Nursery World - Leaders in play

I was disturbed by Dr Anne Ince Vize's letter (11 April) about the contrasts she has experienced between school nurseries and pre-school playgroups. Children under five, whether in reception, nursery, playgroup or any other form of educational provision, are all supposed to be following the Foundation Stage curriculum, learning through play activities. I was saddened to find that Dr Ince Vize characterises the provision of playgroups as 'more structured' and 'academic'. Playgroups have long been the champions of the 'learning through play' approach, and have worked hard to raise awareness of the harm formal and abstract activities can do when presented inappropriately early.

Children under five, whether in reception, nursery, playgroup or any other form of educational provision, are all supposed to be following the Foundation Stage curriculum, learning through play activities. I was saddened to find that Dr Ince Vize characterises the provision of playgroups as 'more structured' and 'academic'. Playgroups have long been the champions of the 'learning through play' approach, and have worked hard to raise awareness of the harm formal and abstract activities can do when presented inappropriately early.

Of course, many pre-schools in the maintained, private and voluntary sectors are under pressure from a variety of sources to 'add value' to their sessions by presenting paper and pencil activities which look to an untrained eye like 'academic' activities.

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