Play Based Learning in Irish Senior Infant Classes: Teachers' Views

Play is widely recognized as a major route to learning, especially in children?s early years. However, although there is a general understanding that learning through play is the main emphasis in early childhood education settings, recent research studies pertaining to the role, purpose and value of play in early childhood education and care curriculum continue to be debated upon. The insistence on the use of play-based learning in early childhood education in Ireland is well documented as evident from the curricula documents. However, literature review on the Irish early childhood education suggests that learning that is based on play especially in infant classes is under threat. The perceived situation is that, the teachers are either underutilizing or simply not using the play-based approaches due to various reasons. This book, therefore, provides an insight on the use of play-based learning approaches in the Irish Senior Infant Classes from the teachers? perspectives. The findings from the research study are useful to professionals in Early Childhood Education and Care, or anyone else who may be considering venturing into the field of early childhood education and development