Nursery World - Put play on the curriculum, say educationalists

The role of play in the learning process was the central theme of a national conference attended by more than 100 early years inspectors and advisers. The annual conference of the National Association of Educational Inspectors, Advisers and Consultants Early Childhood Education Group, held last weekend at Brockenhurst in Hampshire, was addressed by academics, consultants and leading practitioners in the field.

The annual conference of the National Association of Educational Inspectors, Advisers and Consultants Early Childhood Education Group, held last weekend at Brockenhurst in Hampshire, was addressed by academics, consultants and leading practitioners in the field.

Conference organiser Carolyn Poulter, senior advising officer for early education in Hampshire, said, 'The conference confirmed everybody's view that time and space for play must be found in the curriculum so that it can reinforce the Early Learning Goals.'

Elizabeth Wood, reader in early childhood education at Exeter University, told the conference that schools should consider developing a strategy for teaching and learning through play and appointing a play co-ordinator to ensure that ethos was developed across the school.

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