From Booklet to ‘Circular Book’: Innovation in Early Years Education

From Booklet to ‘Circular Book’: Innovation in Early Years Education

The traditional booklet has long been a go-to format for communicating important child development and early years guidance. However, Development Wheels™ have taken this concept one step further by reshaping how we share information. Instead of flipping through page after page, the ‘wheel’ concept presents an interactive, rotating platform that brings tips and milestones to life for both parents and professionals.​

Enhanced Engagement through Circular Design

This circular design is more than just a gimmick—it actively encourages engagement. By simply rotating the wheel, users can uncover concise, focused content on specific areas of child development without wading through endless text. Parents juggling busy schedules appreciate being able to pinpoint the exact details they need, whilst practitioners and educators find that this format facilitates quick referencing during training sessions or when working directly with children.​

Inviting Exploration and Practicality

Furthermore, the tactile nature of a ‘circular book’ invites exploration. Children themselves become curious, drawn to the novelty of turning a colourful, spinning guide. The wipe-clean surface adds another layer of practicality, ensuring Development Wheels™ remain a durable resource in classrooms, children’s centres and family homes alike.
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A Shift Towards Dynamic Educational Resources

The transition from traditional booklet to interactive wheel design signals a broader shift in early years education—a move towards resources that engage, inform and adapt to real-world settings. By integrating specialist content with an innovative format, Development Wheels™ embody this evolution, providing a dynamic way to share knowledge that benefits not just the child, but every adult supporting their learning journey.​

For more information about Development Wheels™, visit our home page. Explore our full range of titles, including the early years collection, health and well-being collection, school age collection, and subject-based collection. For organisations interested in customised resources, learn about our customised Development Wheels. To understand the background and development of our products, visit our background page. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact us through our contact page.

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Our Development Wheel Collections

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Questions and Answers

1. What are Development Wheels™?

Development Wheels™ are unique, circular resources designed to provide information, ideas and guidance on various child development, health and family support topics. Each wheel is written by specialists and practitioners, making them accessible and relevant to parents, carers, health visitors, childminders, teachers and others working with children.

2. How do they work?

Each Development Wheel™ consists of three parts, featuring a rotating inner section. As you turn this inner section, information appears through a viewing window at the top. Both sides contain useful information: for example, our ‘Birth to Five Years’ wheel has age-related sections. One side highlights developmental milestones and suggests ways for parents or professionals to support a child, while the reverse provides advice on keeping children healthy and safe through their first five years.

3. Who can benefit from Development Wheels™?

They are ideal for a wide range of users, including parents, carers, health visitors, childminders, teachers, early years practitioners, students, and others working in childcare, health and family support. Because the content is created by experts, they are both practical for everyday family use and beneficial as a professional reference tool.

4. What sizes are available?

Standard Development Wheels™ (approximately 230mm): These are our subject-based titles, easy to carry around and wipe-clean for regular use."

"Super-size Practitioner Development Wheels™ (440mm): Larger wheels containing more detailed information, ideal as a comprehensive reference for early years professionals working within settings such as children’s centres, nurseries and group environments.

5. What topics do the wheels cover?

Currently, there are 23 standard Development Wheels™ titles (and more in the pipeline) covering early years development, speech and language, outdoor play, health topics like pre-birth and postnatal support, maths and reading, teenage years and more. There are also specialist titles such as the Schemas Development Wheels™, created to help understand and support children’s schemas.

6. Can they be customised with my organisation’s branding?

Yes. You can have your own logo and branding on the back of any standard Development Wheels™, and even adjust the colours to match your organisation’s style. This allows you to share important information with families and the community while promoting your brand.

7. Is there a minimum order for customised Development Wheels™?

Yes, you can order customised copies (with your logo on the back) in quantities as low as 100 wheels. But for really big savings on the unit price, with unit costs that are lower than our online prices, we recommend a quantity of at least 1000 copies. That’s because the cost per wheel decreases with larger orders, making it a cost-effective ‘branded’ solution for local authorities, family support organisations, health services and educational establishments.

8. Can I use my organisation's purchase order (PO) system to place an order?

Yes, but it is best if you contact us first. That way, we can give you all the details you require to place your order. Alternatively, you can make your initial purchases online now through this website.

9. Can I request samples before placing a large order?

The quickest way to see our Development Wheels™ is to purchase samples online now through our website. If you later place a larger order, we offer a scaled refund based on your original sample purchase.

Still have questions? We're here to help! Contact us using the button below, and our team will be happy to assist you. 👇

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