"The right to play is a child’s first claim on the community. No community can
infringe that right without doing deep and enduring harm to the minds and
bodies of its citizens"
David Lloyd George
Every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and
recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate
freely in cultural life and the arts.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 31
This strategy was commissioned by Wrexham Children and Youth Partnership in
response to the National Assembly for Wales Play grants initiative.
Acknowledgments:
We would like to Thank Haki Kapasi for developing the Play Strategy for Wrexham County Borough.
Contents
Summary __________________________________________________________ 3
1.
Introduction __________________________________________________ 8
2.
Glossary of terms _____________________________________________ 10
3.
Rationale for a play strategy _____________________________________ 13
4.
Why play?___________________________________________________ 14
5.
Context _____________________________________________________ 18
6.
Support for play in Wrexham ____________________________________ 21
7.
Audit of play opportunities in Wrexham ____________________________ 25
8.
Consultation _________________________________________________ 33
9.
Findings from previous consultations ______________________________ 37
10
Key issues in play and playwork __________________________________ 39
11.
Strategy aims and objectives _____________________________________ 43
Wrexham Play Strategy 2002-2007 Strategic Action Plan _____________________ 56
Appendix one ______________________________________________________ 77
National Assembly for Wales, Play Policy
Appendix two ______________________________________________________ 80
People consulted
Appendix three _____________________________________________________ 83
Feedback from consultations with providers and the project steering group.
Appendix four______________________________________________________ 86
Possible tasks for the Play Development Section
Appendix five ______________________________________________________ 87
Draft performance indicators for play strategy/policy
Appendix six _______________________________________________________ 98
Joint National Committee on Training for Playwork, Draft Charter
Summary
The importance of children’s play has been recognised and acted upon by the
National Assembly for Wales. The increased funding from the Assembly
towards children’s play and the development of the national Play Policy
signals its commitment to children’s play. This strategy is a response to this
recognition of play within the Assembly. It has been drawn up for and on
behalf of the Wrexham Children and Youth Partnership and is indicative of
Wrexham County Borough Council’s commitment to an integrated, strategic
approach to providing for play. It is hoped the strategy will also provide a
reference for allocating funds under other strategic plans such as those
associated with the new Cymorth Unified fund.
The funding from the National Assembly for Wales for play is directed
towards open access play opportunities for children. However, this strategy
encompasses the range of play opportunities available to children, from open
access outdoor play, to play more structured play provision.
The strategy is founded on the principle of children’s right to play as stated in
article 31 of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child:
1.
Every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and
recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to
participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
2.
Member governments shall respect and promote the right of the child
to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the
provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic,
recreational and leisure activity.
The strategy recognises the importance of play for all children and its
fundamental role in children’s development. It also recognises the variety of
play opportunities that should be available for children for their total
development. This includes open access, free play opportunities to parent and
toddler groups where children are accompanied by an adult. Access to play
opportunities for all children irrespective of their cultural heritage and
lifestyles and abilities is a central principle of the strategy.
The strategy was developed in consultation with service providers across
Wrexham County Borough Council, the Voluntary Sector, parents and carers
and children and young people. Approximately 140 individuals were
consulted, and the results are a reflection of the views and opinions of all those
consulted.
Children’s play is affected by, and can affect a range of provision, such as
transport, health, housing, parks, access to the countryside and childcare
provision. The wide-ranging consultations reflected this and the strategy
should be considered in the context of all these services. Working in
partnership with other services and agencies will be key to the successful
implementation of the strategy.
The strategy considered and reflects initatives of the National Assembly for
Wales on children’s play. This was a challenging task as the Assembly
developed several new guidelines within the two months of the strategy
development and continues to issue further guidelines. However, Wrexham
has a significant opportunity to position itself as a leading authority in the
provision of good quality play opportunities for children. This strategy is a
first step towards this.`
Strategy aims and objectives
The aim of the strategy is to increase the quantity and quality of play
opportunities for children in Wrexham.
1.
Develop a co-ordinated approach to play
Targets
2.
1.1
Establish a Play Development section within Wrexham County Borough
Council. Ensure this section has an identity and function that is
independent of other sections within the local authority
1.2
Establish a Play Forum consisting of all statutory and voluntary sector
play providers and other interested parties
1.3
Establish a children and young people’s play forum that can advise the
Play Forum on initiatives in play
1.4
Develop a play policy
1.5
Establish a comprehensive consultation process on matters affecting
children’s play
1.6
Carry out play impact assessments on all council departmental policies
and strategies
1.7
Establish a Play Information service, as a first port of call for those
needing support with play and playwork information or advice, in line
with national minimum standards of service as laid out in forthcoming
guidance
Raise the profile of play
Targets
2.1
Promote the play strategy
2.2
Raise the awareness of the importance of play
3.
2.3
Promote play through events such as the August Playday
2.4
Wrexham County Borough Council to adopt the New Charter for
Children’s Play and other significant documents that can guide the
development of play opportunities for children
2.5
Create a discreet, recognisable identity for the Play Development section
Develop a play service that is accessible to all children
Targets
4.
3.1
Develop a play service that can meet the needs of all children
3.2
Increase play opportunities for marginalised groups of children,
including traveller children and children of refugees and asylum
seekers
3.3
Provide transport to enable children to access play opportunities
3.4
Increase play opportunities for children living in rural areas
3.5
Increase inclusive play opportunities for disabled children
3.6
Provide free or low cost play opportunities to ensure all children can
access good quality play opportunities
3.7
Develop a network of local venues easily accessible on foot or without
private transport
3.8
Ensure play provision reflects the cultural heritage and diversity of
Wales and addresses the need for Welsh medium provision
Develop existing and new opportunities
Targets
4.1
Develop a range of play opportunities that cater for different types of
play and the needs of different ages and abilities of children. These
should range from outdoor, unsupervised play spaces to supervised,
indoor provision.
4.2
Work in partnership with local authority departments such as
Countryside Services, Parks and Planning and voluntary sector
organisations to ensure children can play safely in open spaces such as
parks, streets and other public and open spaces
4.3
Develop a mobile play project with a team of playworkers that can offer
good quality play opportunities for children in urban and rural settings
4.4
Increase community-led play provision
5.
Develop the quality of play opportunities for children
Targets
6.
5.1
Ensure that all provision meets the relevant national standards for open
access play provision and that all people working in play are suitable to
do so.
5.2
Establish a training and education programme that develops a skilled,
knowledgeable workforce (both paid and unpaid) that understands the
values and principles of play and playwork.
5.3
Ensure all training and education is rooted in the principles and values
of play and playwork as identified in the National Occupational
Standards and Best Play.
5.4
Ensure all those offering play opportunities on a regular basis
participate in The First Claim quality assurance scheme developed by
Play Wales, in line with guidance in the Welsh Assembly
Government’s Childcare Action Plan.
5.5
Wrexham County Borough Council and voluntary organisations should
consult play providers on adopting the Joint National Committee on
Training for Playwork (JNCTP) Charter for Training and Education.
5.6
Develop assessment criteria to assess the quality of play opportunities
offered by play facilities.
5.7
Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the play strategy.
5.8
Ensure systems for effective monitoring and evaluation of spending on
play provision.
5.9
Ensure play development in Wrexham is informed by good practice
locally, nationally, UK wide and internationally.
5.10
Ensure that playworkers in Wrexham have opportunities to engage in
wider debates and consultations about play and playwork
developments at regional and national level and beyond.
5.11
Provide opportunities for children and young people to meet and make
friends with children and young people from other localities and
countries.
Develop a service that is properly resourced and supported
Targets
6.1
Develop a funding plan and structure within Wrexham County Borough
Council that supports the development of good quality play opportunities
for children and for the implementation of the strategy
6.2
Support initiatives that increase access to play opportunities for all
children
6.3
Encourage innovation in children’s play opportunities
6.4
Identify additional funding to develop play opportunities
6.5
Identify funding that enables communities to provide play opportunities
for children in the local communities
6.6
Support the development of play resource centres with scrap materials,
loan/hire equipment and bulk buy materials to enable groups to offer a
wide range of creative play opportunities
1. Introduction
This strategy has been drawn up for and on behalf of the Wrexham Children
and Youth Partnership. It is indicative of Wrexham County Borough Council’s
commitment to an integrated, strategic approach to providing for play. It is
also Wrexham County Borough Council’s response to the needs of the Play
2002 grant. It is hoped the strategy will also provide a reference for allocating
funds under other strategic plans such as those associated with the new
Cymorth Unified fund.
The play strategy is an addendum to the Children and Youth Partnership
Action Plan 2002-2003, and should be read in conjunction with it. It also has a
direct relevance to other action plans such as the Wrexham Childcare Strategy
and has been informed by and should inform other strategies and plans such as
Community Strategies, Wrexham Countryside Strategy, Local Agenda 21 and
individual service area plans such as Sports, Leisure and Youth Development
plans. It also links in closely with Assembly themes of Social Inclusion,
Equality and Sustainable Development.
The development of a Play Strategy is consistent with recommendation 2
from The State of Play (a Review of Open Access Play Provision in Wales and
the Play 2000 Grant Scheme), a report commissioned by the National
Assembly for Wales as part of the Play 2000 initiative:
All authorities should be encouraged to develop a play policy and
strategy in collaboration with the voluntary sector and other agencies,
aimed at achieving full implementation of Article 31 of the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
This is echoed by the Welsh Local Government Association, which believes
that:
“all agencies and organisations involved in services for children
should develop a strategy for maintaining and enhancing the provision
of youth, play and leisure services for all children in Wales. This
should focus on developing services to meet the range of needs of
children within increased universal provision and integrated settings.”
The funding from the National Assembly for Wales for play is directed
towards open access play opportunities for children. However, this strategy
encompasses the range of play opportunities available to children, from open
access outdoor play, to play more structured play provision.
The strategy has drawn on existing research and consultation and built on it
with a series of visits, consultations and surveys of play providers, service
users and non-users in Wrexham, along with an audit of provision within the
county borough, identifying issues for improvement, existing good practice
and gaps in provision.
The consultation process and strategy development was carried out by Inspire,
an independent play consultancy, on behalf of Wrexham County Borough
Council, in the spirit of Best Value, providing a critical challenge to existing
services.
The use of an independent consultancy ensured that no one agency directed
the course of the strategy development process, and also allowed for the
inclusion of up to date information relating to current issues and developments
in play from outside the County Borough, including the latest play research
report, ‘Making the Case for Play’. It also ensured that as many views as
possible were taken in the consultation process, both of adults and
children/young people in the time available.
2. Glossary of terms
Young people can find themselves excluded from discussions by the jargon
and complex language that they encounter. In particular, the different
meaning ascribed to the same word by different agencies is utterly confusing
e.g. ‘play’, ‘carer’, and ‘support services’. Local authorities should actively
monitor their use of language to ensure that it is clear, concise and easily
understood.
Developing a Strategy for Children in Need in Wales
The Local Government Role, 1998
In drawing up this play strategy, we have used words and phrases in line with
their usual agreed definitions and understood meanings within the field of
playwork. We recognise that other disciplines may use the same terms with a
different meaning, so for the purposes of a shared understanding of this
document, we outline our use of words as follows.
Children
In line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the term child is
used in this strategy to refer to anyone under the age of eighteen. However, in
line with National Assembly guidance, we also refer to Children and Young
People at times. The meaning of the phrase Young People will be evident by
its context.
Play
Refers to freely chosen, self-directed and intrinsically motivated behaviour,
which actively engages the child, regardless of the context in which it takes
place:
Children's play is freely chosen, personally directed behaviour,
motivated from within; through play, the child explores the world and
her or his relationship with it, elaborating all the while a flexible
range of responses to the challenges she or he encounters; by playing,
the child learns and develops as an individual.
National Occupational Standards for Playwork NVQs
In lay terms it says that children are playing when they are doing what
they want to do, in the way they want to and for their own reasons.
Play may take place with or without other children and any adult
involvement is at the invitation of the child or children.
Play is different from organised sport, groups, clubs and classes which
are clearly defined by external rules and definitions… as they are not
personally directed and intrinsically motivated (although they may be
freely chosen).
Children and young people of all ages play. As they get older the
words they use to describe their activities change and they tend to use
terms which describe specific activities rather than the generic term
‘play’… the term ‘play’ is used to include the free-time activities of
children and young people from five to 16 years old.
Making the Case for Play, 2002
Play Opportunities
Refers to situations and environments where children have freedom to play this can include areas or situations not designated for play, indoors or outside,
formal or informal, supervised or unsupervised, constructed and natural
environments.
Play Provision
Refers to play opportunities in settings which have been specifically
designated or planned for by adults – usually in response to a lack or erosion
of ‘natural’ play opportunities – they can be indoor or outdoor, staffed or
unstaffed, with or without equipment, static or mobile, free or charging.
Open Access Play Provision
Defined by the Welsh Assembly Government within the National Minimum
Standards for Open Access Play Provision as follows:
Open Access Play Provision may be permanent or short-term schemes
and generally cater for older children. However, children aged five to
seven years may attend. The main purpose of the provision is to
enable children to learn and develop through play opportunities in a
safe environment in the absence of their parents or carers.
