‘Uncharted territory’: teachers’ perspectives on play in early childhood classrooms in Ireland during the pandemic

Figures & data

Table 1. Sample demographic and professional characteristics.

Sample characteristics (N=310)	Proportion of respondents	Number of respondents
Gender:
Male	3.2%	10
Female	96.8%	300
Teaching experience (years)
1–5 years	11.0%	34
5–10 years	19.7%	61
10–15 years	29.0%	90
15 + years	40.3%	125
Highest level of education
Level 7 (ordinary bachelor degree)	3.9%	7
Level 8 (honours bachelor degree)	43.5%	135
Level 9 or higher (masters degree or higher)	52.6%	163
Geographical context
Rural	44.2%	137
Urban	55.8%	173

Figure 1. Thematic map: the importance of play as a pedagogical tool in the early childhood classroom.