Related Pages
Early Years Foundation Stage
The Importance of Play in Early Years
Play underpins the EYFS. It also underpins learning and all aspects of children’s development.
Through play, children develop language skills, their emotions and creativity, social and
intellectual skills. For most children their play is natural and spontaneous although some children
may need extra help from adults. Play takes place indoors and outdoors and it is in these
different environments that children explore and discover their immediate world.
It is here they practice new ideas and skills, they take risks, show imagination and solve
problems on their own or with others. The role that adults have is crucial. Adults provide time
and space and appropriate resources to inspire play and fire children’s imaginations. They
observe play and join in when invited, watching and listening before intervening. They value
play and provide safe but challenging environments that support and extend learning and
development.
Providing high quality planned experiences for children’s play is an important way for adults to
support children’s learning that is both enjoyable and challenging. When children play, they are
learning at the highest level. Play can extend certain areas of their learning – for example,
developing language skills by promoting talk between children or introducing new vocabulary
that they use and act out in their play. One example of a planned experience for older children
in the EYFS would be setting up a health-centre in a classroom. Children enjoy finding out
about stethoscopes and X-rays, role playing different jobs, diagnosing a sore throat or
bandaging a 'broken' arm. This playful approach to learning builds on children’s interests,
responds to their ideas for play and also allows scope for structured activities to teach
specific skills and knowledge.
Intent Implementation Impact
EYFS Characteristics of Learning
