Research and analysis

Teaching and play in the early years: a balancing act?

Early years good practice survey exploring perceptions of teaching and play.

Documents

Teaching and play in the early years – a balancing act?

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Details

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector commissioned this good practice survey to gather evidence to address the recurring myth that teaching and play are separate, disconnected endeavours in the early years.

Her Majesty’s Inspectors visited a sample of the most successful early years providers to observe the interplay between teaching and play and evaluate the difference chosen approaches were making to the learning and development of disadvantaged children, especially funded two-year-olds.

All providers, which included maintained schools, pre-schools, children’s centres and childminders, were selected because they were successful in achieving good or better outcomes for children in some of the most deprived areas of the country.

Published 13 July 2015