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Planning for Play in the

Reception Year

Hampshire County Council

NQT Conference

Friday 3rd October 2014

In today’s session:

• Principles of the EYFS

• Why Play?

• How to plan for high quality Play

• Making learning ‘Irresistible’

• Being ‘playful’

• Knowing their interests

• Role of the Adult

• Environment

Key Government Documents

• EYFS Stage Themes and Principles

• Statutory Framework for the EYFS

• Development Matters

• EYFS Outcomes

• EYFS Profile Handbook

• EYFS Assessment and reporting

arrangements

• EYFS Guide for parents

Understanding

Development Matters

How? What? EYFS Curriculum

Why Play?

THINKING TASK

Play is an essential part of

every child's life and is vital

for the enjoyment of

childhood as well as social,

emotional, intellectual and

physical development.

The importance of play for young

children should not be

underestimated. Extensive research

has proven that young children

learn best when they are actively

engaged within play because of

their high levels of interest and

motivation.

Research suggests that high

quality play:

• increases children’s self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-

respect

• improves and maintain their physical and mental health

• gives the opportunity to mix with others

• allows children to increase their confidence through

developing new skills

• promotes their imagination, independence and creativity

• offers opportunities for children of all abilities and

backgrounds to play cooperatively

• provides opportunities for developing social skills and learning

• builds resilience through risk taking and challenge, problem

solving, and dealing with new and novel situations

• providse opportunities to learn about their environment and

the wider community.

Learning through playfulness is at

centre of all of what we do in

EYFS. Teachers manipulate play

to teach children new skills.

How do we plan for high

quality play?

Continuous Provision Learning through high quality

indoor & outdoor learning environment

Enhanced Play through resource stimulus,

interactive display, visits & visitors

Continuous Provision through high quality

indoor & outdoor learning environment

Adult Directed Play

through focused

discussion & group activities

Enhanced Play through resource stimulus,

interactive display, visits & visitors

Continuous Provision through high quality

indoor & outdoor learning environment

Irresistible learning

‘Achievement is excellent in the Early Years Foundation Stage. This is because the development of reading, writing and speaking

and listening is so effectively addressed, particularly through carefully structured and purposeful play.’

OFSTED 2013

Being ‘playful’

Teaching of early mark making in a fun,

‘playful’ and creative way!

DOUGH GYM

Activity It is Summer term in Reception. Three boys are

playing on the bikes outdoors during child-initiated learning time. They are having a lovely time riding their bikes around the roundabout again and again. However, the

boys have been doing this for some time and their play and learning has stagnated.

How could you get them writing?

Knowing their interests and

moving learning forward in

child initiated time

The role of the Adult in child

initiated learning

• Co-player

• Observer

• Extender

EYFS practitioners manipulate children’s play to teach them new skills.

THINKING TASK: What are the children learning?

Environment

Display

Useful websites:

Foundation Years

www.foundationyears.org.uk

Foundation Stage Forum

http://eyfs.info/home

Alistair Bryce Clegg

www.abcdoes.com

Surviving your NQT year

• Attend termly YR network meetings

• Book yourself onto ‘Learning, Playing and

Interacting’

• Go and visit an LFSP setting to observe

outstanding practice

• Make sure you rest for at least 1 day a week!

• Keep the children at the centre of all that

you do.

‘Achievement is excellent in the Early Years

Foundation Stage. This is because the

development of reading, writing and speaking

and listening is so effectively addressed,

particularly through carefully structured and

purposeful play.’

OFSTED 2013

EMAIL: t.barber@st-thomasmores.hants.sch.uk WEBSITE: www.st-thomasmores.hants.sch.uk St Thomas More’s Catholic Primary School, Havant, PO9 3DR