About the EDUPLAY Project

The EDUPLAY project – Promoting High-Quality ECEC through Education and Play in All Day Settings is an initiative funded by the Erasmus+ Teacher Academies 2024 program, bringing together six partners from five countries (Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Lithuania). Its main goal is to enhance the quality of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) by promoting play as a central pedagogical practice that fosters the holistic development of children.
Recognizing that play is central to childhood and a privileged means of learning, the project aims to create an innovative training program for pre and in-service teachers that integrates scientific knowledge, inclusive pedagogical practices, and local context adaptation. Through collaborative processes and experimentation in real-life settings, the project seeks to strengthen the professionals' capacity to address the needs and rights of children, promoting richer, more equitable, and responsive educational environments.

Objectives and Main Activities

The EDUPLAY project focuses on strengthening the role of play in ECEC settings across Europe and enhancing the role of pre- and in-service teachers in promoting learning through play. Its main objectives are:
Objective 1: To map the state of the art regarding play, as well as identify the needs and challenges faced by in-service teachers and pedagogical coordinators/leaders.
Objective 2: To enhance the knowledge and skills of both pre-service and in-service teachers, as well as coordinators/leaders, in integrating play into their pedagogical practices, and establish a pan-European network of professionals interested in the topic.
Objective 3: To raise awareness of the importance of play and provide policy recommendations to improve the use of play in ECEC across Europe.

Impact

The EDUPLAY project will strengthen the quality of ECEC by promoting effective, inclusive and research-informed play-based practices. Such an accomplishment will bring multiple benefices for:

1. Children 3-6 years old.

2. ECEC Teachers (in-service and pre-service).

3. Managers/leaders of ECEC settings.

4. Policymakers, educational stakeholders, families, and local authorities.