.
Each tube represents the weather conditions of each season: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. They invite children to explore the natural elements in each tube, colour-coded to reflect the season they represent.
They can also be used for self-regulation, helping manage their emotions as they focus on the tube. This can promote self-awareness and mindfulness of their emotions.
Why we like it:
- Includes a ‘Getting Started Guide’.
- Can be used to manage emotions and self-regulation.
- Promotes discussion around each season.
- Good for group activities or to support learning.
Our verdict: 5/5 | Age range 0 – 4 years
7. Learning Resources Sensory Leaves Maths Activity Set — Best for early maths
Introduce early maths with nature-related activities this Autumn with this Sensory Leaves Activity set.
This set includes an activity guide, 10 double-sided activity cards and 36 leaf-shaped counters. The leaves come in 6 different colours and types, and 3 different sizes. The teacher-developed activity cards and guide enable you to introduce early maths skills confidently. The guide also includes fun, nature-related activities.
Why we like it:
- Colourful counters to encourage engagement.
- Incorporates maths with seasonal activities.
- Can be used in a variety of different ways, as a focused activity or during free play.
- Leaves could be used in other activities to support learning.
Our verdict: 4.5/5 | Age ranges: 2 – 5 years
8. Little Dutch Building Blocks – Forest Friends — Building motor skills
A fun and beautiful set of stacking cubes, featuring illustrations of forest animals as well as numbers up to 10.
Children can explore different ways to play with these stacking cubes, whether by creating a tall tower or arranging them horizontally on the floor. Each block is also designed to fit in one another, which encourages children’s fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Why we like it:
- Incorporates maths into their play.
- Each block has a different illustration.
- Can be used in activities or in continuous provision.
- Easy to tidy away.
Our verdict: 5/5 | Age ranges: Recommended 18 months +
9. Little Dutch Wooden Sound Puzzle – Best for problem solving
This puzzle is a great way to spark imagination and encourage children to develop their problem-solving skills.
A fun way to meet all the creatures that live in the woodland. When a child lifts a piece, they will hear a matching sound. The puzzle has 7 pieces, each representing a different aspect of woodland life.
Why we like it:
- Promotes hand-eye coordination.
- Encourages and develops vocabulary.
- Audio helps engage children.
Our verdict: 4.5/5 | Age ranges: 1+ years
10. ZAC HOME Autumn Acorn Number Learning Set – Early maths and colour matching
A fun Autumn Learning Set, supporting early maths skills and colour matching.
This learning set includes 10 numbered acorns, a tree, felt leaves, and a convenient storage bag. It encourages children’s communication skills, as they can use their imagination to create their own stories. Handcrafted from soft felt, they’re gentle for little hands.
Why we like it:
- Great for incorporating maths into tuff trays and themed activities
- Durable and child-friendly design – stitched for durability.
- Great for nursery rhymes, early years or at home.
Our verdict: 5/5 | Age ranges: 3+ years
Final Verdict: The Best Autumn EYFS Resources for 2026
If we were building an EYFS autumn resource cupboard from scratch, we’d prioritise open-ended, reusable resources over buying dozens of highly specific autumn products.
Our top five would be:
🥇 Building blocks
🥈 Maths manipulatives
🥉 Autumn picture books
4️⃣ Woodland small-world resources
5️⃣ Mark-making
Then we’d supplement these with natural autumn materials. The beauty of autumn is that you don’t need to buy everything.
Leaves, sticks, conkers, pumpkins, apples and woodland walks can become some of the best EYFS resources of all.