Unit 7: Support children’s play in early years

Unit reference / J/505/9294 / Unit level / 2
Credit value / 2 / GLH / 19
Unit aim / This unit provides the learner with skills, knowledge and understanding of the value of play in early years.
Learner name: / CACHE Centre no:
CACHE PIN: / ULN:
Learning outcomes
The learner will: / Assessment criteria
The learner can: / Evidence Record
e.g. page number & method /
1. Understand the role of play in children’s development. / 1.1. Explain why play is necessary for the development of children.
2. Understand children’s rights in relation to play. / 2.1. Identify the rights of children in relation to play, as detailed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child’.
2.2. Explain how settings meet the right for children to play.
3. Understand how children play during different stages of development. / 3.1. Explain:
child-initiated play
adult-led play.
3.2. Identify how children’s play needs and preferences change in relation to their stage of development.
4. Be able to support different types of play for children. / 4.1. Describe benefits of:
physical play
creative play
imaginative play
sensory play
heuristic play.
4.2. Implement activities which support children’s:
physical play
creative play
imaginative play
sensory play
heuristic play.
Learner declaration of authenticity:
I declare that the work presented for this unit is entirely my own work.
Learner signature: Date:
Assessor sign off of completed unit: Unit 7
I confirm that the learner has met the requirements for all assessment criteria demonstrating knowledge and skills for this unit.
Assessor name:
Signature: Date:

For e-portfolio a signature is not required, providing the learner has a personalised and secure login.

Additional information about the unit:
Additional unit assessment requirements provided with the QCF unit / This unit must be assessed in line with the CACHE assessment strategy and principles.
Guidance for developing assessment arrangements for the unit:
Guidance for developing unit assessment arrangements – provided with the QCF unit / Development – Consider the holistic developmental benefits derived from play
Benefits – Consider holistic developmental benefits and learning associated with the relevant current framework


CACHE Level 2 Certificate in an Introduction to Early Years Education and Care (QCF)

QRN: 601/2536/6

Theme 1

Tutor - Nicola Sharp

Assignment Brief – 2015/16

Assignment to be in handed on the 5th February 2016 by 4pm

Assessment task: Unit 7 Support children’s play in early years

This unit provides the learner with skills, knowledge and understanding of the value of play in early years.

Play represents a medium for how young children develop and learn.

Task 1 (assessment criterion 1.1)

Read the following case study:

Emily attends the Stay and Play provision held at her local Children’s Centre with her daughter, Sofia aged 9 months. This session is for children from birth to one year in particular. Today there is a guest speaker from the Early Years Department of the local college visiting the session to talk about how play can support the holistic development of children. Once he has introduced himself, the guest speaker distributes treasure baskets for the children who immediately become curious about what is inside.

Using this example of play, explain why play is necessary for the development of children.

Task 2 (assessment criteria 2.1 and 2.2)

A reporter from the local newspaper came to the Stay and Play session. She took lots of photographs of the young children as they played. Through her article she needs to emphasis children’s rights to play. Contribute to this article.

Identify the rights of children in relation to play as detailed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Explain how settings meet the right for children to play.

Task 3 (assessment criterion 3.1)

Children enjoy making choices in relation to play. Adults must be aware of how best to meet the individual needs of children and prepare for this through a well-resourced environment. The guest speaker from the college has asked the parents/carers who attended the session to write a reflective account that explains:

child-initiated play

adult-led play.


Task 4 (assessment criterion 3.2)

As children grow play remains the greatest tool for learning as it allows them the freedom to explore and make discoveries through a process, without judgment.

Produce a hand out that:

identifies how children’s play needs and preferences change in relation to their stage of development.