Nursery World - Playwork plus early years

I firmly believe the playwork and early years qualifications should be integrated, and that both sectors would greatly benefit if they were. 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.

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.

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