SPPA encouraged by Education Secretary's support for play-based learning

SPPA is delighted to hear Mike Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, state during a visit to a nursery that the play-based approach to learning is showing benefits in the crucial early years of  children's lives as the Curriculum for Excellence framework is embraced and becomes embedded in practice in early years settings.

SPPA has long recognised and promoted the powerful contribution play makes to young children's all round learning and development. Community based  playgroups, toddler groups and under fives settings use play based learning and provide rich play environments to stimulate and interest children to explore, experiment, practise and acquire skills, knowledge and understanding, and attributes which prepare them for learning throughout life.

Underpinning our work with community based early years services is the belief that play engages children in their own learning, enabling them to express their level of knowledge and understanding, their ideas and feelings in many different ways and it helps them to come to terms with the world in which they live. Our experience, over 40 years, has shown that children have a natural inclination to play and that through play they are encouraged to grow and develop at their own pace and supported to gain the confidence to try things out and cope with new challenges.