Play and Practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage

Play is an underlying theme of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) but it is often a challenge for practitioners to provide a play-based curriculum. This book provides guidance on how practitioners can focus on play and meet the requirements of the EYFS.

Play is an underlying theme of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) but it is often a challenge for practitioners to provide a play based curriculum. This book investigates the values and beliefs that underpin play and demonstrates through case studies how play opportunities can be observed, planned and assessed in a meaningful context for the child.

Organized into four sections that mirror the EYFS, this book takes you through the curriculum framework demonstrating how play underpins each of these principles and is the common thread that links them together.

Chapters include:

- celebrating children′s play choices

- ways to work with parents

- inspiring environments for inspirational play

- the role of play in supporting key relationships

- creative play for flexible learning

Incorporating the voices of Early Years practitioners, this book takes the unique approach of analysing the academic theory, showing how this can be put into practice and then suggesting activities to facilitate reflective practice and professional development.

Useful to all those studying on any Early Years course, the book is particularly relevant to those leading practice in early years settings and those working towards Early Years Professional Status (EYPS).

Introduction - Natalie Canning
PART ONE: A UNIQUE CHILD
Case Study: Playing with Cardboard Boxes - Natalie Canning
Identifying Unique Qualities in Play - Natalie Canning
Celebrating Children′s Play Choices - Natalie Canning
Including and Enabling All Children as Individuals - Mandy Andrews
PART TWO: POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS
Case Study: Play and Family Support in a Children′s Centre - Rosie Walker
The Role of Play in Supporting Positive Relationships - Mandy Andrews
Parental Partnerships - Michael Reed and Rosie Walker
Making Connections between Home, the Setting and Key Workers - Sue Callan with Carole Ellis and Helen Richards
PART THREE: ENABLING ENVIRONMENTS
Case Study: Using Indoor and Outdoor Spaces - Natalie Canning
Exploring the Possibilities of the Play Environment - Natalie Canning
Play Environments in Practice - Natalie Canning
Inspiring Environments for Inspirational Play - Natalie Canning
PART FOUR: LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Case Study: Going to the Moon - Natalie Canning
Playing and Learning: Ways of Being in Action - Karen Appleby
Creative Play for Flexible Learning - Natalie Canning
The Need to Measure Play? - Natalie Canning
Conclusion - Natalie Canning