At the heart of the Foundation Stage is a recognition that children learn through play. Are reception classes making the major adjustments required? Mary Evans reports
Learning through play, the mantra of early years experts often dismissed by parents, heads and school governors, is now firmly established at the heart of the new national curriculum for the Foundation Stage.
Previously, reception class staff have found themselves under pressure to adopt a formal approach to teaching. Instead of being able to foster active learning they have been obliged to deliver a beginner's version of Key Stage 1. Some have complained about not being taken seriously by their colleagues while others have seen themselves as the Cinderellas of the school system. So, is there a fairy-tale ending?
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