Playwork EYFS guide by SkillsActive comes 'too late'
A play expert has criticised new guidance on the EYFS published by play skills council SkillsActive as 'too little and a year too late'.
SkillsActive published the guidance in July because some holiday clubs and after-school providers have stopped taking children under six due to the demands of the EYFS.
However, Shelly Newstead, managing director of Common Threads, a play training organisation, said, 'The briefing is a genuine attempt by SkillsActive to do something helpful in a crisis situation, but it is too late and it hasn't tried hard enough. It is a wasted opportunity. The EYFS has been statutory since September 2008 and summer play schemes have already started.'
Playworkers told Nursery World last month that they do not feel that their approach to children's play is understood by Ofsted, and some said that they would no longer be taking children within the early years age range (Analysis, 10 June). They complained of finding it time consuming to complete paperwork such as the Self Evaluation Form, and some said that staff were having to work late at home to complete it.
SkillsActive has said that most of the issues reported by the sector concern the way individual Ofsted inspectors interpret the EYFS learning and development requirements. Its guidance aims to give examples of how play settings can meet the EYFS requirements in a way that is compatible with the playwork principles.
Paul Bonel, head of children and young people at SkillsActive, said, 'We recognise that the debate on the appropriateness of the EYFS in relation to playwork settings is continuing. However, given the demand from the sector and the need for employers to prepare for Ofsted inspections, we have taken the decision to publish the guidelines.'
Ms Newstead added, 'We should not have reached a situation where young children are not being allowed to join playgroups. Also, the guidance doesn't offer a playwork approach. It is like they have tried to adapt the playwork principles to the EYFS and it does not work.'
The DCSF will publish guidance on the EYFS for playworkers within the next few months.
Further information
Early Years Register and the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage, www.skills active.com//playwork
