Year 3 BEd Students Gain Fresh Insight into Play-Based Learning at Stranmillis Primary

Last week, some of our BEd Primary Year 3 students had the wonderful opportunity to visit Stranmillis Primary School as part of their optional module ‘Learning through a Play-based Curriculum in the Early Years’.

During the visit, students heard from Foundation Stage teachers Miss Gowdy and Ms Finney as they shared how they implement continuous provision to support progression in learning through purposeful, play-based experiences.

Year 3 student Hannah McIntyre reflected:

‘Our visit to Stranmillis Primary School was such an enjoyable and inspiring experience! Stepping into the Primary 1 and 2 classrooms, I noticed how calm, welcoming and thoughtfully designed the learning spaces were. The continuous provision areas were beautifully set up to encourage independence, creativity and curiosity. My friends and I all came away feeling so inspired and full of ideas for our own future classrooms. The visit really reinforced for me how powerful play can be in creating joyful, meaningful learning experiences for young children’.

Jill Magennis would like to extend a sincere thank you to Principal Mrs Wilson, Miss Gowdy and Ms Finney for welcoming our students and sharing their expertise on how play is thoughtfully organised, supported and evaluated to enhance children’s learning and development. It was a valuable and uplifting experience that encouraged our students to reflect deeply on their own developing practice and the importance of play in early years education.