Play provides a foundation for children’s development, learning and wellbeing in the early years. An integral part of this subject will be the focus on inquiry, emphasising a critical approach to play and its pedagogical potential to facilitate children’s development and wellbeing. Various theoretical orientations will be considered in the study of play. Further, the subject provides guidelines to educators for implementing play based curriculum, an integral component of The Early Years Learning Framework as well as the Health and Physical Education curriculum in the school years. Students will apply their knowledge of theory and research to undertake a case study of a child and make recommendations for practice.