Open access provision may be outdoors or indoors, supervised or
unsupervised. The key characteristic of open access play provision is that
children themselves choose whether to come or go, and those responsible for
the provision do not have a contract with the parents or carers of the children
to provide childcare.
Playwork
Playwork is a distinct discipline that involves supporting children aged 5-14 in
a range of play settings. A playworker works in accordance with the values
and principles of playwork as set out in the National Occupational Standards
for Playwork, in either a paid or unpaid capacity.
Youth Work
This a distinct discipline working with children and young people from 11-25,
with the emphasis on 13-19 year olds.
Early Years Work
Early Years’ work is work with children aged 0-8 in an early years childcare
or education setting.
Childcare
This differs from open access play provision by the fact that a contract exists
between the provider and parents/carers to ensure that children attend for a
defined period of time, during which the provider is in loco parentis: for this
reason, out of school care provision for older children, even where those
children arrive and depart on their own, is distinct from open access play
provision, since there exists a contract between the parents/carers and
providers, unlike in open access play provision. However, open access play
provision has a part to play in supporting those who provide childcare, in
extending the range of play opportunities available to children in their care –
this is especially the case for ‘informal’ carers, e.g. grandparents.
Community-led schemes
These are schemes, usually holiday playschemes, run by and for small, local
communities. Community members working on the scheme may do so on a
paid or voluntary basis. The funding for the schemes may come from a variety
of sources such as local and national trusts and charities, lottery funding or
local authorities.
3. Rationale for a play strategy
3.1
Following the National Assembly for Wales’ Play 2000 grant scheme, a
review of open access play provision in Wales and the Play 2000 grant scheme
was commissioned by the Assembly and overseen by Play Wales and the
Welsh Local Government Association. The resulting document, The State of
Play (November 2000), was passed by the Health and Social Services
Committee of the National Assembly in January 2001. The report contains a
series of observations and recommendations about open access play provision
and use of the Play 2000 grant: many of which informed the development of
this play strategy.
3.2
Some key points within the report were:
All relevant “players” should be involved at the beginning of the process
and it needs to be put into place at the earliest possible time
Voluntary and statutory sectors should have equal input
Without an active play forum it can be difficult to identify the large range
of potential partners
The definition of play is open to interpretation
Play is important in the development of children and young people
Offering children services through play enables dialogue with
communities
Young children’s access to play activities depends on gaining support of
their parents
Deprivation occurs in rural as well as urban areas
3.3
One of the recommendations of the report was that:
All authorities should be encouraged to develop a play policy and
strategy in collaboration with the voluntary sector and other agencies,
aimed at achieving full implementation of Article 31 of the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Recommendation 2, The State of Play
3.4
Although no explicit guidance on the development of play policy from either
the National Assembly or the UK Government existed at the time of putting
this strategy together, we were able to refer to draft guidance on play policy
development from Play Wales, as well as to play policy and strategy work
done by the consultants and local authorities in other areas, including work on
proposed local performance indicators for play strategy development (see
appendix one). The strategy therefore reflects the latest good practice in the
playwork field.
4. Why play?
Guiding principles
4.1
4.2
All children have a right to play, as stated in the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child, Article 31:
1.
Every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and
recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to
participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
2.
Member governments shall respect and promote the right of the child
to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the
provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic,
recreational and leisure activity.
This fundamental right was expressed in more detail in the New Charter for
Children’s Play, published by the Children’s Play Council in 1998:
All children need to play and have a right to play. Children of all ages
should be able to play freely and confidently on their own and with other
children.
Parents and other carers should respect and value their children's play
and try to maximise their opportunities for safe and stimulating play
within and outside the home.
All children should have equal access to play opportunities and services.
All children should be able to play safely out of doors wherever they live,
in towns, cities and in the countryside. Older children should also be able
to get around safely on their own.
Central and local government and voluntary organisations should think
creatively and strategically about children and their play needs.
All children should have access to a range of good quality early years,
play and out-of-school services such as play centres, holiday playschemes,
adventure playgrounds, after-school clubs, playgroups, toy libraries and
play buses.
All schools should support and facilitate children's play. Play and
learning are not separate; play is part of learning and learning is part of
play. Learning through play supports and enriches learning through
formal education.
Play opportunities should challenge and stimulate children's abilities but
not threaten their survival or well-being.
Hospital admissions, visits to a doctor, or a stay in temporary
accommodation are some of the situations where children are in strange
surroundings, perhaps experiencing fear, pain, anxiety and discomfort.
They should be provided with play opportunities led by staff and
volunteers who understand their special needs.
All playwork education and training should be flexible, adaptable,
reflective of existing good practice in play for and should involve a
significant fieldwork practice component.
Children's Play Council et al 1999
The benefits of play
4.3
The New Charter for Children’s Play outlines some of the benefits of play:
Play promotes children’s development, learning, creativity and
independence
As well as learning how and why things work through play, there is evidence
from recent neurobiological research that early play experiences may have
lasting effects on children’s development and later capacity to learn. Children
under the age of 10 have at least twice the potential brain capacity of adults,
and it is now being suggested that play in young children may have a critical
role in the enlargement of brain capacity (Hughes, 1999).
Play enables children to learn communication, negotiation and listening
skills
Such skills help to develop self-esteem and confidence, and are linked to what
is now called ‘emotional intelligence’, an increasingly important attribute for
successful functioning in the 21st century (Goleman 1996).
Play keeps children healthy and active
At a time when there is increasing concern about children’s sedentary
lifestyles, physical play can increase general fitness levels and also contribute
to emotional well-being.
Play fosters social inclusion
Play helps children to understand the people and places in their lives, learn
about their environment and develop their sense of community. Research
commissioned by the government in Switzerland showed that a lack of local
play spaces weakened community networks and hindered the development of
informal support structures (Huttenmoser and Degen-Zimmerman 1995). An
evaluation of the Venture in Wrexham likewise showed that play provision
helped tackle social exclusion (Hill-Tout, Lindsell and Pithouse 1995).
Play allows children to find out about themselves, their abilities and their
interests
By doing, risking and failing in play, children learn how to deal with their
environment and to understand their abilities and limitations.
Play is therapeutic and good for mental health
It helps children to deal with difficult or painful circumstances, such as
emotional stress or medical treatment. The Mental Health Foundation (1999)
found that many of the attributes enhanced by play, such as communication
skills, a positive attitude, a problem-solving approach and the capacity to
reflect, made children more resilient in the face of stressful life events such as
poverty and family discord.
Play gives children the chance to let off steam and have fun
As well as being important for children themselves this also reduces stress on
parents, especially during long summer holidays, and helps families living in
difficult circumstances to cope.
Community play facilities can reduce youth crime and vandalism
Among projects examined by the Thames Valley Police, the installation of play
facilities and a youth shelter were linked to a significant reduction in
vandalism and petty crime (Hampshire and Wilkinson 1999). Similar results
were found in an assessment carried out by Safer Cardiff of projects in the St
Mellons area.
4.4
Best Play, what play provision should do for children provides a further
summary of the benefits of play for children, families and communities:
Benefits of play for children
Benefits that are experienced at the time that the child is playing:
Provides children with opportunities to enjoy freedom, and exercise choice
and control over their actions
Offers children opportunities for testing boundaries and exploring risk
Offers a very wide range of physical, social and intellectual experiences
for children
Benefits that develop over time:
Fosters children's independence and self-esteem
Develops children's respect for others and offers opportunities for social
interaction
Supports the child's well-being, healthy growth and development
Increases children's knowledge and understanding
Promotes children's creativity and capacity to learn
Benefits of play provision for families and community
Helps reduce the involvement of children and young people in anti-social
behaviour, in the short term; and plays a part in promoting social cohesion
in the longer term
Supports families and communities, by providing a focus for informal
networks of family support, and by allowing children autonomy within an
environment which parents feel secure about
Makes an important contribution, in parallel with education, in developing
adults who are creative and effective in the social and economic sphere
Offers opportunities for exploring cultural identity and difference
Provides a focus for tackling social exclusion through community
development
Play mission statement
4.5
A draft mission statement for play was drawn up by the Play sub-group of
Wrexham Childcare Partnership based on the values and principles of the
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which are elaborated in the New
Charter for Children’s Play, as outlined in the previous section.
4.6
The key mission statements are as follows:
Wrexham County Borough Council acknowledges:
1. The crucial role of play in children’s development
2. The right of every child to access a range of play opportunities
3. The Council’s power and ability to promote and encourage play
opportunities for children and young people of all ages across the County
Borough
4. Play provision should take account of the Welsh culture.
Wrexham County Borough Council will endeavour to:
explore all appropriate funding sources and opportunities with a view to
the development of good quality, safe, accessible play experiences for
children and young people of all ages
acknowledge the important contribution of all agencies working with
children and young people in the statutory and non-statutory sectors,
working in partnership with parents and children, in the planning and
development of play opportunities
ensure that children’s need for play, in whatever setting, is met
appropriately
ensure that all play opportunities are developed to consistently high
standards
4.7
A key objective of the Play sub-group was “to obtain corporate adoption of the
Charter for Children’s Play, thereby recognising the importance of play for
children of all ages and their right to opportunities for safe play in their own
neighbourhood”: Childcare Action Plan: Objective 1: Target 1. Another
objective of the Wrexham Childcare Plan was to identify funding for a Play
Development Officer to develop a Play Strategy, to ensure “countywide
awareness of the importance of the role of play in children’s development”.
This current document aims to continue the work begun by this sub-group.
5. Context
Recent national developments
5.1.
This strategy is an addendum to the Children and Youth Partnership Fund
Action Plan 2002-2003, and aims primarily to give guidance and direction for
implementation of the Play 2002 grant for Open Access Play Provision.
However, the scope of the play strategy is wider than this and it should be read
in context with other strategic plans and guidance relating to children and
young people’s services in Wrexham.
5.2
A period of change in the framework for planning and delivery of services for
children and young people in Wales is under way, with initiatives and
guidance issuing from the National Assembly on a regular basis: in the course
of development of this strategy, the Welsh Assembly Government announced
details of the new unified fund for children and young people, ‘Cymorth’,
based on responses to their consultation on Children and Young People - A
Framework for Partnership, as well as publishing their new Childcare Action
Plan in May 2002.
5.3
The new 'Cymorth' grant scheme will create a unified support fund for
services to help children and young people: bringing together and building on
the existing Sure Start, Children and Youth Partnership Fund, National
Childcare Strategy, Youth Access Initiative and Play Grant programmes.
Revised objectives and targets, together with arrangements for monitoring and
evaluation, are planned and the new arrangements will commence from April
2003 for a five-year period, following which, subject to a review, the
programme will continue within the local government settlement.
5.4
These changes, coming as they do on top of further recent changes in the
structure of planning and funding for children’s services, have left many in
uncertainty if not confusion over the way forward. Until the new guidance
relating to ‘Cymorth’ has been released, we have had to work on the basis of
existing guidance and strategic objectives. It is essential that any action arising
from this strategy be reviewed in light of the forthcoming guidance.
5.5
The new unified fund offers the prospect of long term funding and support for
play, which is reflected in a commitment to open access play provision within
the scope of childcare in the Childcare Action Plan:
I see childcare - including childminders, out of school clubs, day
nurseries, playgroups, cylchoedd meithrin, and open access play - as a
key part of the Assembly Government’s programmes to support
children. That is why we have announced that our financial support to
childcare is to be delivered within a unified grant – Cymorth, the
Children and Youth Support Fund. . The new unified fund, Cymorth,
has play, leisure and enrichment as one of its themes for activity. All
integrated centres will be required to include open access play
provision.
Play related programmes
5.6
The need to provide open access play provision for children is recognised
within the National Assembly’s Plan for Wales 2001, which aims to:
‘encourage play, voluntary sector initiatives and out of school
activities through the provision of grant support to local partnerships’,
(with the aim that by 2010 local authorities will be able to) ‘give every
child the benefit of a full prospectus of out of school activities
combining volunteering, enterprise, cultural, sporting and outdoor
activities’.
5.7
The value of play is also recognised in the Communities First programme,
which recognises the need for ‘safe, stimulating play and recreational areas
for children and people of all ages’.
5.8
Under the Children and Young People’s Framework guidance, local
authorities were asked to set up Children and Youth Partnerships by April
2003 and produce draft local Framework plans by October 2002, covering a 5year period - initially to April 2008.
5.9
Extending Entitlement deals in more detail with a major group of services
within this context, specifically covering those aged 11 to 25, and places a
legal responsibility on local authorities to involve key agencies and providers,
such as health, Careers Wales, and the voluntary sector in the coordination and
planning of services for young people. Young People's Partnerships will be set
up early in 2002, and their initial 5-year strategies, running from September
2002, will inform future development of services for young people in Wales.
5.10
Guidance has recently been provided to develop an Early Entitlement
programme for 0-10 year olds as partner programme to the extended
entitlement programme.
