Winner:GOLD - Best Creative Play (Educational)
Who: Lovevery
What:The Reading Skill Set
Why:
Reading is an essential skill, not to mention lots of fun when kids get into their stride. With the worrying stat that one in four 11-year-olds in the UK are leaving primary school unable to read well, the need for learning support at home is a much needed resource for many parents. Enter Lovevery’s Reading Skill Sets.
This three-part, child-led system grows with children from first letter sounds to chapter books, with a skill-by-skill approach to build confidence and enjoyment. Our judges were blown away by the research and imagination that had gone into the highly original interactive games included in these sets designed to intrigue, build confidence and inspire. As well as games, there are beautifully designed books, which help reinforce the skills learned through playing and make phonics feel fun, not forced. The JDA panel loved this fabulous program that offers a multi-sensory learning experience that engages children naturally, without digital distractions. Easy for parents to follow and exciting for children to explore, The Reading Skill Set is a modern, research-backed way to raise lifelong readers.
An innovative and fun twist on phonics and literacy for children and parents. It really feels like both have been considered in the conception and design of the reading skill set. I'm looking forward to trying this with my five-year-old daughter and I'm pretty confident her 11-year-old brother will want to get in on the act and help!
High-end quality and design. Excellent translation of fun ideas into practical educational games and tools. This will be as much fun for parents as it will for children. Emphasising that reading can be fun!
Learning tools that really take into consideration how to keep things fresh and exciting for children. Kids will have so much fun learning through play and adults will love the innovation and beautiful design.
Winner:SILVER - Best Creative Play (Educational)
Who:Ready Set Learn
What:Shape Monsters
Why:
Learning shapes has never been so much fun! Our judges were really excited to discover Shape Monsters, an interactive pack of 14 wipe-clean activity cards that bring 2D and 3D shapes to life for kids. These cards encourage children to trace and spot shapes in everyday life, solve clues, and even design their own shape monsters — making maths both memorable and fun, and helping young learners to explore key mathematical concepts through creativity and play. Created by an experienced teacher and aligned with the national curriculum, this clever resource blends structured learning with imaginative freedom and proves that when creativity and learning go hand in hand, children thrive. A joyful way to build early maths confidence.
There are so many number and letter flashcards around... how could we forget about shapes! Well, you won't now. Fun and memorable monster fun - a great way to make those shapes stick!
Recognising shapes is fundamental to the basics of maths and describing the world around us. These cards give shapes monster personalities that kids will really engage with.
These interactive cards make learning so much fun! Love the monsters and the way these cards can be drawn on and then wiped down so they can be used again and again.
Winner:JOINT BRONZE - Best Creative Play (Educational)
Who:Sounds Fun Resources
What:Phonics Activity Busy Book One
Why:
Designed for 3–5-year-olds, this A4 Phonics Activity Book turns early literacy into hands-on fun. With 13 wipe-clean, reusable pages covering the first six sounds (s, a, t, p, i, n), children trace letters, blend sounds, and complete interactive tasks again and again building confidence along the way. With moveable pieces, dry-wipe markers, and colourful layouts as well as QR codes linked to short teacher-led videos, our judges could see that these kits would be an excellent resource for children and parents.
Smart, compact and reusable - this is a great book especially if you are on the move. Excellent combination of pen work and interactive elements with Velcro pieces to mix it up and keep children engaged.
I really like the clear presentation of these books that blend fun and classic learning techniques that children really respond to.
Simple, interactive and easy to follow. Kids will get a great sense of satisfaction moving through these fun games and learning as they go.
Winner:JOINT BRONZE - Best Creative Play (Educational)
Who:Little Happy Learners
What:Phonics Flash Card Bundle
Why:
These A4 cards designed to help young children blend sounds and build words confidently were a big hit with the JDA panel. With their colourful designs and large, playful font, our judges could see how they would really engage little kids’ imaginations, encouraging storytelling and a sense of fun along the way. Created by an experienced early years teacher, each individual card is carefully thought through for maximum educational value. A great resource for making letters feel memorable and fun.
Super fun flashcards that are engaging and creative for little learners. These would make a lovely addition to any playroom.
Perfect for both homes and classrooms, this charming set will nurture letter recognition, curiosity, and a love of learning that lasts.
I love the clean graphic design of these cards that will really appeal to young children. The larger size also makes them easy to hold and easy to share.
