EYPDP team contributes key insights to The Play Commission’s report on children’s wellbeing
The Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP) team has proudly contributed important insights to The Play Commission’s forthcoming report on children’s wellbeing.
Authored by Catherine Lenahan, Local Authority Support Manager at EDT, with valuable input from Marc Frost, Anneka Russell, and Catherine Kickham, the submission highlights the pivotal role of play in supporting children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.
Catherine, an experienced teacher and early years education advisor specialising in communication, language, and literacy, led the effort to compile a thorough summary of evidence.
The insights shared emphasise the need for a well-supported, diverse approach to play in early education settings: an approach that not only promotes holistic child development but seeks to address the issue of ‘play deprivation’, which can have long-term consequences on children’s brain development and social skills.
Key highlights
Key highlights from the report include a call for more research to understand how play benefits learning in educational settings, the challenges in play-based learning, the need for more trained practitioners, and innovative play approaches.
Our evidence concludes with recommendations for the Play Commission’s consideration, which include:
- develop tiered training programmes for practitioners, teachers, and caregivers
- clarify definitions of ‘play’ and ‘school readiness’ in educational policy
- invest in play resources and facilities, with a focus on supporting free play in areas of disadvantage.
Learn more about the report and the call for evidence here.
Learn more about EDT’s work in the early years sector here.
Meet the Team
Catherine Lenahan
Marc Frost
Anneka Russell
Catherine Kickham