5.11
The new Children and Youth Support Fund (Cymorth) will encompass the
following programmes, which include provision for play (although not all of
these are consistent with definition of open access play):
Sure Start is aimed at giving everyone a decent start in life: targeted at
the 0-3 age group in the most deprived areas of Wales, it aims to
improve their ability to learn by encouraging stimulating play, on the
basis: ‘all children should feel safe in their community, with scope and
encouragement to expand their horizons, and with opportunities for
play’. Services delivered under Sure Start aim to support good-quality
play, learning and childcare experiences for children, and ‘should
include a mix of home-based provision such as toy libraries, play visits
and play training for parents; and facilities in the community, for
example: drop-in sessions at a centre, play buses, playgrounds,
nursery school/classes, holiday play clubs, music sessions, movement
classes’. In Wrexham Gwersyllt is a Sure Start area.
The Children and Youth Partnership Fund is aimed at promoting
local initiatives to lift youngsters’ educational achievements, improve
health, engage them in creative activities in their communities and
encourage them away from crime, drugs, vandalism and truancy.
The aim of the Youth Access Initiative is to help
disaffected/disengaged 14-17 year-olds, or those at risk of disaffection
or disengagement, and ensure that they are in education, training or
employment.
The National Childcare Strategy aims to ensure that all who need it
have access to affordable quality childcare. In the Childcare Action
Plan, which was published May 2002, open access play provision is
highlighted as a key element within the strategy. The strategy is
delivered at local level by the Wrexham Childcare Partnership, and
voluntary sector open access play providers are well represented on a
number of the sub-groups and the partnership board itself.
5.12
The Play grant aims to meet the need for improvement of open access
play provision in the most deprived communities in Wales, generating
sustainable change and encouraging new ways of working.
5.13
Wrexham Children and Youth Partnership outline the aims and objectives
for their use of the Play 2002 Grant as follows:
The aim of the Play 2002 Grant programme is to give young people from
areas of high social and economic deprivation, both able and disabled,
irrespective of race or culture, the opportunity to develop differing skills in
a safe play environment, through the medium of informal, open access
play.
Funding will be targeted to provide equipment, resources and staff to
enable the new initiative to be sustained: capital funding of £31,000,
revenue funding of £60,000. Approximately 60% of work to be in
Community First areas of Caia Park, Queensway, Plas Madoc and
Gwenfro.
The target is to have 5,000 children aged from 5-16 attending schemes, at
least 5% of them with disabilities or from minority ethnic backgrounds.
The long term outcomes sought are to widen and sustain play provision
through voluntary groups throughout the area; and to improve
communication and co-ordination between the different groups. Indicators
of success will include a reduction in crime, vandalism and nuisance
behaviour in the targeted communities by 10%.
5.14
The project is a partnership between Wrexham County Borough Council,
voluntary play groups, and other statutory bodies, including Health.
6. Support for play in Wrexham
Responsibility for play
6.1
The State of Play report recognises that responsibility for play lies with a
number of agencies in a complex relationship:
Within the Assembly, at least six separate divisions have a potential
interest in play provision:
Children and Families Division (responsible for policy on child
protection, looked after children and family support for children in
need. Relevant programmes include Sure Start, the National
Childcare Strategy, Children First and the Children and Youth
Partnership Fund, through which the Play 2000 Grant scheme was
administered)
Housing and Community Renewal Division (responsible for
leading on the Communities First and Social Inclusion
programmes. The latter provided the initial funding for the Play
2000 Grants scheme)
Health Promotion Division (responsible for improving and
promoting the health of the nation, and the Healthy Living Centres
initiative)
Culture and Recreation Division, within Education (responsible for
liaison with local authority leisure and recreation departments)
Planning and Environment Divisions (responsible for policy which
affects children’s use of space, such as design of streets and
housing developments and the creation of environments that
provide children with the opportunity to play)
Crime Reduction Unit (responsible for the Safer Cities initiative).
At local authority level, responsibility for developing play
provision is no clearer…The majority of play services are located
in their local authority Leisure Services department, but Education,
Social Services, Housing, Planning, Parks and Highways and
Technical Services may all be involved. …voluntary organisations
also play a key role in developing play provision.
6.2
In Wrexham, as is the case in many local authorities, the observation in
The State of Play holds true: Play has a place in the responsibilities of many
departments, but a home in none.
Funding for play
6.3
Local Government re-organisation in 1996 saw a significant reduction in play
provision funded by the local authority. After the loss of this funding, it was
the voluntary sector that continued to support, deliver and develop play
services to children.
6.4
Play Grant
In 2000-2001, The National Assembly for Wales provided £1m to improve
open access play facilities for children in deprived communities in Wales. This
funding was distributed and managed through the Children and Youth
Partnerships in each of the 22 local authorities in Wales. The amount each
received was calculated on the basis of child population size and deprivation
indicators, and ranged from £14,600 (Ceredigion) to over £130,000 (Cardiff).
During this financial year 2000-2001, Wrexham County Borough received
£42, 228.00.
6.5
Funding was intended to address the following issues:
Deprivation - meeting the need for improvement of open access play
provision in the most deprived communities in Wales.
Sustainability - as far as possible grants should be aimed at generating
sustainable change and encouraging new ways of working.
Partnership and community regeneration - distribution and administration
of funding should be planned and monitored through partnership
arrangements that can ensure sensitivity to local need.
6.6
In 2001-2002 Wrexham received £95,013.00 Play grant money and a further
£21,114 is available for 2002-2003 under the Play 2002 Grant.
Other Funding from Wrexham County Borough Council
6.7
Funding for play in Wrexham comes from a variety of other sources in the
County Borough Council, including at least one scheme funded by Social
Services, but it has been difficult to collect detailed information as funding for
play in these areas often does not come under a ‘play’ budget heading.
6.8
Voluntary sector play organisations in Wrexham have an impressive track
record of success in drawing down funding from agencies other than the
County Borough Council. For example, in 2001 alone, voluntary sector play
organisations received just under £150,000 from BBC Children in Need representing 10% of the total grants awarded by them in Wales that year.
6.9
Grant aid has been obtained through the Community Fund (previously
National Lottery Charities Board) for long term projects run by all the key
play organisations in Wrexham, for creative and innovative work in areas such
as environmental playwork, mentoring, social inclusion and the development
of resources, support and training for playworkers.
6.10
Grants have also been secured from other agencies for specific projects.
Support for play
National support for play
6.11
There are a number of organisations supporting play at national level which
can and do, in turn, support play locally in Wrexham:
6.12
Play Wales/Chwarae Cymru is the national umbrella organisation for the
promotion of children’s play in Wales. It receives a core grant from the
Children and Families Division of the National Assembly for Wales. The
primary role of Play Wales is to influence policy, strategic planning and
practice of all agencies, organisations and individuals that have an interest in,
and a responsibility for children’s play. It has recently taken on the task of
developing a Central Council for Playwork Development as part of the Welsh
Assembly Government’s Childcare Action Plan, as well as producing The
First Claim, a playwork self-assessment quality assurance scheme.
6.13
Wales Preschool Playgroups Association exists to enhance the development,
care and education of pre-school children in Wales, by encouraging parents to
understand and provide for their needs through high quality pre-school groups,
and to give adults confidence to make the best use of their knowledge and
resources, for the benefit of themselves and pre-school children. 67
playgroups, under fives, parent and toddler groups and full day care crèches in
Wrexham are members of the WPPA.
6.14
Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin aims to promote the education and development
of children under 5 years old through the medium of Welsh. Early years care
and education of a high standard through the medium of Welsh is provided in
Cylchoedd Meithrin, Cylchoedd Ti a Fi and nurseries. The aim is to give every
child in Wales under school age the opportunity to take advantage of the
experiences offered in these groups. In Wrexham there are 15 Cylchoedd
Meithrin, and 7 Cylchoedd Ti a Fi.
6.15
The National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) is concerned with
protecting and improving playing fields, playgrounds and play spaces for
children of all ages. It has long been active in England, and has recently
established an office in Wales with funding from the Community Fund.
6.16
Children’s Play Council, whilst based in England, has a remit that covers the
four nations of the United Kingdom, and works in close partnership with Play
Wales, Playboard Northern Ireland and Play Scotland, to influence policy and
promote play at national level, through the development of policy documents
and guidance, such as Best Play, and co-ordinating support for Playday events
in August which aim to raise the profile of play.
6.17
Children in Wales is a national umbrella children's organisation that aims to
promote the interests of and take action to identify and meet the needs of
children, young people and their families in Wales. They work in partnership
with the National Children's Bureau and Children in Scotland.
Local support for play
6.18
At local level, support for play is spread between a number of agencies within
the statutory and voluntary sectors. This support is not co-ordinated or
strategic at the moment. Outreach support is available through Wrexham Play
Association (which also provides training), Wrexham Association of Summer
Playschemes and Offa Playschemes. All are in the voluntary sector.
6.19
Some groups receive support through membership of national play
organisations mentioned above, for instance receiving newsletters from Play
Wales.
6.20
There is a local Development Officer for Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin as well as
a local branch of Wales Preschool Playgroups Association, supporting play
with under 5s.
6.21
Work with disabled children is supported by Dynamic, another local voluntary
play organisation.
6.22
Wrexham Children’s Information Bureau has a wide range of information
relating to play, and is based within the same building as AVOW, the
Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham, which is an umbrella
organisation for the local voluntary sector that provides training, support and
advice on organisational matters such as funding and legal issues.
6.23
The Children’s Information Bureau is a part of the Council’s Library service.
6.24
There are local Early Years Forums in Brymbo/Broughton, Caia Park and Dee
Valley, which provide a focus for play development in those areas.
6.25
At present there is no formal structure, such as a Play Forum, in Wrexham
where people can meet regularly to discuss play and playwork issues, although
there seems to be a reasonably strong informal support network within the
voluntary play sector, focused on a number of organisations such as Wrexham
Play Association.
6.26
Wrexham Childcare Partnership has a Play sub-group as well as a group for
older children, rural children and disabled children.
6.27
The Youth Inclusion Project organised two summer SPLASH schemes in 2001
in Caia Park: two weeks during the Easter break and for six weeks during the
summer break. The funding for this scheme comes from Government to the
Youth Justice Board and is then distributed locally.
7. Audit of play opportunities in Wrexham
Supervised play provision
7.1
A picture of current provision was put together from information supplied by
the Integrated Activities worker. This was supplemented with information
from provider surveys carried out as part of the consultation process;
additional information from the Children’s Information Bureau; consultation
events; visits to schemes and further independent research.
7.2
Some difficulty was encountered in collecting more detailed information, e.g.
on levels of use/attendance or qualifications of staff, in some part due to the
timing of the surveys and visits (falling over the Easter holiday period), and
there was also insufficient time to establish the quality of specific provision.
7.3
A general overall picture of provision in Wrexham County Borough was
obtained however, which was confirmed through consultation responses, and
which points to a general lack of supervised provision for open access play,
with the emphasis in recent years falling more heavily on sports development
and out of school care.
7.4
There was a lack of detailed information on previous expenditure and usage of
the Play Grant, or of funding for play from other sections of the Council, so it
was not possible to establish the cost of provision for comparison with other
authorities. It was possible to compare provision with other authorities in
general terms.
7.5
The only existing performance indicators for play provision relate to
unsupervised playgrounds – play areas with fixed equipment – which are the
most common form of open access play provision in Wales. This provision is
dealt with in the next section.
7.6
Most of the supervised open access play provision in Wrexham County
Borough seems to be concentrated in the urban villages and main urban area
of Wrexham, with less provision in the rural areas. Whilst there is a reasonable
level of provision for 8-11 year olds, the younger 5-8 and older 11-16 year old
age ranges are less well provided for in terms of open access play. There are
however, a number of existing projects of high quality from which inspiration
can be drawn for the development of new and existing initiatives, for example
the Venture, which stands out as an example of effective interdisciplinary
work that addresses the needs of the local area through a playwork
perspective.
Types of supervised play provision
7.7
There is a wide range of play opportunities available in Wrexham for children
and young people aged 0-18 – not all of which are open access play provision.
7.8
Provision which does fall within the scope of open access play includes:
holiday playschemes and after school play settings with no childcare
element, adventure playgrounds, some play centres and many junior youth
clubs. Although most provision for under 5s falls under the category of
childcare, most under 5s groups place a strong emphasis on ensuring children
have opportunities for self-motivated free play.
7.9
Toddler groups and toy libraries provide ‘stay and play’ where parents or
carers stay with their children whilst they play, often joining in as appropriate.
Again, in these settings, young children are usually free to explore their own
play experiences.
7.10
Activity sessions provided by museums, libraries and parks services require
adults to accompany children and often offer opportunities for children to
explore creative play in a self-directed way.
7.11
A recent development in provision by the County Borough Council are
holiday playschemes at leisure centres targeted at children in need, identified
in partnership with local schools. Three leisure centres currently provide
schemes.
7.12
Homework clubs and out of school care schemes, while they may provide
some opportunity for play, because of their childcare or educational focus do
not fall within the category of open access play provision.
