My Dd and I recently visited the Nursery School she will be attending in August and she found this particular activity fascinating -
It's a plasticky mesh with circular holes into which the child pushes various coloured pegs of different shapes, triangular, circular, rectangular and square-shaped.
If I could get one for home I can imagine hours of peace but unfortunately I've not been able to find it online as I don't know what it's called. I've also asked on the staffroom board but have asked here too as this board has more visitors. Thanks.