Ofsted urged to raise play knowledge

Many playworkers say they have struggled to comply with the learning anddevelopment requirements of the EYFS so far, despite the governmentinsisting that the early years curriculum does not compromiseprofessional play principles, which promote risk and children'sself-discovery.

Ofsted will be issuing a factsheet to the play sector in the next month,explaining what they should expect from EYFS inspections.

But playworkers argue the inspectors need to understand play better.Meynell Walter, director of out-of-school club Meynell Games Group, saidhis setting was rated "good" on most aspects without him having tochange his practice. But he was left frustrated by the inspector's lackof play knowledge.

"I asked him what we needed to do to be 'outstanding'. He didn't know,"said Walter. "Ofsted inspectors do not have enough information aboutwhat happens in a play setting to make accurate judgments about when aprovision is outstanding."

Andy Grout, chief executive of Milton Keynes Play Association, welcomedthe factsheet, but said there needed to be a "meeting of minds". "Fromtalking to our settings, I think Ofsted is still looking at things froman educational perspective, not a play perspective," he added.

An Ofsted spokeswoman said: "All Ofsted inspectors have receivedcomprehensive training on the EYFS and are updated regularly on widergovernment initiatives about the care and learning of children."