7.13
There is little if any mobile play provision in Wrexham County Borough,
although there are a number of outreach playschemes operating in the
voluntary sector.
7.14
Under 5s provision includes playgroups, many of which are run as voluntary
or self-help organisations, offering care to children on a sessional basis either
in the mornings or the afternoons, for children from the age of two and a half
upwards. Playgroups aim to provide learning through play. Wrexham has 61
playgroups and under 5s groups and 11 Welsh language playgroups
(Cylchoedd Meithrin).
7.15
Toddler groups, mentioned above, provide a vital social meeting point for
adult parents and carers as well as their children. Wrexham has over 40 toddler
groups – exact numbers are difficult to measure because there is no statutory
obligation to register: there are 41 toddler groups in Wrexham affiliated to the
Wales PPA, as well as a further 7 Cylchoedd Ti a Fi (Welsh language toddler
groups).
7.16
Whilst a number of agencies are involved in supporting play provision, the
majority of supervised play provision is delivered by the voluntary sector,
usually with grant aid support from the local authority.
7.17
Many examples of good practice exist in Wrexham with regard to open access
play provision. The Venture adventure playground in Caia Park has an
international reputation as a successful community project with a record of
tackling the issues of social inclusion and juvenile crime through preventative
work, and has been held up as a model of good practice in recent guidelines
for the Children’s Fund in England, as well as being cited as a model of good
practice in much literature about playwork.
Part 2 of the Children's Fund Guidance (p.45) cites The Venture in
Wrexham an example of a community based children's and families'
project where a range of educational, family support, crime prevention
and leisure services are build around an adventure playground
The experience of The Venture is that having at its heart a well-used and
established children's play space, which children themselves choose to
use, has enabled it to develop additional services in ways that have been
genuinely inclusive, and not stigmatising, for those children and families
in need of additional support.
London Play newsletter
7.18
The Wrexham Association of Summer Playschemes offers support for
playschemes in Brymbo, Brynteg, Tanyfron, Rhosymedre, Gwersyllt,
Hightown, Bryn Offa, Southsea and St Marks (Caia Park), and sharing
equipment with Cefn, Maesgwyn, Whitegates and Pentre Gwyn.
7.19
Wrexham Play Association, has been established for 10 years. It’s members
include nurseries, toddler groups, youth clubs and playschemes. It offers a
range of services to groups and individuals, such as:
a play resource centre
scrapstore (which gives access to recycled materials)
a toy library which includes a large selection of toys for children with
special needs
art and hobby clubs for 10-15 year olds
training in playwork skills
NVQs in playwork
7.20
The Wrexham Play Association has been awarded £100,000 this year from the
Community Fund to support and expand their current programme of art and
hobby clubs for young people aged 10-15, which attracts 20-25 children on
average. The clubs usually run two evenings a week and Saturday mornings,
and are free of charge: activities include glass painting, candle making,
waxing and making jewellery, as well as environmental field trips. Clubs run
at present in Maesgwyn, Gwersyllt and Rhos . Their aim is to develop more
clubs in deprived areas where no provision exists, including one in Wrexham
in Welsh medium.
7.21
Both groups make good use of Information and Communications Technology,
with the Venture having its own website. Wrexham Play Association are also
currently developing a website, and are a featured case study on the Business
Community Connections website for their links with local industry.
7.22
Wrexham and District Scouts are developing a 12.5 acre woodland site on
the outskirts of Wrexham to establish an Environmental Camp site taking into
account the needs of all ages and abilities, for use by any group, uniformed or
otherwise. They hope to have built a 40 bed bunk house by the end of 2002.
7.23
Family Friends for 5’s to 11’s is the only organisation of its kind in Britain,
and aims to help and support families with children aged 5 to 11 through the
use of volunteer befrienders. They run a holiday playscheme and operate a
drop-in centre for families in crisis, isolation or family breakdown - either
self-referred or through voluntary or statutory agencies.
7.24
Offa Playschemes Association provides outreach play sessions within local
communities for children over five years old, running four playschemes in the
Hightown, Bryn Offa, Maesgwyn areas and Wrexham Victoria Centre.
7.25
Wrexham Catholic Forum for Traveller Children have received £2500 two
years running from Awards for All Wales to develop the provision of nursery
education for traveller children.
7.26
Legacy Environmental Centre is located within 8 hectares of land
surrounding Lecacy substation near Wrexham, and is a partnership between
The National Grid Company and Groundwork Wrexham with additional
support from Environment Wales, Local Authorities, the Countryside Council
for Wales and local voluntary organisations. The Centre aims to demonstrate
good environmental practice and raise awareness and understanding of
environmental issues to children of all ages and abilities. The Centre provides
specialist help, information and resources on all aspects of environmental
education.
7.27
A range of specialised care services and resources for children with special
needs such as parent/toddler groups run by Maelor Children’s Centre and
the Home Advisory Service - out of school and holiday activity programmes
run by a local charity Dynamic in conjunction with the statutory agencies.
7.28
There are two National Trust properties in Wrexham, Erddig and Chirk Castle,
which put on events for children. Some events, e.g. Teddy Bears Picnic at
Erddig give free admission to children with a teddy bear, but parents still have
to pay £3.40 per adult. Most activities are charged for adults and children with
children at £1.70 or a family ticket £8.50, making this a costly activity.
7.29
The Country Parks at Ty Mawr, Alyn Waters, Nant Mill, Minera Lead Mines
and Stryt Las, put on holiday activities for children run by park rangers during
most school holidays, on an environmental theme.
7.30
The Wrexham Arts Centre also has activities for children in the holidays.
7.31
Services for young people are provided by the County Borough Council
through Wrexham Youth Service, which works with children and young
people aged from 11-25 years, with priority given to 13-19 year olds. The
Youth Service has a network of 30 Youth Clubs across Wrexham County
Borough and supports voluntary sector youth groups with local voluntary
group partnerships. The Youth Service supports a Youth Forum and runs a
mobile rural provision in the Ceiriog Valley area, WRAP – Wrexham Rural
Action Project.
7.32
The Youth Service plans to bid to Play 2002 to run 80 days of summer
activities across Wrexham County Borough including outdoor education,
performing arts, sport taster sessions, educational and recreational visits, with
an additional two camping residentials. They would like to extend summer
activities the following year to include 90 days of summer activities as per
2002-3, but including youth university projects and three camping residentials.
For 2004-5, they plan 95 days of summer activities with an international
project. Existing services for young people provided through the youth service
include Girls Group for young women aged from 11-25, Detached & Outreach
Youth Work
7.33
A strategy aimed at tackling disaffection among Gypsy and Traveller pupils
through developing alternative curricula is carried out in secondary schools in
partnership with the Wrexham Traveller Education Team. Disaffected Gypsy
and Traveller individuals are allowed a half-day relief to attend Youth Access
courses provided by the Youth Service, on subjects including mechanics and
hairdressing. The Traveller Education Team assists pupils who do not attend
school or who have been excluded in pursuing a more sustained alternative
education through the Youth Access at the local further education college.
7.34
Wrexham Traveller Education Team also runs a Mother and Toddler Group
through the Sure Start Programme, which provides a crèche for the children
and courses for the mothers, for example on child development, first aid and
cookery.
Unsupervised play provision
For many children the primary outdoor play spaces are the streets and other
open spaces near their homes. For example, a study in Hull in 1990 found that
52 per cent of children used the streets and pavements near their homes as
their most regular play space. (Armitage M, 1999) More recent studies have
continued to identify local streets, parks and neighbourhoods as important
places for children and young people’s play and free-time activities.
(O’Brien, M et al 2000, Wheway, R and Millward, A 1997, Greenhalgh, L and
Worpole, K 1995)
Making the Case for Play
7.35
A number of unsupervised play areas were visited, in a wide variety of
locations ranging from ones in Wrexham itself to small towns and villages.
7.36
The playgrounds can be deemed to fall into two broad categories: ‘visit
playgrounds’ and ‘local playgrounds’.
7.37
A visit playground is primarily in a town park or other large facility.
Children who go there will almost all be accompanied by their parents and
will have to leave when their parents leave. The ratio of adults to children is
very high indeed, usually at least one adult to every two children and
sometimes approaching one to one. These facilities are important for family
outings and are highly valued by both parents and children. Their use as a
‘play’ facility is limited by the inability of children to use them freely.
7.38
A local playground is one to which children will come and go of their own
accord because it is close to their own homes; though occasionally parents will
accompany younger children, the majority of time there will be no adults
present. Children freely chose when they want to go and leave and what
activities they undertake whilst they are on the playground. These are
therefore ‘play’ facilities.
7.39
Wrexham has made significant steps in improving its “visit” areas and these
are attractive and popular.
7.40
For historic reasons the local play areas are often poorly sited and therefore
some significant changes are needed.
7.41
Research has found that children’s preferred play places fulfilled two basic
criteria:
Where children can “see and be seen”
“Where it’s at”
Millward and Wheway for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
“See and be seen”
7.42
Though children still value secret and hidden away dens, for their regular play
place they prefer to be where they can “see and be seen” by a trusted adult;
this is usually a parent, or a friend’s parent, but might equally be a playworker,
park keeper etc.
“Where it’s at”
7.43
Children prefer to play where there is a strong possibility that they will meet
friends or other members of the community. The most obvious manifestation
for fulfilling this criterion is that children often play in front of a group of
shops. The shopkeepers afford some feeling of security because they are
known adults and, if you stay by the shops, your friends or people you know
will tend to come to the shops so you will see them there.
7.44
The research referred to above, together with further research in many parts of
the country, shows that play areas that do not fulfil these two criteria tend to
be less well-used and are more likely to be vandalised.
7.45
Wrexham, as with many Local Authorities, has a proportion of its play areas
hidden away where children are likely to feel less secure. These areas tend not
to be well used.
Children’s travel
7.46
A further limitation on children’s ability to use the play opportunities offered
by their environment is caused by restrictions on their freedom to walk or
cycle independently.
7.47
Research by The Policy Studies Institute found that “in 1971 80% of 7 and 8
year olds travelled to school unaccompanied. By 1990 this had fallen to 9%.”
7.48
It further found that “the personal freedom and choice permitted a typical 7
year old in 1971 are now (1990) not permitted until children reach the age of
about 9”.
7.49
The Policy Studies Institute found that the main reason for these restrictions
was the increased use of the motor car.
7.50
It is reasonable to assume, and further research has indicated, that these
restrictions also apply to children’s travel to and from the other opportunities
in and around their neighbourhood.
7.51
The research by Millward and Wheway found that, where children could play
out, 40% of the observations of children were of them moving purposefully in
a direction.
7.52
Taken together all these demonstrate the vital importance of children’s
freedom to walk and cycle to them being able to access such opportunities as
there are.
7.53
These restrictions are much more serious that is apparent at first sight. For, if
a child’s rang is reduced to a half then the potential area of their
neighbourhood that they can visit is reduced to a little as a quarter. If a third
then the reduction is to a ninth. If a quarter then the reduction is to a sixteenth.
7.54
This reduction in interaction with both the physical and social environment
starts to explain the exponential rise in fear of “stranger danger” at the same
time as increasing knowledge that the danger to children is from “people they
know”.
7.55
In Wrexham only limited thought has been given to children’s travel around
their neighbourhood. In addition, in some instances, play areas are the wrong
side of busy roads for the children for whose use they are intended.
Rural Play
7.56
Wrexham has some very rural areas containing hamlets. In these locations it
is unlikely that there will be sufficient resources to have a fixed equipment
playground installed, or to have a full-time playscheme even in the holidays.
7.57
In these circumstances a palette of opportunities could be offered. These
might include a mobile play facility that visits periodically e.g. a Play Bus, or
playworkers who visit periodically, or the local people may be offered a grant
to run a holiday playscheme for themselves.
Co-ordination between Departments
7.58
Co-ordination between departments is limited. Whilst from the consultation
days it was apparent that there is a willingness to work together, this does need
to be developed.
7.59
For a variety of reasons a particular type of facility, equipped playground,
holiday playscheme etc., may not be appropriate or possible at a particular
location. It is important for the children that the approach is one in which a
variety of opportunities can be considered, rather than the possibility of play
opportunities being refused purely because the department contacted is only
responsible for one type of solution.
Training and qualifications
7.60
As described above, Wrexham Play Association offers NVQs in Playwork
and a range of play related courses.
7.61
North East Wales
Institute of Higher
Education offers a
course in Early
Childhood studies and
Yale College offers
Emergency First Aid
for Playworkers and
NVQs in Playwork at
Levels 2 and 3.
8. Consultation
Feedback from strategy surveys and research
8.1
A questionnaire survey was sent out to all providers of play provision, to
collect information on provision and perceived barriers to the take up of play,
as well as to identify key issues for action. Feedback from the 22 responses
received was combined with comments from 2 consultation sessions held for
those with an interest in the development of the strategy, and input from the
strategy steering group, to inform the initial draft strategy. This draft was
presented for comment at a further consultation event, following which this
final draft has been produced.
