The Importance of Play-Based Learning in Nursery Education
At Eden Early Years, play is more than just fun - it’s the foundation of lifelong learning.
In the early years of life, children learn best not through formal instruction but through meaningful play experiences, which is strongly supported by decades of research in developmental psychology, neuroscience, and early childhood education. At Eden Early Years, we wholeheartedly embrace a play-based approach to learning, grounded in the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and deeply rooted in our unique nature ethos.
Why Play Matters
Play is how children explore, experiment, and understand the world around them. It fosters creativity, supports emotional wellbeing, encourages problem-solving, and lays the groundwork for developing communication, social, and physical skills. When children are immersed in play, they’re not just having fun, they’re building the cognitive and emotional tools that will support them for life.
Our Nature-Based Approach
At Eden Early Years, the natural world is our classroom. We believe that connecting children with nature from a young age helps nurture a sense of wonder, curiosity, and calm. Whether it’s splashing in puddles, building dens, or foraging for leaves and bugs, outdoor play offers rich, sensory experiences that engage children on every level.
Our natural spaces and trips outside the nursery offer endless opportunities for child-led exploration and imaginative play, promoting physical development and environmental awareness. These experiences also help children develop resilience, independence, and confidence as they engage with the ever-changing outdoor environment.
Linking Play to the EYFS Framework
The EYFS framework sets the standards for learning, development, and care in early years settings, and play is central to every area of it. From communication and language to understanding the world, each area of the EYFS can be explored and extended through thoughtfully planned, play-based experiences.
By observing children's interests and extending their play with purposeful resources and adult support, we ensure that learning is always relevant, meaningful, and exciting.
Following Children’s Interests
No two children are the same, and that’s why we take time to get to know each child as an individual. Our curriculum is shaped around children’s unique interests, which means their play is always child-led and responsive. One week we might be digging for dinosaurs; the next we could be setting up a pretend café. Wherever their imagination takes them, our skilled practitioners are there to support, extend, and gently guide their learning.
This responsive approach helps children feel seen, valued, and understood, which is an essential foundation for confidence, self-expression, and a lifelong love of learning.
A Curriculum of Connection
Our curriculum is not a checklist; it’s a journey of connection: to nature, to others, and to themselves. Through play, children at Eden Early Years develop key skills, foster positive relationships, and gain the emotional security needed to thrive both now and in the future.
By blending the EYFS framework, our nature ethos, and a child-led curriculum, we ensure every child gets the very best start, one filled with joy, discovery, and growth.
