Modern life for young children is often a pressured one. When do children get time to play creatively, between the school run, shopping, television and homework?

At Elmfield School, children in Early Years classes (three to six years) get time to play at school. Play is considered one of the most important activities of the day beside regular activities such as painting, drawing, modelling, baking, handwork, cleaning, eurythmy, singing and ring-games and story time.

Creative play is a vital element for children's learning; they imitate adult life or create an imaginative world of their own. Play helps develop children's social awareness and a sense of self as well as other skills: communication, negotiation, teambuilding, leadership as well as imagination, construction, balance and many more.

For the young child, play is work and is vitally important. Everything is brought into it - what they experience, what they wish for and a whole imaginative world. This is a potent way of learning about life. Creativity and imaginative and flexible thinking are important skills to meet the changing world of adulthood; creative play in childhood develops aptitudes for this.

Education at Elmfield encourages the imaginative qualities, respect and wonder that guide and nourish children throughout their lives and provide a strong foundation for later personal, social and intellectual development.

For a prospectus, visit, tour or more information please ring Elmfield School on 01384 394633.