Mandy Andrews is a senior lecturer in Early Childhood at the University of Worcester on both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Formerly a Play Officer for a local authority she has a range of children’s play experience from running an adventure playground and environmental play activities, through to community play projects and running a large Children’s Centre in Cornwall before moving to the University of Worcester. Mandy has also been a playwork trainer for many years supporting programmes in Buckinghamshire, Reading, and Cornwall. She has undertaken research into children’s play in early years settings, outdoors and at the Eden Project and continues to pursue a research interest in this area.

′An engaging read which prompts thought about the fundamental nature and importance of play′- Nursery World

• IntroductionPART ONE - WHAT IS PLAY?Identifying features of playUnderstanding concepts of playHistorical perspectives and principlesObserving playPART TWO: THE BENEFITS OF PLAYThe value of play in child developmentPlay and social developmentPlay, creativity and riskContexts for playPART THREE: CHILDREN′S RIGHTS AND THE OWNERSHIP OF PLAYThe ownership of play: Play space, play cues and play actionsDeveloping a Pedagogy for PlayConclusion: Play IS for life, not just for nursery

Mandy Andrews is a senior lecturer in Early Childhood at the University of Worcester on both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Formerly a Play Officer for a local authority she has a range of children’s play experience from running an adventure playground and environmental play activities, through to community play projects and running a large Children’s Centre in Cornwall before moving to the University of Worcester. Mandy has also been a playwork trainer for many years supporting programmes in Buckinghamshire, Reading, and Cornwall. She has undertaken research into children’s play in early years settings, outdoors and at the Eden Project and continues to pursue a research interest in this area.

′An engaging read which prompts thought about the fundamental nature and importance of play′- Nursery World

• IntroductionPART ONE - WHAT IS PLAY?Identifying features of playUnderstanding concepts of playHistorical perspectives and principlesObserving playPART TWO: THE BENEFITS OF PLAYThe value of play in child developmentPlay and social developmentPlay, creativity and riskContexts for playPART THREE: CHILDREN′S RIGHTS AND THE OWNERSHIP OF PLAYThe ownership of play: Play space, play cues and play actionsDeveloping a Pedagogy for PlayConclusion: Play IS for life, not just for nursery

Mandy Andrews is a senior lecturer in Early Childhood at the University of Worcester on both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Formerly a Play Officer for a local authority she has a range of children’s play experience from running an adventure playground and environmental play activities, through to community play projects and running a large Children’s Centre in Cornwall before moving to the University of Worcester. Mandy has also been a playwork trainer for many years supporting programmes in Buckinghamshire, Reading, and Cornwall. She has undertaken research into children’s play in early years settings, outdoors and at the Eden Project and continues to pursue a research interest in this area.

′An engaging read which prompts thought about the fundamental nature and importance of play′- Nursery World

• IntroductionPART ONE - WHAT IS PLAY?Identifying features of playUnderstanding concepts of playHistorical perspectives and principlesObserving playPART TWO: THE BENEFITS OF PLAYThe value of play in child developmentPlay and social developmentPlay, creativity and riskContexts for playPART THREE: CHILDREN′S RIGHTS AND THE OWNERSHIP OF PLAYThe ownership of play: Play space, play cues and play actionsDeveloping a Pedagogy for PlayConclusion: Play IS for life, not just for nursery