CA1 Play-Based Experiences: Planning, Implementing and Evaluating Three Play Activities (Early Childhood Care and Education Placement)

This early childhood placement assessment asks learners to design and run three play-based experiences in their placement setting, write a plan for each one, share the plans at staff planning meetings, and then reflect on how the children responded against the intended Aistear aims and learning goals.

Assessment Task

Design and implement three play-based experiences and a plan for each. Students can use either the planning template provided in the placement handbook or, where possible, the placement setting’s own planning form (ask for permission before using these forms). Attend staff planning meetings and share your plans with staff.

• All three plans must be submitted in your portfolio.
• Do not include any names or photos of staff or children.

Play-Based Experience Planning and Documentation Template

Section 1: Activity Plan

• Activity name and activity description
• Date and estimated time of day
• Age group, maximum number of children present and how many adults are present
• Location, room or area, and resources
• Educator roles before and during the activity (including any prompt questions or actions)

Section 2: Aistear Themes

Write the full names of the intended dominant aims and learning goals for the play activity under each relevant theme:

• Well-being: aims and learning goals
• Identity and Belonging: aims and learning goals
• Communicating: aims and learning goals
• Exploring and Thinking: aims and learning goals

Section 3: Implementation and Evaluation of the Play Plan

• Did the play activity go to plan? Did you get the expected result?
• Which intended developmental domains or dispositions from the plan did the child or children reach or not reach?
• Any observation method required for a specific child or group during the activity: observation method, observation focus (intended dominant developmental domains or positive dispositions), focus child initials and the educator carrying out the observation
• How do you know this?
• Which intended Aistear aims and learning goals did the children achieve or not achieve, and how do you know?
• What further activities or plans would you suggest to scaffold and extend the children’s needs?

Get Expert Help with Your CA1 Play-Based Experience Plans

Most marks in this placement portfolio come from the link between planning and evaluation. Each of the three plans should name specific Aistear aims and learning goals rather than whole themes, describe realistic resources and adult roles for the age group, and include prompt questions that extend the play. The evaluation then needs evidence from an observation, such as a narrative record or checklist, to show which goals the children reached and what you would plan next to scaffold their learning.

Our early childhood education assignment help can guide you on writing clear, Aistear-linked plans and reflective evaluations while keeping children and staff anonymous. You can also compare the 5N1773 early childhood education and play brief or the 6M2007 early childhood care and education assessment.