8.2
Approximately 170 people and groups from both voluntary and statutory
sectors were involved and consulted in the development of this strategy over a
three month period. These consisted of children, young people, providers and
parents.
8.3
Meetings were held with key players and stakeholders, including officers of
the County Borough Council, providers in the voluntary sector and children
and parents both users and non-users of existing services. A number of play
areas were visited to observe children at play and, where possible, to interview
them about their use of local play facilities and their preferences for
improvements, which informed our recommendations.
8.4
Because of lack of time, we were unable to carry out extensive consultation,
particularly with the younger age range: there already exists a body of
consultation with older children which was helpful in directing the work of the
consultative team. More work will need to be done with under 8 year olds to
determine their preferences. It would also be useful to initiate some creative
consultation with disabled children and young people.
8.5
Reality check visits were made to grant aided schemes, Council-run provision
and other play settings, and an outline audit of existing provision was built up.
Schemes visited included adventure play, after school clubs, play resource
centre, holiday playschemes and leisure centre provision.
8.6
The findings from the consultations and visits were combined with further
research and the outcomes of existing consultations and strategic aims to build
up a picture of the needs of the area.
8.7
The themes that emerged from consultations were:
Raising the profile of play
8.8
There was a general feeling that there was a need to raise awareness of the
value and importance of play with parents and carers and within the wider
community, and a need to better publicise and promote existing play
provision.
8.9
A long term goal was that play would no longer be marginalized.
Professionalisation of playwork
8.10
People would like to see a greater recognition of the value of play and
playwork, with more status being accorded to playworkers, reflected in better
rates of pay, particularly in line with other workers in youth and community
work.
Training and qualification
8.11
It was felt that there was a need to train more people in playwork to provide a
well qualified and professional pool of people to work in open access play
provision in line with the values and principles of reflective playwork:
“need for more playwork trained playworkers to deliver open access
play”
and therefore a need to increase the number and range of training opportunities
for playworkers. There was also felt to be a need to have training in working
with older children and young people - perhaps there would be some benefit
from interdisciplinary work.
Consultation
8.12
There was felt to be a lack of ownership of some play provision by children
and young people, especially open access fixed equipment provision, resulting
in some play areas being unsuitable:
“parks/skatepark are about leisure not about play they offer little if
any flexibility, there are no loose parts, no room for creativity,
ownership, personal development, money for children’s play provision
needs to be carefully spent - and with direct consultation with children
and young people”
8.13
There was a need for more involvement of children and young people and
more effective consultation to be undertaken in developing new and existing
provision:
“outreach, street work, schools, questionnaires, links with youth
clubs, encourage young people to take ownership, children doing
consultation with other children, this process should build
ownership.”
Co-ordinating Play
8.14
A unanimous response was the need for more effective central co-ordination
of provision and support for play so as to make more effective use of
resources, physical, human and financial. It was felt that there would be
benefits from having a central point of contact for support and information
relating to play.
8.15
An in-depth audit of existing play provision, including proper consultation
with children and young people, and a needs analysis, would help identify
gaps in provision.
8.16
An initial step would be the employment of a play development worker to coordinate this work and help establish a play forum of all those with an interest
in play within the County Borough, from both statutory and voluntary sectors,
to encourage interagency and cross departmental work.
8.17
A starting point for this work would be the development of a child-led Play
Policy, linked to a strategic commitment at the highest levels of the County
Borough Council, and a related Play Strategy. A corporate approach to
developing a policy for play provision would lead to a shared understanding
and commitment to play, and better communication between those different
agencies with responsibility for play.
8.18
A co-ordinated approach would better place those involved in responding
creatively to new initiatives and developments such as the Cymorth fund. Also
needed were play ambassadors, with influence at elected member level, who
could act as advocates for play: it was even suggested that a separate
directorate for play be established.
Developing a range of provision
8.19
There was a need to develop a range of play provision, including purpose built
open access provision, Welsh medium provision, community led schemes,
provision for 5-8 year olds, better provision for disabled children, more open
access outdoor play areas and green spaces, support for e.g. mothers, greater
links with museums, galleries, arts organisations, and libraries in innovative
approaches such as centres for curiosity and imagination, developing more
streets safe for play with traffic calming, creating better routes for children’s
travel through better cycle routes, traffic free zones and good paths. Better
staffing in play areas and more supervised provision in local parks.
Access
8.20
There were key issues for those in rural areas of transport, and there was a
clear need for mobile provision, in the form of a playbus or outreach
playschemes. Cost was also an issue and provision should be free at the point
of taking it up.
Funding/Resourcing/Supporting Play
8.21
There was need for better funding support, especially for existing projects, to
enable sustainability: an integrated approach was needed from all those with
funding responsibility for play – education, leisure, youth, health, social
services. Initiatives such as the assisted places scheme were felt to be helpful
in enabling schemes to remain viable. Longer term funding was felt to be the
most important step that could be taken to create a funding environment that
promotes sustainability of existing services. It was also felt that it was
important to keep play specific funding once the unified fund came online, and
that any panel determining the allocation of grants for play should include
people who had playwork training and experience:
“funding for play is not spent effectively which results in play being
marginalized”
8.22
As well as providing local funding, there was a need to lever additional
funding, and again support could be provided to groups with this. Funding of
existing initiatives could provide support.
8.23
There were other areas of support which could be useful – e.g. bulk buy
materials and help with police checks, support for voluntary management
committees. There was also a need for more human resources – in the shape of
trained playworkers, and a need to foster closer links with organisations
supporting play at regional and national level, e.g. Play Wales.
Quality of play provision
8.24
There was a need to increase the
quality of existing play provision,
through ensuring a child-centred
service, disseminating best
practice, and better monitoring
and evaluation of the use of
facilities and the play value of
provision. One step towards this
could be the development of local
performance indicators for play,
which would assist in preparing
for Best Value.
8.25
People would like to see more
children playing.
9. Findings from previous consultations
9.1
As part of the West Wrexham URBAN II planning process, an
environmental audit was undertaken by DTZ Pieda Consulting during July
2000, which considered the general streetscape, community facilities, public
open space, and vacant and derelict sites. Among the key messages emerging
from the audit and relating to West Wrexham were criticisms of out-dated play
equipment and lack of facilities in some areas, despite reasonable levels of
public open space.
9.2
A residents survey undertaken as part of the same planning process showed
that in total nearly 50% of the surveyed residents in West Wrexham would
like to see better services, leisure or community facilities available locally.
Among the most popular ideas suggested facilities for teenagers and young
people and children’s play areas.
9.3
Residents felt that leisure facilities and play areas are unevenly spread in the
area, and highlighted the importance of having more and improved facilities to
promote a sense of community and provide children and young people with
activities.
9.4
A childcare audit carried out by the Children’s Information Bureau as part of
the Early Years Development and Childcare Plan identified a shortage of
out of school care during the school holidays for children and young people
aged 11-14, and a lack of affordable childcare for children of all ages
including babies.
9.5
The audit highlighted parents’ and carers’ concerns about the quality of care in
some childcare services and a shortage of qualified staff.
9.6
The need for flexible childcare was identified – with a lack of early morning,
evening, overnight, weekend and emergency childcare provision, and a
shortage of childcare provision in rural areas, particularly for parents without
the use of a car.
9.7
There was a lack of inclusive provision for children with special needs, and no
Welsh medium day nursery or out of school club.
9.8
It was felt that there was not enough encouragement and support for parents
who choose to stay at home.
9.9
An audit of the needs of parents of children with disabilities was carried out in
November 1999, following which a successful bid was made to New
Opportunities Fund Out of School Hours Learning programme to enable the
integration of children aged 7-11 with mild to moderate physical and learning
disabilities into the most appropriate after school club.
9.10
A survey of children aged 10-14 was undertaken by the Children’s
Information Bureau in September 1999 to determine the kinds of activities
they would like to take part in out of school hours. Of 4100 questionnaires
sent out, 1311 were returned, and the most popular responses were: sport
(57%), outdoor activities (57%), indoor games (49%) and using
computers/internet (48%). Arts/crafts (32%) and drama (30%) were the next
most popular choices. A new holiday club for this age was set up in April
2000 in Yale College with New Opportunities Funding based on the responses
from this survey.
9.11
Demand for Welsh medium provision has been audited through various
means – local education authority/Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin/Children’s
Information Bureau – and needs identified in two areas of Wrexham.
9.12
Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin believes that the local element is essential,
therefore an attempt is made to establish a Cylch Meithrin and a Cylch Ti a Fi
group within easy reach of everybody.
9.13
A range of Welsh medium training exists within the different sectors, but
there is still a shortage of Welsh speaking childcare workers - a campaign to
recruit Welsh speaking workers was begun in 1999.
9.14
A survey of play areas was also undertaken by Play Sub-Group of the
Wrexham Childcare Partnership. 24 community councils responded and “first
indications are that facilities are inadequate with some equipment in need of
urgent repair”.
9.15
Aim to establish a preschool resource centre for multi agency use in
Gwersyllt (Sure Start area) - an early years resource centre has already been
established at the Lea teachers’ conference centre at Erlas.
9.16
Sure Start commissioned a
consultant to review of
existing programmes in the
Sure Start areas. The
consultant’s findings
showed that parents were
concerned with the lack of
safe play opportunities for
children. They cited fences
that remained in a state of
disrepair as a safety hazard
for their children. They
wanted safe, open access
and outdoor play spaces for
their children.
10 Key issues in play and playwork
Making the case for play: a study in England
10.1
A recent study of research into children’s play carried out by the Children’s
Play Council in England highlighted a number of issues for play, many of
which are reflected in the feedback and findings in the previous sections:
Children’s views are not universally sought - different groups of children
have different needs and wishes
There is a lack of planning and a need to work together to an agreed set of
values and principles in an interdisciplinary way
Local authority Members need to engage more actively with children and
play provision
There is a need for a strategic approach to providing all children with a
range of provision for good play opportunities, including initially
establishing what needs to be done
Local play networks and associations need supporting to develop the local
infrastructure
There is a need to gain support from parents and carers and “win over”
the community
Some groups of children are denied play opportunities because they are
disabled or have specific needs, are from black and minority ethnic
communities - including children of refugees and asylum seekers and
Traveller children, are in families with low incomes, live in rural areas,
are homeless, or not able to access opportunities appropriate to their age,
needs and wishes
Play opportunities are under threat in many areas
Children want excitement, but providers are concerned about liability –
issues of play and risk and the need for adventure and challenge in
childhood
There is a need for quality control and assurance, but also a concern with
over regulation
Staffing issues - developing and maintaining a skilled workforce
Funding and resource issues
Need for research into play and school aged children
Key issues in Wrexham
10.2
Many of the issues facing Wrexham are shared with other areas of Wales and
the rest of the United Kingdom, as shown in the previous sections. The key
issues can be summarised as follows:
Coordination and consultation
10.3
There is a need for more effective and strategic planning, delivery and support
of play services, including effective consultation with all those with an interest
in play, especially children. A first step towards this would be the appointment
of a play development officer, setting up of an interdisciplinary, cross sector
Play Forum and the development of a play policy with active involvement of
children.
An effective corporate play policy is founded on:
A clear articulation of what is meant by play.
Commitment to respond to children’s needs and wishes.
A play policy should be a practical working tool that addresses issues
affecting children’s play. A play policy will make explicit:
The objectives of play provision and services.
The connection between acceptable levels of risk and play.
A presumption in favour of inclusive provision.
Criteria for a quality play environment.
Play as an aspect of children’s cultural life.
The need to create play opportunities in the general environment.
PLAYLINK, 2002
Promotion and status
10.4
If play and playworkers are to receive the status they deserve, there needs to
be active work done to raise awareness with parents and carers and the wider
community of the benefits of play for both children and communities:
If children’s opportunities for free play are not to be limited by
hostility from some adults in the local community, considerable work
needs to be done to persuade all local residents of the importance and
benefits of play to the whole community as well as to children and
young people. They need to understand that children have the same
right to public spaces as they do, that children need to and benefit from
play and that providing good, attractive play opportunities is good for
the whole community as well.
Unequal access and inequalities
10.5
Inequalities in provision or access to provision, and attitudes, practices and
policies which discriminate against or marginalize children because of their
ability, age, race, language, cultural or family background, lifestyle,
geographical or economic circumstances need to be addressed and positive
steps taken to remove barriers and increase access for all children.
Range of provision and sustainability
10.6
It is important that children are able to access a range of opportunities for play
that meet the differing needs and circumstances, and which allow them to
experience a wide range of play types, including an element of acceptable
challenge and risk.
In 2002 the Play Safety Forum, a DCMS-sponsored advisory body that
brings together the leading national organizations involved in play
safety, agreed a position statement on the need to take a balanced
approach to safety in play provision, entitled Managing risks in play
provision. In summary form the statement says: ‘Children need and
want to take risks when they play. Play provision aims to respond to
these needs and wishes by offering children stimulating, challenging
environments for exploring and developing their abilities. In doing
this, play provision aims to manage the level of risk so that children
are not exposed to unacceptable risks of death or serious injury.’
