Commotion Q4 2025 Roundup: Awards, New Launches & Community Impact
Foreword from Our CEO, James Shepherd
As we look back on the final quarter of the year, I feel incredibly proud of what the Commotion team and our wider community have achieved together. Q4 brought with it a remarkable combination of innovation, recognition and meaningful impact. From award winning tickit® products to exciting new partnerships and a host of charitable initiatives, this period has shown the very best of what our team strives for every day.
Our mission has always been clear: to inspire learning through play with high quality, thoughtfully designed educational resources. Seeing our products celebrated by industry experts, early years professionals and families reaffirms the value and purpose that sit at the heart of everything we do. Equally important is the work happening beyond our product range, from supporting national charities to strengthening community relationships and advocating sustainability.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to our partners, retailers, distributors and the educators who continue to put their trust in us. Your feedback, collaboration and support help shape the direction of our business and push us to innovate year after year.
As we enter 2026, we are more ambitious than ever. We look forward to expanding our guest brand programme, building new partnerships and introducing even more products that spark curiosity, creativity and confidence in children. I cannot wait to share the next chapter with you.
James Shepherd
CEO, Commotion Ltd
Commotion Q4 Round Up: Awards and Exciting New Launches
As we step into a new year, we are reflecting on a hugely rewarding final quarter at Commotion. From award wins and innovative new product launches to meaningful charitable initiatives and national media features, Q4 was packed with positive momentum for Commotion and our tickit brand.
Here is a look back at the highlights…
October: Innovation, Community Support and New Releases
We began the quarter by sharing a heartwarming case study from Pembury School in Kent, where reception pupils have been building balance, confidence and resilience using the award-winning tickit® Whizz Balance Bike. It was inspiring to see how this resource is supporting physical development in early years settings.
Our commitment to community support continued as we proudly donated a Sensory Mood Table and a range of sensory toys to Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Charity. Hearing how East Surrey Hospital and its sister hospitals are already benefiting from these resources was truly uplifting.
New Product Launch: tickit A2 and A3 Colour Changing Light Panels
October also saw the arrival of our new tickit A2 and A3 Colour Changing Light Panels. These upgraded light panels offer eight colour options, improved controls, a lock function and a safe magnetic cable, creating a versatile and engaging learning tool for classrooms and homes.
November: Awards Successes, Supporting Charities and Exciting Partnerships
Awards season brought a wave of recognition. Several tickit products were shortlisted across the MadeForMums Awards, Progressive Preschool Awards and the Teach Early Years Awards. It was a wonderful acknowledgement of our team's dedication to designing resources that inspire learning through play.
CONNETIX Partnership Announcement
A key moment for us was the announcement of our new partnership with CONNETIX, now available as a guest brand on the tickit UK website. Their high-quality magnetic tiles support creativity, STEAM learning and collaborative play, and are a perfect fit for our tickit brand and website.
Award Wins
The month was filled with award wins, including:
Teach Early Years Awards
The Whizz Balance Bike earned a category win, celebrated for promoting full body motion, coordination and spatial awareness.
Progressive Preschool Awards
Our Wooden Gem Building Blocks Super Set won Best STEM/Educational Range. This was a proud milestone for the product and our whole team.
MadeForMums Awards
Editor's Choice: Wooden Enchanted Figures - praised for their versatility, creativity and open-ended learning value
Gold Award: Sensory Reflective Colour Mystery Balls
Gold Award: Safari Animal Layer Puzzle - Best Sustainable Toy
Bronze Award: Safari Animal Layer Puzzle - Best Wooden Toy
Glowing reviews from both parents and judges highlighted durability, educational value and long-term play potential.
Media Features
The Woodland Trail Treehouse appeared in the Absolutely Mama Christmas Gift Guide, recognised for its imaginative, eco-friendly and sensory rich design.
In November we were very excited to be featured in the Independent's gift guide "16 best Christmas Gifts for 4-year-olds to spark creativity and imaginative play". This festive feature focused on gifts to spark the imagination and stand the test of time and play. Our tickit Woodland Trail Treehouse was highlighted and recommended for its open-end nature, beautiful detailing and solid craftsmanship.
November Product Launch
November also brought exciting product developments, including the launch of the SiliShapes Hands and Feet Set, designed to support sensory learning and fine and gross motor development.
Charitable Initiatives
November was also a significant month for charity work. Our team raised funds for Cancer Research UK, Breast Cancer Now, Movember, the Lupus Trust and the Kent Autistic Trust. We continued supporting early years charities and donated resources to the Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity. Through the RPD Foundation, we maintained our commitment to helping vital local services.
We also celebrated over 10,000 trees planted thanks to our partnership with Office Angels and Trees for Life.
To round off the month, we shared a new blog on mindful play featuring our Gem Cube and Gem Circle Mirror Trays.
December: Further Media Coverage and New Product Launches
December opened with the exciting news that Commotion appeared on the cover of Toys n Playthings Magazine. Our CEO James Shepherd reflected on a standout year for tickit, highlighting award successes, product innovation and the continued development of our guest brand programme. The article also explored our plans for 2026, including expanding partnerships and enhancing our product offering.
We were also featured in the main magazine content, where Toys n Playthings showcased the creative developments taking place at Commotion and the momentum that will carry us into the new year.
We were delighted to have finished the year with a feature in the December issue of Nursery Today. We have been featured throughout this publication, look out for us on page 6, 19, 20 and 23.
December Product Launches
December saw the launch of four exciting new tickit products, which was a fantastic way to end the year. These were:
Butterfly Lacing Jewels
A beautiful set made from FSC certified beechwood, featuring numbered jewels and versatile lacing holes. Designed to support fine motor skills, number recognition and open-ended play.
Wooden Jewel Dominoes
Large, tactile dominoes with gem insets, ideal for early maths skills, sensory play and imaginative setups. Crafted from FSC certified wood for long lasting durability.
Gem Columns Set
Bringing colour, light, and hands-on learning together, this captivating set of 25 crystal-inspired acrylic columns is crafted from solid translucent acrylic. Each cylinder features smooth edges and comes in five vibrant colours, arranged in graduated sizes and presented in a bespoke wooden storage tray with evenly spaced slots for easy organisation.
Sensory Dual Rainbow Cascade
Designed to support calm engagement and exploratory learning, the tickit Sensory Dual Rainbow Cascade is a visually captivating resource for early years settings, classrooms, and retail ranges focused on sensory and STEM play.
All sets are now available for dispatch with high quality imagery and product specifications ready for retailers and educators.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Q4 was one of our most successful and inspiring periods to date. From award winning products and exciting partnerships to community outreach and national media coverage, the final quarter of the year demonstrated the strength of our team and our commitment to meaningful learning through play.
As we move into 2026, we look forward to expanding our guest brand programme, developing new collaborations and continuing to create high quality educational resources that spark curiosity and confidence in children.
Thank you to our partners, retailers, educators and supporters for being part of this fantastic year. We cannot wait to move into 2026 with you all.
Join Us on Our Journey
Interested in stocking tickit products or learning more about our guest brand programme? Get in touch with our team today to discover how we can work together in 2026.