Synopsis: The Play Foundation series provides an exciting collection of play-based activities that support learning and development in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The focus throughout the book is on child initiated learning, with the practitioner guiding and supporting the play. There is help on setting up enabling environments, using indoor and outside areas. Suggestions are given for things to talk about as the children play and there are ideas for differentiation. Each activity contains a ‘Top Tip’ which focuses on the important themes of ‘A Unique Child’ and ‘Positive Relationships’. There is also a planning chart with links to the Early Learning Goals plus observation hints and photocopiable activity sheets for each theme. The theme of exploring materials is developed through chapters covering: looking at materials, changing materials, feeling materials, using and testing materials and the last chapter is about sand and water.

Review: This is one of twelve titles in the Play Foundation series. Each A4 page contains a lesson plan to cover one of the six areas of Learning and Development in the EYFS. The CD-ROM is integral to the book, providing useful photos, stories, music and interactive games. Together they provide activities for setting up quality play scenarios with an emphasis on child-led play. I was impressed how each activity encouraged independent learning with very little adult intervention. I believe this would be a very useful resource for teaching science to the foundation age groups. I was however, a little disappointed in the photocopiable sheets and felt they could have been a bit more exciting.

Buy this Book

2008-06-27