I appreciate that play values are strongly held by playworkers, and rightly so, but do we not all believe that play is absolutely central to children's well-being? The essence of play is the same at whatever age. Through play, children learn about themselves and the world around them, learn how to relate to other children and adults , and build confidence and self-esteem as they can try things out without fear of failure.
The Foundation Stage curriculum places great emphasis on play. The way we plan and monitor play may be more structured in early years settings than in out-of-school clubs, but this is because it is the main way children learn at this stage. Once children go on to more formal learning in school, the emphasis changes and the adult's role changes. But the essence of play is still the same.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here