Quality and training
10.7
There is a need to ensure a well trained, qualified and experienced work force
in play, with clear routes for those who want to gain experience or take up
training, along with effective monitoring and evaluation of the quality of play
provision, not only on the basis of meeting accepted national standards
relating to organisation, health and safety, but also and more importantly with
regard to the quality of play opportunities provided, and the responsiveness of
the provision to the needs and wishes of the children and communities
concerned.
Resources and funding
10.8
Issues of long term funding along with strategies for the recruitment and
retention of staff in playwork need to be addressed if play provision is to be
sustainable in the future.
Local funding for children’s play comes from a large number of
sources, and is often not well coordinated at local level. Individuals,
projects, partnerships, neighbourhood groups and local government
departments apply to a myriad of funds for resourcing play provision
with, in some areas, little systematic coordination or planning between
fund raisers. Much of the funding given is for capital investment or
short tern `pilot’ or `start-up’ projects with little thought being given
to long-term sustainability.
Fundamental to the provision of good play opportunities for all
children and young people is secure funding and commitment of
resources. Historically, play provision has suffered from under
funding, short-term funding, and cuts in existing funding. New funding
opportunities are often time limited and frequently targeted towards
capital rather then revenue expenditure. If children, families and
communities are to benefit from a full range of play provision, secure
funding must be available to planners and providers.
11. Strategy aims and objectives
11.1
Wrexham recognises the key role of play in children’s development and that
play takes place indoors, outdoors, in supervised and unsupervised facilities.
Wrexham also understands that children need to have access to a range of play
opportunities. Furthermore, Wrexham recognises that children have a right to
play and that this right must be promoted, respected and protected. Wrexham
is committed to children’s right to play and will implement this commitment
through its Play strategy.
11.2
The overall aim of the Play Strategy is to increase the quantity and
quality of play opportunities for all children in Wrexham.
11.3
The objectives of the strategy are to:
Develop a co-ordinated approach to play
Develop a co-ordinated approach to play in Wrexham that involves all sectors,
and works across directorates and disciplines to provide the best play
opportunities for all children in Wrexham
Raise the profile of play
Raise the profile of play in Wrexham through effective promotion of the value
of play and playwork and recognition of the quality of work done in Wrexham
to provide for children’s play needs by ensuring pay and conditions reflect the
need for experienced and qualified workers in play
Develop a play service that is accessible to all children
Enable all children to access good quality play opportunities by addressing the
factors that prevent children from accessing play provision and ensuring that
provision takes into account the differing needs and lifestyles of all children in
Wrexham
Develop existing and new opportunities
Develop existing and new play opportunities for children in Wrexham through
creative provision for a range of play experiences according to the needs,
wishes and circumstances of all children, building on existing good practice
and addressing existing gaps in provision
Develop the quality of play opportunities for children
Increase the quality of play opportunities for children in Wrexham, through
effective monitoring, evaluation and improvement of provision and the
development of a highly skilled, trained and motivated workforce.
Develop a service that is properly resourced and supported
Develop play services that are properly resourced and supported in partnership
with other agencies in the voluntary, community and statutory sector
The rationale and detailed objectives under each aim are explained in more
detail in the following pages.
Strategy objectives
1.
Develop a co-ordinated approach to play
Rationale
Children’s play is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically
motivated behaviour and is a biological drive. Play can, and will, happen
anywhere and everywhere. Children’s play is not restricted to the outdoors but
can happen in a range of spaces and places such as after school clubs,
museums, libraries and leisure centres. With ever decreasing opportunities for
‘free play’, i.e. where children can play freely wherever they want, the need
for a co-ordinated, systematic approach to the provision of good quality play
opportunities for children is critical.
The consultations showed that opportunities for play were offered by a range
of agencies. This clearly demonstrated that play is impacted on by a number of
services. The development of play opportunities to date has not been coordinated but rather has been reliant on the commitment of individuals who
have driven the play agenda forward, often with limited resources.
Service providers identified a co-ordinated approach to play as a key objective
for Play in Wrexham. The report of one of the consultancy team confirms and
reinforces this need:
Co-ordination between departments is limited. Whilst from the
consultation days it was apparent that there is a willingness to work
together, this does need to be developed.
For a variety of reasons a particular type of facility, equipped
playground, holiday playscheme etc., may not be appropriate or
possible at a particular location. It is important for the children that
the approach is one in which a variety of opportunities can be
considered, rather than the possibility of play opportunities being
refused purely because the department contacted is only responsible
for one type of solution.
A co-ordinated approach to play in Wrexham, which includes effective
consultation with children and young people and their communities, can
enhance current provision, develop new provision and provide a focused
service that is of the highest quality.
Consultation with the voluntary sector, local communities, children and young
people and other service providers will enable a productive, appropriate and
inclusive service delivery. Consultation therefore needs to be at the heart of
the service. Partnership with the voluntary sector will be vital to the success of
a local authority play service. The play service can build from the voluntary
sector experience, expertise and knowledge of play.
Targets
2.
1.1
Establish a Play Development section within Wrexham County
Borough Council. Ensure this section has an identity and function
that is independent of other sections within the local authority
1.2
Establish a Play Forum consisting of all statutory and voluntary
sector play providers and other interested parties
1.3
Establish a children and young people’s play forum that can advise
the Play Forum on initiatives in play
1.4
Develop a play policy
1.5
Establish a comprehensive consultation process on matters
affecting children’s play
1.6
Carry out play impact assessments on all council departmental
policies and strategies
1.7
Establish a Play Information service, as a first port of call for those
needing support with play and playwork information or advice, in
line with national minimum standards of service as laid out in
forthcoming guidance
Raise the profile of play
Rationale
Research demonstrates the importance of play for children. Tina Bruce, a play
specialist, writes children who play:
Feel in control, free to experiment with and transform real life. Play helps
children to find ways of making their lives manageable.
Try out different aspects of family life and try to get things under control.
Spend time exploring and working out their relationships with people close
to them.
Experiment with pretending to be different people, particularly role models
but also people they fear or dislike.
By experimenting with being a baddie or goodie, find out in a safe way,
free from real life, how people feel or behave or react when people are
nice to others, or make themselves disliked.
Relate to larger questions of life: goodness, evil and justice for example. In
their play children use these ideas and thus play helps them to think deeply
about these concepts.
Are encouraged in their sense of humour.
Are helped through emotional pain, if they have experienced traumatic
situations, for example the children Anna Freud helped to play after they
survived concentration camps in Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
Are encouraged to have good ideas and think creatively as well as feel
good and enjoy being together with other children.
Can have great fun.
Develop their ability to plan.
The importance of play for children’s healthy development is understood by
playworkers and child development theorists. However this is less well known
to those outside of the play sector. The need to promote play in Wrexham was
evident through the consultations.
Raising awareness of the nature and significance of play needs to take place at
a number of levels such as:
to parents
Council Members
local authority officers not directly responsible for any play provision e.g.
planners and the housing sector
local community groups
The consultation days were a first step to promoting play to a of range
interests and service providers. As more and more people understand why play
is important, service providers in particular can design and deliver a service
that complements and augments good quality play opportunities for children.
Targets
2.1
Promote the play strategy
2.2
Raise the awareness of the importance of play
2.3
Promote play through events such as the August Playday
2.4
Wrexham County Borough Council to adopt the New Charter for
Children’s Play and other significant documents that can guide the
development of play opportunities for children
2.5
Create a discreet, recognisable identity for the Play Development
section
3.
Develop a play service that is accessible to all children
Rationale
Studies have shown that some children’s ability to access play opportunities is
limited for a variety of reasons such as:
inadequate transport provision
discriminatory practices of service providers
inappropriate location of venues
provision too expensive
Our consultation showed that some children in Wrexham face a number of
barriers that prevent them from accessing play provision such as:
lack of transport to the play facility (particularly for disabled children and
children living in rural areas)
prejudice about children (especially young people who just wanted to
“hang out” on the streets)
Play provision that was used by large numbers of children were ones that:
offered local provision
were free or very cheap
children could come and go as they pleased (open access schemes)
had suitably trained staff
Dominant views about certain children mean they are denied equal access to
play opportunities. Wrexham County Borough Council already seeks to
address exclusion. To ensure all children have access to good quality play
opportunity, it will need to continue to proactively challenge and overcome
barriers facing marginalised groups of children.
When addressing the needs of children in rural areas or those isolated by lack
of affordable transport, creative responses are needed: for instance, when
considering mobile provision, a traditional playbus may not be the ideal
solution for rural areas with low bridges, narrow roads, and small spaces, but
appropriate mobile provision can provide additionality for existing schemes
and allows for flexibility of deployment. Mobile provision has been used to
great effect in work with Traveller children and others who have poor access
to community facilities and resources: a ‘playbus’ (even when it’s not a bus)
can provide an advice and information point, as well as operating as a mobile
play centre, youth centre, after school club, toddler group, or arts centre.
Providing universal services can also support to those children who are most
in need, often as effectively as targeted services can do:
Whilst the debate between targeted and universal services remains
central to many areas of service provision within health and education,
in other areas such as play… it is hardly being addressed at all… the
universal recognition of the importance of preventative work is futile
without realistic consideration of the fact that universal provision,
particularly in many areas of greatest need, is now so inadequate or
inaccessible as to be virtually non-existent for many children in need.
Further investment in the development and provision of these
preventative universal services is therefore needed as a matter of
urgency.
Targets
4.
3.1
Develop a play service that can meet the needs of all children
3.2
Increase play opportunities for marginalised groups of children,
including traveller children and children of refugees and asylum
seekers
3.3
Provide transport to enable children to access play opportunities
3.4
Increase play opportunities for children living in rural areas
3.5
Increase inclusive play opportunities for disabled children
3.6
Provide free or low cost play opportunities to ensure all children
can access good quality play opportunities
3.7
Develop a network of local venues easily accessible on foot or
without private transport
3.8
Ensure play provision reflects the cultural heritage and diversity
of Wales and addresses the need for Welsh medium provision
Develop existing and new opportunities
Rationale
The audit of existing provision demonstrates that a reasonable range of play
opportunities are already available to children in Wrexham, from outdoor play
areas to supervised, open access play projects. In addition to the provision of
the County Borough Council itself, a number of other organisations, primarily
in the voluntary sector, are delivering these play opportunities. Some provide
for children across the age range and others are for specific ages. The type of
provision currently available includes:
Local Playgrounds
Toddler Groups
Preschool Playgroups
Playgroups Plus
Cylchoedd Meithrin
Cylchoedd Meithrin +
Visit Playgrounds
Children’s environmental and wildlife groups
Holiday Playschemes
Adventure Playgrounds
After School Clubs
Leisure Centre Playschemes
Dragon Sports
Activity Sessions at Parks
Activity Sessions in Museums and Libraries
Existing providers would benefit from support (financial and otherwise) to
extend their provision. This support can take many forms such as information
dissemination, support for police checks to be carried out on workers,
developing a pool of playworkers that could be drawn upon and the facilitation
of partnership work.
The gaps in provision include most notably in the rural areas of the County
Borough and in the provision for older children. While there is a lot of
provision for children aged between 8 and 11 years old, there is little in the
way of open access play provision for 4 to 7 year olds. Most of the provision
for this age range is in the form of childcare. One of the reasons for this is no
doubt the need to register provision for children under 8. There has been a
growing trend over the years for this age range to be left out of provision for
this reason.
During the consultations, a number of respondents from the larger voluntary
organisations identified a need to support new types of play provision not
delivered by themselves. In this respect, local community-led provision would
be particularly significant in extending the existing range of play opportunities
for children. Establishment of new provision will require effective
partnerships and sharing of resources as well as a need to attract new funding.
Support for development and extension of existing provision, when coupled
with creation of new opportunities for children’s play will enable Wrexham to
meet these identified gaps in current provision.
There is a recognised need to provide a range of opportunities for play for all
children:
Children and young people need to be able to play in the ways most suited
to their own nature, interests and abilities regardless of their background
or circumstances. Work from the play sector shows that all children need
to be able to choose from a range of play places and provision which offer
them:
varied and interesting physical environments
physically challenging environments;
access to natural elements – earth, water, fire, air
places for movement including running, jumping, rolling, climbing,
balancing places where they can manipulate natural and fabricated
materials
experiences which stimulate their senses
places to experience change in the natural and built environment
opportunities for social interactions
opportunities to play with their identity;
environments where they can experience a whole range of emotions.
Making the Case for Play
Targets
5.
4.1
Develop a range of play opportunities that cater for different types
of play and the needs of different ages and abilities of children.
These should range from outdoor, unsupervised play spaces to
supervised, indoor provision.
4.2
Work in partnership with local authority departments such as
Countryside Services, Parks and Planning and voluntary sector
organisations to ensure children can play safely in open spaces
such as parks, streets and other public and open spaces
4.3
Develop a mobile play project with a team of playworkers that can
offer good quality play opportunities for children in urban and
rural settings
4.4
Increase community-led play provision
Develop the quality of play opportunities for children
Rationale
Training and qualification
Increased investment in play and a growth in play provision will increase the
demand for skilled and trained playworkers who understand the principles of
play and playwork. Meeting this demand for qualified people will be critical to
the success of a thriving, quality play service.
