The Importance of Play

Children are naturally drawn to play experiences and concentrate for long periods in their self-chosen play. Play offers the chance for children to be in control, feel free and competent within relevant, meaningful and open-ended experiences, for example reading and writing for a real purpose and without pressure or fear of getting it wrong (such as taking a message when on the telephone in role-play or taking on a powerful role such as the mum, dad or doctor within role-play settings).

In their play children are able to meet their own needs and to make sense of their own, often confusing world. Play involves exploring feelings, ideas, materials, relationships and roles, making connections between one experience and another and representing ideas, objects and environments. Opportunities in play to use one thing to represent another, for example, a block to represent a telephone, lay important foundations for the later use of abstract symbols, such as letters and numbers to represent ideas.

Play encourages creativity and imagination. It is intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically and linguistically challenging and encourages children to play alone and with others. It can offer all children the chance to explore and learn at their own pace and stage of development.

Play is natural, play is a basic need, children are born to play, everyone needs play

Is the outside play-space used all year round?

We like to use the outside play-space all year round to offer a wide range of learning experiences and opportunities for all children. We can take activities that we do inside, outside, and children like nothing better than to be outside in the fresh air.

We have a sand-pit, mud kitchen, messy play activities, large physical equipment, and we can adapt the play experiences on a daily basis and to the children’s interests.

As the weather can be unpredictable some of the time, please bear this in mind and dress your child in appropriate clothing for the different weather conditions. Please provide a sunhat and a pair of wellies (clearly marked with your child’s name) for them to use during their time at Pre-school.