First Published in 2000.This book provides a description and analysis of play and its use in helping young children to reach their potential. It is especially for professionals working with young children with special educational needs and from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. It is also an appropriate text for interested parents. The authors have sought to make sense of play from theoretical and practical sources to promote an interactive perspective. Included in the book is the authors' model of Play Based Assessment, a framework that can be used to assess and mediate children's learning and development.