The importance of play in the Foundation Stage is embedded in its curriculum guidance. From the beginning of Year 1 (and sometimes from Reception), however, the emphasis on formal learning and assessment is squeezing play-based learning out of the curriculum, despite the fact that children are still in their early years of development. As children get older, over-formalised approaches to teaching and learning lead many, particularly boys, to become disaffected, jeopardising not only their own future life chances, but those of their classmates.