4 April 2023

At Scallywags Nursery children are at the centre of what we do and we believe that children learn best when they are interested, inquisitive and engaged, which at this age and stage of development, is best achieved through play.

The pedagogy of play is an approach to education that recognises the importance of play in the learning and development of young children. This approach is particularly relevant in early years settings, where children are in their formative years and require a developmentally appropriate curriculum that supports their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth.

Play is a natural activity for children, and it is through play that they explore and make sense of the world around them. Play allows children to develop their creativity, problem-solving skills, and imagination. It also provides opportunities for children to engage in social interactions, develop their language and communication skills, and learn about themselves and others.

In early years settings, the pedagogy of play involves creating a learning environment that is child-led and encourages active exploration and experimentation. The role of the practitioner is to facilitate children’s play experiences by providing a range of materials and resources that support their learning and development.

One of the key principles of the pedagogy of play is that children learn best when they are actively engaged in meaningful experiences. Therefore, the learning experiences provided should be relevant and meaningful to children’s lives and interests. This can be achieved through a play-based curriculum that integrates learning objectives with children’s play activities.

The pedagogy of play also emphasises the importance of children’s agency and autonomy in their learning. Children should be given the opportunity to make choices and decisions about their play activities, and their ideas and perspectives should be valued and respected.

In early years settings the pedagogy of play recognises the importance of play in supporting children’s holistic development and provides a framework for creating a learning environment that is engaging, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate.

The Pedagogy of play in early years blog written by Demi