Introduction

Many early years practitioners find it difficult to reconcile the Early learning goals of the foundation stage and the objectives of the National Literacy Strategy (DfEE 1998). The philosophy of learning through play is emphasised in Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage (DfEE 2000) and rightly so — it is beyond question that young children learn both more, and more effectively, through involvement in activities that are enjoyable, fun, and contain an element of play. The National Literacy Strategy (NLS) document outlines its objectives without touching on this in any depth and the practitioner may perhaps feel that it is a sterile document in terms of addressing the concept of learning through play. But the two documents aren't mutually exclusive and they can live alongside each other fairly well, since many of the NLS objectives do actually tie in with the Early learning goals.