Training in a variety of play related topics such as creative activities, child
protection and first aid is currently available, and provides valuable support
for adults new to playwork such as leisure centre workers running an Easter
playscheme for the first time. There is however a need to encourage greater
take up of recognised qualification courses such as the NVQ in playwork to
ensure that workers are available who have a depth and breadth of knowledge
of playwork values and principles.
During the consultation, it has become evident that adults who are committed
to children’s play and to playwork are being forced out of the profession
because of a lack of recognition and its low status. Lack of appropriate support
and supervision can also contribute to low morale and demotivation.
Physical environment
In addition to investment in developing a skilled workforce, ensuring the
physical environment for play was safe and stimulating was important. One
member of the consultation group wrote:
…broken bottles are…regularly found in our nearby park…also in
some parks syringes from drug takers are evident. Because of these
sorts of activities carried out in our parks and “green spaces”
parents/carers are wary of letting their children visit them
unaccompanied. Perhaps we need to bring back park keepers…The
final point is dog mess. Some days it is quite an effort to miss it
especially on the journey to and from school.
Children commented about their local park:
It a boring park because all there is grass. There’s nothing interesting
here, just flat fields.
Assessment, monitoring and evaluation
Developing rigorous criteria for the assessment of play opportunities can
enable organisations to develop a provision that meets standards of quality.
Regular monitoring and evaluation of the services would also support the
continuing development of quality play opportunities and a workforce
committed to providing a quality play service.
Existing standards on play provision from the Care Standards Inspectorate for
Wales focus specifically on organisational and safety issues around play
provision: it is essential that provision meets these standards, but to ensure a
quality range of play experiences for children, play provision also needs to
address other quality issues such as those contained within The First Claim,
the play quality assurance scheme developed by Play Wales, and Best Play,
from the Children’s Play Council, which lists key objectives for play
provision.
Local performance indicators to evaluate play policies and strategies are being
developed on behalf of the Audit, and these should also be addressed along
with other relevant Best Value performance indicators (see appendix one).
Targets
5.1
Ensure that all provision meets the relevant national standards
for open access play provision and that all people working in
play are suitable to do so.
5.2
Establish a training and education programme that develops a
skilled, knowledgeable workforce (both paid and unpaid) that
understands the values and principles of play and playwork.
5.3
Ensure all training and education is rooted in the principles
and values of play and playwork as identified in the National
Occupational Standards and Best Play.
5.4
Ensure all those offering play opportunities on a regular basis
participate in The First Claim quality assurance scheme
developed by Play Wales, in line with guidance in the Welsh
Assembly Government’s Childcare Action Plan.
5.5
Wrexham County Borough Council and voluntary
organisations should consult play providers on adopting the
Joint National Committee on Training for Playwork (JNCTP)
Charter for Training and Education (See appendix two).
5.6
Develop assessment criteria to assess the quality of play
opportunities offered by play facilities.
5.7
Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the play
strategy.
5.8
Ensure systems for effective monitoring and evaluation of
spending on play provision.
5.9
Ensure play development in Wrexham is informed by good
practice locally, nationally, UK wide and internationally.
5.10
Ensure that playworkers in Wrexham have opportunities to
engage in wider debates and consultations about play and
playwork developments at regional and national level and
beyond.
5.11
Provide opportunities for children and young people to meet
and make friends with children and young people from other
localities and countries.
6.
Develop a service that is properly resourced and supported
Rationale
A number of surveys and project evaluations have demonstrated that
investment in play leads to benefits for children and young people, service
providers, local communities and parents. For example:
play helps with developing physically health bodies which means less
overweight children
Summer playschemes have contributed in crime reduction
children and communities feel safer when children are able to play out in
their neighbourhood
and play helps bring communities together
Given the substantial benefits of play, it would be prudent for Wrexham
County Borough Council to invest in this important activity.
Wrexham Maelor Council used to fund over 30 open access free holiday
playschemes, delivered as direct provision through Leisure Services, which
were cut when Wrexham became a unitary authority due to lack of funds.
Currently, play is provided largely by voluntary organisations that are reliant
on fund-raising success and support from a variety of different local authority
departments to continue their services. This picture is now changing with the
growing recognition of play locally, nationally and UK wide:
I cannot think of anything else that offers so much to children – all
those benefits and fun too! Play is not only important to the quality of
life of children, it is of great importance for the country’s future, to the
creative industries and for the economy.
Chris Smith, Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport (1998)
100% of children in Sure Start areas to have access to good quality
play and early learning opportunities, helping progress towards early
learning goals when they get to school.
Sure Start target
Locally support for play through the National Assembly comes in the form of
the Play Grant within the Children and Youth Partnership Fund. This is an
important source of funding for many organisations and for the development
of new provision. However, this funding on its own cannot meet the play
needs of all children aged 0-18 throughout Wrexham County Borough. Core
funding from within the County Borough Council will:
signal Wrexham County Borough Council’s commitment to play
provide the resource to implement the strategy
Additional sources of funding can also be attracted: for example, through the
New Opportunities Fund ‘Enfys’ scheme for Green Spaces and Sustainable
Communities in Wales, funds are available to develop public outdoor spaces.
Money drawn from external sources such as this, matched with core funding
from the local authority, can add up to meaningful investment in children’s
play, the benefits of which will exceed the amount invested.
Targets
6.1
Develop a funding plan and structure within Wrexham County
Borough Council that supports the development of good quality
play opportunities for children and for the implementation of the
strategy
6.2
Support initiatives that increase access to play opportunities for all
children
6.3
Encourage innovation in children’s play opportunities
6.4
Identify additional funding to develop play opportunities
6.5
Identify funding that enables communities to provide play
opportunities for children in the local communities
6.6
Support the development of play resource centres with scrap
materials, loan/hire equipment and bulk buy materials to enable
groups to offer a wide range of creative play opportunities
Wrexham Play Strategy 2002-2007
Strategic Action Plan
In year one (2002-2003)
1.
Develop a co-ordinated
approach to play
1.1
Establish a play development
section within Wrexham County
Borough Council. Ensure this
section has an identity and
function that is independent of
other sections within the local
authority.
Identify roles and responsibilities
of play development section:
develop clear aims, objectives, &
priorities, exploring existing
models of play development
within other local authorities as a
starting point.
Refer to national strategies
relating to children’s play at all
times during this process,
particularly those affecting
children’s services such as the
Childcare Action Plan produced
by the Welsh National Assembly
in May 2002 and the forthcoming
Cymorth guidance.
By year three (2005)
Ensure that the play development
section has an established
identity and acts as the reference
point for all policy and strategy
development that may impact on
children’s play opportunities.
Assess the effectiveness of crossdepartmental work on increasing
the quality and quantity of play
opportunities for children.
Continue to liaise between
departments within WCBC to
ensure the effective and efficient
provision of play opportunities.
Undertake internal and external
consultations to obtain
agreements on the most effective
operational, management and
funding situation for the play
development section.
Review the effectiveness of the
play development section and
develop a strategy to increase its
provision and its effectiveness.
Obtain endorsement from elected
Members for the play
Ensure play development section
is working in partnership with the
By year five (2007)
Comprehensive review and
consultation regarding the play
development section, its aims,
objectives and priorities.
Consolidate the work of the play
development section and identify
new areas for development.
Refer to local, national, UK-wide
and international developments in
best practice in play in developing
play opportunities for children in
Wrexham County Borough.
development section, its aims and
objectives.
voluntary sector and other
sections of WCBC to continue
developing good quality play
opportunities.
Draw up a work programme for
the play development section in
consultation with voluntary and
statutory sector service providers.
Implement, monitor and evaluate
the work plan and set amended
objectives and targets.
Ensure the work programme is in
harmony with local, national and
UK-wide developments in play
and playwork.
Increase core funding and identify
additional sources of funding to
expand the play development
section’s service provision.
Develop job descriptions and
person specifications for the play
development workers.
Recruit additional workers to meet
any expansion in the play service.
Recruit a play development officer
and other staff to implement the
strategy. Ensure staff in the play
development section are properly
qualified and conversant with the
principles and values of play and
playwork, and also have a
working knowledge of the play
needs of under 5s and over 14s.
1.2
Establish a Play Forum
consisting of all statutory and
voluntary sector play providers
and other interested parties.
The play development officer will
work with partners in play, such
as existing voluntary/statutory
sector providers of play
The Play Forum is actively sought
out for views on play in Wrexham,
and is able to respond effectively
and efficiently to all developments
Review and evaluate the impact
and the work of the Play Forum.
Develop a five year strategy and
sector providers of play
opportunities to clarify the aims,
remit, roles and responsibilities of
the Play Forum.
Ensure Play Forum is structurally
located as a mandatory consulting
body on all issues on play within
the local authority.
Establish the operating
mechanism of the Play Forum.
and efficiently to all developments
in play in Wrexham.
work programme for the Play
Forum.
The Play Forum has a sound
funding structure enabling it to
expand its base of activities and
support for organisations wishing
to develop play opportunities.
Monitor and review effectiveness
of the Play Forum. Identify and
meet gaps in provision.
Develop a fund-raising strategy.
Develop a work programme for
the Play Forum that complements
that of the play development
section.
Ensure play development section
and Play Forum meet on a regular
basis to plan strategically for play.
Identify and redress any gaps in
representation on the Play Forum.
1.3
Establish a children and young
people’s play forum that can
advise the Play Forum on
initiatives in play.
Identify existing children and
young people’s forum.
Establish suitable and appropriate
mechanisms to include them in all
consultation on issues about play.
Establish how the forum will be
d db h
Develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy to carry out
projects of interest to the children
and young people.
Carry out projects that take into
account the view of the most
marginalised groups of children
Review and evaluate: set
priorities, goals & targets for next
three years
Ensure these take into account
the need to bring new children
and young people into the forum.
supported and by whom.
and young people.
Establish the forum’s work
programme.
Increase confidence of all
involved, but in particular younger
children’s abilities to participate in
the forum.
Identify how marginalised groups
of children can be included in the
consultation process.
Identify initial funding to support
the forum.
Identify gaps in representation on
the forum and seek to redress
these - e.g. disabled children and
children from minority
communities
1.4
Develop a play policy.
Carry out more comprehensive
consultations with children and
young people, communities and
statutory and voluntary sector
providers on the development of a
play policy for Wrexham.
Monitor, review and develop the
play policy. The policy should be
developed in light of new issues in
play, playwork and society.
Review and evaluate the
implementation of the policy.
Revise if necessary.
Ensure everyone is kept informed
of the developments in play
through a variety of means such
as leaflets, articles in the
newspapers, radio and other
media, schools and local
community initiatives.
Research and develop further
effective consultation methods.
Write a play policy.
Elected Members adopt the
policy.
1.5
Establish a comprehensive
consultation process on
matters affecting children’s
play.
Consider how the Play Forum and
children & young people’s forum
can support consultation process.
Develop range of tools & methods
for consulting effectively with all
involved on:
Hold consultation meetings on the
play needs of children and the
play development plan for the
next three years.
development & implementation
of the play strategy
any policies, strategic plans
and operational structures
across all directorates that may
have an impact on children’s
play
Regular consultation events are
held as play in Wrexham
continues to develop and grow.
any further play needs, paying
particular attention to the
needs of marginalised groups
1.6
1.7
Carry out play impact
assessments on all council
departmental policies and
strategies.
Establish a play information
service, as a first port of call
for those needing support
with play and playwork
information or advice, in line
with national minimum
standards of service as laid
out in forthcoming guidance.
Develop play impact assessment
criteria in consultations with play
providers and end users, to
determine the effect of action on
children’s play opportunities.
Play impact assessment criteria
are widely used as a tool for
consultation in all developments
that may affect children and their
opportunities to play.
Establish how the play impact
assessment will be carried out on
all departmental policies and
strategies within the Council.
Obtain feedback on the use of the
criteria in practice and refine them
as necessary.
Consult widely on how best to
develop this service. The existing
Children’s Information Bureau
should play a significant role in
the development of a play
information service.
Expand the service provision to
ensure it can respond to the
increased profile of play and play
provision.
Identify the remit of the service, its
roles and responsibilities.
Establish its working relationship
with the play development
Recruit additional workers to
promote and deliver this service.
Identify increased resources to
deliver an effective service.
Review and evaluate the
ff i
f h
i
Review and if necessary revise
impact assessment criteria.
Make these widely available to
local authority officers.
Comprehensive review of the
service and develop a five year
strategy.
section.
effectiveness of the service.
Obtain funding to develop a
comprehensive and efficient
service.
Recruit workers with a knowledge
of play and playwork to deliver the
service.
Develop a work programme for
the play information service.
2.
Raise the profile of play in
Wrexham
2.1
Promote the play strategy.
Promote the strategy to all areas
that impact on children’s play
including Council officers and
elected Members.
Hold a series of events to
promote the importance of play
such as conferences, festivals,
indoor and outdoor activities.
