If you've ever watched a young child struggle to understand what comes next in their day, you'll know how quickly that uncertainty can turn into anxiety, frustration or challenging behaviour. Visual supports for nursery settings are one of the most effective — and most underused — tools available to early years practitioners and families.
In this article, we explore what visual supports are, why they work, and how you can use them to create a calmer, more confident environment for the children in your care.
There Are Lots of Resources Out There — So Why Choose Reggie & Co?
A quick search will turn up all sorts of free visual support resources online. So why does it matter where you get them from?
The difference is consistency — and continuity. At Reggie & Co, we've built a joined-up pathway of visual support resources that follows a child all the way from home through nursery and into primary school:
- Visual Routine Toolkit – Home Edition — for parents and carers supporting children with routines, ADHD, Autism and neurodivergent needs at home
- Nursery Visual Toolkit – Early Years Edition — printable EYFS resources designed for nurseries, preschools and childminders
- Visual Toolkit – School Edition — a comprehensive toolkit for primary classrooms from EYFS through to KS2 and SEN
Every resource across the range shares the same consistent design and the same familiar Reggie mascot. That means children see the same visual language at home, in nursery, and at school — which is exactly how visual supports work best.
What Are Visual Supports?
Visual supports are any resources that use images, symbols, photographs or objects to help children understand information, communicate their needs, or navigate their environment. They work alongside spoken language rather than replacing it, giving children an additional way to process and make sense of the world around them.
In a nursery setting, visual supports might include:
- Visual routine cards showing the order of the day
- Feelings boards to help children identify and express emotions
- Activity choice boards so children can communicate what they'd like to do
- Calm down cards to support emotional regulation
- Reward boards to encourage positive behaviour
Why Do Visual Supports Work?
Young children are still developing their language and communication skills. Even children with strong verbal ability often find it easier to process visual information — particularly when they are tired, anxious or overwhelmed.
Research in early childhood development consistently shows that visual supports:
- Reduce anxiety by making routines predictable and understandable
- Support communication for children who find verbal expression difficult
- Encourage independence by giving children the tools to navigate their environment without always needing adult direction
- Promote emotional wellbeing by helping children identify and manage their feelings
- Improve transitions between activities, which are often a flashpoint for distress
The National Autistic Society consistently recommends visual supports as one of the most effective tools for helping autistic children understand their environment and manage transitions. And guidance from the NHS on ADHD highlights the importance of structure and visual cues in supporting children with attention and organisation difficulties.
While visual supports are particularly beneficial for children with SEND, autism, ADHD, speech and language delays or sensory processing differences, they benefit all children in early years settings. They are a universal tool, not a specialist one.
Visual Supports and the EYFS Framework
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework places strong emphasis on communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, and creating enabling environments. Visual supports directly underpin all three of these prime areas.
By embedding visual resources into your everyday practice, you are not adding something extra to your workload — you are strengthening the foundations that the EYFS is built on.
How to Introduce Visual Supports in Your Setting
Getting started with visual supports doesn't need to be complicated. Here are a few practical steps:
- Start with routines. A simple visual timetable showing the key moments of the nursery day — arrival, circle time, snack, outdoor play, home time — gives children an immediate sense of security and predictability.
- Introduce feelings resources. A feelings board displayed at child height, with simple emotion faces, gives children the vocabulary to express how they feel without needing the words.
- Use choice boards. Allowing children to choose their activity using a visual board builds autonomy and reduces the frustration that comes from not being understood.
- Keep it consistent. Visual supports work best when they are used consistently by all staff and, where possible, shared with families so children see the same resources at home.
- Laminate for longevity. Printed resources that are laminated can be used again and again, making them a cost-effective investment for any setting.
For families using visual supports at home too, our guide on Morning Meltdowns to Calm Mornings covers exactly how to introduce visual routines in a home setting — great to share with parents.
Ready-Made EYFS Visual Resources
Creating visual supports from scratch takes time that most practitioners simply don't have. That's why we created the Reggie & Co. Nursery Visual Toolkit – Early Years Edition — a comprehensive set of 78 professionally designed A4 printable EYFS resources, covering everything from routine boards and feelings cards to reward systems, communication tools and practitioner record sheets.
Available with a Single Class licence or a Whole School licence — full details in our Classroom Licence Policy — the toolkit is designed to be printed, laminated and used straight away, with no design skills required.
For Multi-Academy Trusts and larger organisations, we offer personalised licensing. Get in touch to find out more.
Also supporting children as they move into primary school? Our Visual Toolkit – School Edition covers EYFS through to KS2 and SEN, using the same consistent Reggie & Co. design so children see familiar visual language as they transition from nursery to school. Find out more about visual supports in primary classrooms →
👉 Get the Nursery Visual Toolkit
🏫 Also need the School Edition?
Ready to Create a Calmer Nursery?
Visual supports don't need to be complicated, expensive or time-consuming to put together. With the right toolkit, you can create a warm, structured and inclusive early years environment — starting today.
The Reggie & Co. Nursery Visual Toolkit gives you everything you need in one ready-to-print download. No design skills required. No subscription. Just practical, beautiful resources that work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have visual supports for use at home?
Yes! We also offer the Visual Routine Toolkit – Home Edition, designed to support children with ADHD, neurodivergence and everyday routines in a home setting.
Do you have visual supports for primary school?
Yes! The Visual Toolkit – School Edition is a printable resource covering EYFS, KS1, KS2 and SEN, ideal for primary school classrooms.
What age are the nursery visual supports suitable for?
The Nursery Visual Toolkit is designed for children aged approximately 2–5. It is particularly well suited to children with autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences or other neurodivergent needs, as well as any young child who benefits from visual routine and structure.
What format are the resources?
All resources are digital downloads in PDF format, professionally designed at A4 size and ready to print, laminate and use straight away.
What licence do I need?
The Single Class licence covers one classroom or setting. The Whole School licence covers all staff and classes within one school or nursery. Full details are in our Classroom Licence Policy.
Do you offer licensing for Multi-Academy Trusts?
Yes — please get in touch for a personalised quote.
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