Cokethorpe Pre-Prep provides the freedom to explore within a framework that benefits each child, ensuring the foundations for learning and development throughout their time at school, and beyond.
Play-based learning, whether child-led or guided, is a way of enhancing learning opportunities which is used in conjunction with the more formal aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. There are clear goals and targets for children to meet; learning to read and write letters, numbers and introducing scientific concepts for example. The Early Learning goals are packed with information that children need to learn and retain. In our experience at Cokethorpe, a well-managed play-based approach leads to better outcomes for pupils because they are motivated and engaged.
The main thing that differentiates play-based learning from other types of learning is that it is child-directed and child-led. It is not something that has been asked of the child but is based on their interests and what they want to learn about. It is self-chosen, enjoyable, interesting, stimulating, unstructured, engaging, involving lots of language and conversations. It promotes so much of what the Early Years Curriculum is about, especially the three prime areas: communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, and physical development. Children are able to focus on a self-chosen task far longer than an adult-directed task. Early years education is about the whole child.
It promotes language skills because the children have to talk to each other and are continually problem solving. It instils a confidence in them and helps to deal with conflict as they have to negotiate with each other. It develops motivation and curiosity, develops friendships, and teaches empathy.
Head of Prep at Cokethorpe, Mrs Black, is a firm advocate of play-based learning. Children learn best when they are enjoying what they are doing. Obviously, as children progress through the School, learning becomes more structured but, through our creative curriculum, the principles are extended promoting continued exploration and problem-solving through relevant topics. Through this approach, children progress into the Prep School with the skills and confidence to excel, and our onward programme ensures that the pupils continue to move forward with their learning at an advanced level to the national curriculum.
Find out more about Cokethorpe School, a co-educational day school, educating children between the ages of four and eighteen
