Ofsted confirms EYFS does not clash with play principles

The inspectorate has published a factsheet for the play sector called Regulating Play-based Provision.

The document confirms that play workers should not have to change their existing good practice in order to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which must be delivered by those working with under-fives.

"Play workers have been struggling with the idea of keeping detailed records on individual children, which is not good playwork practice," said Sue Saunders, workforce development manager for Bedfordshire Training and Assessment Centre.

"This factsheet confirms that for inspection purposes play workers need to observe and record as part of their normal reflective practice in order to provide effective play spaces, rather than recording individual learning, and that ‘play workers do not necessarily need to write down their observations'. This is in line with current National Occupational Standards for Playwork."