Rationale
‘Learning through play’ is an acknowledged phenomenon in early childhood. This module will explore whether ‘play’ and ‘learning’ interact to further children’s development. Students will be encouraged to reflect on and explore historical and cultural perspectives on play and observed play behaviour, as well as significant theoretical views on the role of play in a child’s development. The importance of the social context, and the contribution of adults and early years’ professionals in promoting inclusive approaches to learning while taking account of children’s holistic needs, is examined. Practice implications are considered in terms of the curricular frameworks used in early years settings. Overall the module aims to explore the relevance of theory to practice and extent to which young children ‘learn through play’.