Early Years Foundation Stage

Early Years Foundation Stage and playwork settings

The ethos of Playwork is to facilitate play opportunities that are chosen freely by the children.  There are a number of areas of the EYFS that are unclear from a playwork perspective and open to interpretation, and we have been pressing the DCSF to clarify these.

The most important issues under discussion are:

1. The tension between ‘Planned, purposeful play’ and the Playwork Principles
2. The balance between child-led and adult initiated activities
3. Open access
4. Qualifications

We have been working with Play England to write an in-depth briefing, but these and other issues above need clarifying before the document is ready for release. We have released a joint factual summary paper.

Many local authorities and play associations have produced guidance for the EYFS, and one that may be useful is produced by Barnet Play Association, who can be contacted at maria@barnetplay.org

The DCSF assures us that as long as Playworkers are adhering to the Playwork Principles they will be in a good position to meet the EYFS requirements. Play settings do however still have to deliver the EYFS.

SkillsActive believe that although attending information sessions to familiarise themselves with the EYFS may be beneficial, playwork practitioners need not engage in any further training in face to face practice over and above that required for their usual Playwork practice.

In addition, the following should be noted:

• The assessment scales (appendix 1 of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage – SFEYFS) will be completed by the primary setting where the child spends the majority of their time between 8am to 6pm (2.22 SFEYFS). Given that play settings operate before and after school and during the holidays, they are not going to be the primary setting.
• For information about holiday playschemes, click here

The Frequently Asked Questions also contain a lot of information on this subject.

For more information on the EYFS please visit the DCSF website.

Play Provision and Ofsted Early Years Foundation Stage Inspections

Ofsted are currently inspecting all settings registered on the Early Years Register, which includes play provision which has children in the Early Years.

Reports coming in from those who have been inspected reveal inconsistencies, as well as in some cases a lack of awareness of play and playwork.

In the meantime it is important that play providers do not compromise working to the Playwork Principles. If any play settings feel they have been unfairly assessed or have come across issues they feel need addressing, you can contact Chris Martin, National Policy Manager, (chris.martin@skillsactive.com) who is putting together issues to bring up with Ofsted. It is useful if you can provide specifics, including the name of the setting, inspector, date, and specific details of the issues.