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Play-based learning is a pedagogical approach that emphasises the use of play in promoting multiple areas of children’s development and learning. Free and guided play are two types of play-based learning that guide early learning. The children acquire concepts, skills, and attitudes that lay the foundation for lifelong learning through play pedagogies. Exposing learners to a rich vocabulary through reading, story-telling, and social interaction is key in play-based learning. This research aimed to explore the impact of play-based learning on the development of children in mobile Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) centres. Social constructivism theory was used to understand the impact of play-passed learning on children’s development in ECE. Using convenience sampling, the research followed an interpretive qualitative case study, and eight (8) practitioners were selected to participate. Data sources included practitioners’ interviews and the centres’ observations. Using the thematic approach, the findings revealed that the practitioners in rural areas had an insufficient understanding of teaching using play pedagogies. This had a negative impact on standard provisions for play pedagogies suited for young children, where appropriate suggestions are offered to the practitioners on the planning, implementation, and support of play practices within early learning. Furthermore, there is a shift in the early learning curricula incorporating advanced academic skills, a beneficial tool to aid children’s learning and development.

This research explored the challenges impeding practitioners’ proper implementation of mathematical play practice environment using a qualitative phenomenological research approach. This study was conducted in Motheo District which is in Mangaung Municipality in the Free State with ten females who had obtained matric certificate qualification at least have three years’ experience working in the ECCE setting as the sample. This sample was purposively chosen for this research. A structured interview guide was used as tool for data collection and its trustworthiness was properly ensured. After the data had been collected, the real processing, analysis, and interpretation of the data took place. We conducted a thematic analysis of the data. With the help of this technique, we were able to analyze the unstructured interview responses and find trends and themes. It was found that the challenges impeding practitioners’ proper mathematical play practice environment are constraints to proper mathematical play in relation to indoor and outdoor resources and infrastructure; constraints emanating from practitioners’ qualifications and constraints relating to support expected from the DSD and DBE, as custodians of ECCE. This finding has practical and policy implications in the sense that the practitioners cannot effectively implement mathematical play practice environment in the presence of the identified challenges unless adequate policy framework is designed to take care of such challenges. Thus, it is recommended that the appropriate authority should design an implementable policy guideline on the use of mathematical play practice environment.