Produce a short version of the
strategy for promotional purposes.
Organise a UK-wide event on
play.
Hold a conference for adults
involved in children’s play (such
as Parks, Countryside services,
Leisure, Libraries, Arts, Youth,
Sports, Museums and Voluntary
organisations) to promote the
importance of play and potential
impact different Council strategies
may have on play opportunities,
and to launch the play strategy.
Ensure input from children and
young people in the conference.
Develop a five year strategy to
promote play in Wrexham.
Promote the new play strategy
2.2
Raise the awareness of the
importance of play.
Develop a marketing strategy for
the play section to promote the
importance of play.
Work in partnership with the Arts
section and others to organise
activities for Playday.
Promote the importance of play to
parents and local communities.
Monitor, review and evaluate the
effectiveness of the marketing
strategy.
Continue to hold events to
promote the importance of play
such as conferences, festivals,
indoor and outdoor activities.
Enlist the support of parents and
local communities to promote
play.
Review the effectiveness of the
marketing strategy.
Ensure play development section
and Play Forum are represented
on forums impacting on children
and young people such as
Children and Young People’s
Unit, the Wrexham Childcare
Partnership, Sure Start, and
Regeneration programmes; and
link with Youth Services,
Countryside Services,
Environmental Services, Leisure
and Cultural Services and any
other place where decisions about
play may be made.
2.3
Promote play through events
such as the August Playday
Organise an event for Playday in
partnership with Arts development
and other play providers.
Organise Playdays in partnership
with Arts development and other
play providers.
Organise Playdays in partnership
with Arts development and other
play providers.
2.4
Wrexham County Borough
Council to adopt the New
Charter for Children’s Play and
other significant documents
Identify the relevant documents
for adoption.
Report to Members, play
providers and the public on the
outcomes of the adoption of the
documents.
Comprehensive review of the
effectiveness of adoption of
documents.
Members to approve the adoption
f h d
2.5
that can guide the development
of play opportunities for
children.
of the documents.
Create a discreet, recognisable
identity for the play
development section.
Create a branding for the section.
Consult children on the design of
the branding/logo.
Identify a budget for promotional
resources.
3.
Develop a play service
that is accessible to all
children
3.1
Develop a play service that can
meet the needs of all children.
Actively seek the views of all
children and their parents/carers
on the children’s play needs.
Develop play opportunities that
are sensitive and reflective of the
needs of the children.
3.2
Increase play opportunities for
marginalised groups of
children, including traveller
children and children of
refugees and asylum seekers.
Undertake a mapping exercise on
the profile of the make up local
communities in Wrexham, areas
of play deprivation and areas of
social deprivation.
Identify the barriers that prevent
marginalised groups of children
from accessing play opportunities,
and develop an action plan to
Ensure Members adopt any other
significant documents relating to
play.
Re-affirm WCBC’s recognition of
children’s right to good quality
play opportunities and its
commitment to play.
The play development unit will
have an array of promotional
resources and information about
its services that are widely
available to all members of the
public, local authority officers and
children and young people.
Wrexham’s play development
work to be promoted widely
throughout Wales and the UK.
Monitor how effective the play
service is in ensuring all children,
especially marginalised children,
have access to good quality play
opportunities.
Comprehensive assessment and
review of effectiveness of play
service to meet the needs of all
children.
Build on the outreach programme
and continue to identify play
needs.
Review the quality and quantity of
play services offered to
marginalised groups of children.
Develop effective support
systems for providers to monitor
use of play provision. These
systems should not be
burdensome or distracting from
delivery of play opportunities.
Develop a strategy to build on
existing provision and develop
new provision in response to
identified needs and new trends
within Wrexham County Borough.
Review the promotional resources
and develop new ones in keeping
with latest trends.
overcome them.
Implement an outreach
programme that targets
marginalised groups of children.
Develop a strategy to meet the
play needs of marginalised
groups of children.
Continue building a responsive
play service.
Offer centre-based transport
facilities to groups that need it.
Assess and review the transport
needs of children and respond to
these needs.
Develop a service that actively
seeks to redress inequalities,
challenge misconceptions and
negative attitudes towards
minority communities.
3.3
Provide transport to enable
children to access play
opportunities.
Consult with play providers,
children and their parents/carers
about their need for transport.
Work in partnership with providers
of transport (public and private) on
how best to offer groups transport.
Identify resources to make
transport available for children to
enable them to access play
opportunities.
3.4
Increase play opportunities for
children living in rural areas.
Work with the transport
department to develop a transport
system that enables children to
access play opportunity widely
and safely.
Monitor use of transport to ensure
it is used in the most effective
way.
Identify indoor and outdoor areas
with potential for developing as
opportunities for children’s play.
Support continuing development
of play opportunities in rural
areas.
Support continuing development
of existing play opportunities in
rural areas.
Work in partnership with those
running existing facilities such as
Ensure a programme for the use
of a mobile play service is
Identify further areas for support
and development.
3.5
Increase inclusive play
opportunities for disabled
children.
schools and village halls to plan to
increased opportunities for play.
identified and implemented.
Identify organisations offering play
opportunities for disabled children.
Continue to identify most effective
means for disabled children to
access range of play opportunities
Develop an action plan to
increase inclusive play
opportunities for disabled children
throughout Wrexham County
Borough.
Monitor the quality and take up of
play opportunities in rural areas.
Continue to expand the range of
inclusive play opportunities for
disabled children through a
programme of support and advice
to providers and parents/carers.
Review the quality and quantity of
inclusive and other services
offering play opportunities for
disabled children.
Develop a strategy to identify and
meet further needs.
Work in partnership with all local
authority departments to offer
practical support to providers
offering play opportunities for
disabled children (transport,
support workers, more staff etc.)
Identify the implications of the
Disability Discrimination Act on
children’s play opportunities:
support play organisations to
implement provisions of the Act.
3.6
Provide free or low cost play
opportunities to ensure all
children can access good
quality play opportunities.
Develop a funding strategy that
demonstrates a commitment to
developing children’s play.
Identify sources of funding that
can support free or low cost
provision.
Implement, monitor and review
the funding strategy.
Increase the number of free or
low cost play opportunities for
children.
Comprehensively review the
funding strategy and develop a
strategy that draws on available
funding streams.
Support voluntary organisations to
access funding to provide free or
low cost provision.
Provide the best quality play
opportunities at minimal cost for
children.
3.7
Develop a network of local
venues easily accessible on
foot or without private
transport.
Identify venues with potential for
use as open access play provision
in areas with poor provision.
Support outreach playschemes in
these areas.
Develop local venues for open
access play provision, with
support of outreach playschemes.
Consolidate existing work and
identify further areas in need of
local provision.
3.8
Ensure play opportunities
reflects the cultural heritage
and diversity of Wales, and
addresses the need for Welsh
medium provision.
Develop introductory Playwork
training in the Welsh medium, to
encourage recruitment of Welsh
speaking playworkers in areas
with high levels of Welsh
speakers.
Work with relevant agencies to
provide Welsh medium training at
different levels in Playwork.
Monitor effectiveness of these
strategies in recruitment of Welsh
speaking playworkers.
4.
Develop existing and new
provision
4.1
Develop a range of play
opportunities that cater for
different types of play and the
needs of different ages and
abilities of children. These
should range from outdoor,
unsupervised play spaces to
supervised, indoor provision.
Carry out a more comprehensive
detailed audit of existing
provision, including outdoor and
indoor, supervised and
unsupervised play opportunities.
Implement the play development
strategy.
Carry out a comprehensive audit
of all provision and include the
quality of the provision.
Identify gaps in the provision.
Ensure children have access to a
range of provision. Identify gaps
and work to meet these.
Match gaps with demand
identified during consultations.
Develop a profile of existing
providers and potential for
Monitor all the new provision and
the progress of existing provision.
Identify remaining or new needs
and develop a strategy to meet
these.
increasing service provision.
Write a strategy to meet demand
and develop new provision.
4.2
Work in partnership with local
authority departments such as
Countryside Services, Parks
and Planning and voluntary
sector organisations to ensure
children can play safely in open
spaces such as parks, streets
and other public and open
spaces
Promote the use of parks,
pavements and outdoor spaces
as informal play provision, by
providing play awareness training
for park keepers.
Explore options for environmental
discovery play gardens in parks.
Explore the option of Home Zones
and traffic calming measures near
housing where children live &
play.
Put on holiday street play
sessions.
4.3
Develop a mobile play project
with a team of playworkers that
can offer good quality play
opportunities for children in
urban and rural settings.
Identify existing mobile facilities.
Identify where mobile provision is
needed, and who would be best
suited to provide it.
Identify resources to implement a
mobile play project including
recruitment of playworkers suited
to/experienced in mobile
playwork.
Develop a work programme for
the mobile play service in
conjunction with the identified
Monitor the demand and use of
the mobile play project.
Identify further funding to support
its expansion.
Review the mobile project and the
work programme.
Evaluate the mobile project and
develop a work programme for the
next three years.
provider.
4.4
Increase community-led play
provision.
Work in partnership with existing
community-led providers of play to
develop a programme for
extending play opportunities in
local communities.
Identify potential providers within
the community.
Develop a strategy to support new
providers (training, fundingraising, legislation, police checks
etc) in delivering play
opportunities for children.
Develop a comprehensive
programme of support for
community-led schemes that can
increase regeneration within
communities and increase play
opportunities for children.
Continue supporting the
development of a network of local
play provision led by local
communities.
Monitor the numbers of
community-led provision and
evaluate the quality of the
provision.
Develop a strategy to continue
building on existing provision and
identifying new provision.
Establish a volunteer recruitment,
training and support programme.
5.
Development the quality
of play opportunities for
children
5.1
Ensure that all provision meets
the relevant national standards
for open access play provision,
and that all people working in
play are suitable to do so
Play development workers will
assist provision in meeting the
requirements of the National
Minimum Standards for Open
Access Play Provision, as laid
down by the Welsh Assembly
Government.
Play development workers will
assist provision in meeting the
requirements of the National
Minimum Standards for Open
Access Play Provision, as laid
down by the Welsh Assembly
Government.
Play development workers will
assist provision in meeting the
requirements of the National
Minimum Standards for Open
Access Play Provision, as laid
down by the Welsh Assembly
Government.
5.2
Establish a training and
education programme that
develops a skilled,
knowledgeable workforce (both
paid and unpaid) that
understands the values and
principles of play and playwork.
Support and training will be
offered to those wishing to set up
open access play provision,
through a partnership between
existing providers of training and
the play development section.
Support and training will be
offered to those wishing to set up
open access play provision,
through a partnership between
existing providers of training and
the play development section.
Support and training will be
offered to those wishing to set up
open access play provision,
through a partnership between
existing providers of training and
the play development section.
Carry out an audit of existing
training opportunities and training
needs in play and playwork.
Hold a seminar for all those
delivering play opportunities on
current issues in play.
Hold a seminar on key issues in
play and playwork.
Support the newly established
Central Council for Playwork
Development run by Play Wales
in developing a range of playwork
training appropriate to the needs
of playworkers.
Monitor the delivery of the training
strategy and programme to
ensure it is meeting the training
needs of providers.
Use existing providers of training
to train staff in playwork,
particularly those new to
playwork.
Develop a short term training
programme for new &
experienced workers, in
partnership with existing
providers.
Develop a training & development
strategy that can respond to
increasing demand for training as
the play strategy is implemented.
Establish a comprehensive
evaluation process that includes
feedback from participants.
Continue to monitor national
developments in playwork training
and education.
Be responsive to these
development and newly emerging
training and education needs.
Review the strategy and the
training and education
programme.
Ensure that locally developed
training is accredited by the
Carry out a comprehensive review
of training and develop a five year
strategy.
Identify areas for development of
new training courses drawing on
local expertise and skills.
The strategy should provide a
range of playwork training and
education opportunities from basic
to degree level taking into account
the different career aspirations of
potential playworkers.
Central Council for Playwork
Development.
Identify resources (financial and
other wise) that can support a
comprehensive training and
development programme.
Work in partnership with training
providers to develop a
community-based playwork
training and development
programme.
Deliver a programme of training
that raises awareness of the
impact of oppression on adults
and children.
Develop a programme of training
the trainers to meet the increasing
demand for playwork training.
5.3
Ensure all training and
education is rooted in the
principles and values of play
and playwork as identified in
the National Occupational
Standards and Best Play.
Develop guidelines for including
the principles and values of play
and playwork in training and
education programmes.
Deliver training on the principles
and value of play and playwork to
Ensure training programmes
reflect the principles and values of
play and playwork in action.
Ensure the training and education
programmes reflecting the
growing knowledge base of play
and playwork.
all providers.
5.4
5.5
5.6
Ensure all those offering play
opportunities on a regular basis
participate in The First Claim
quality assurance scheme
developed by PlayWales, in line
with guidance in the Welsh
Assembly Government’s
Childcare Action Plan.
Work in partnership with Play
Wales to develop the quality
assurance scheme and a strategy
for its implementation.
Wrexham County Borough
Council and voluntary
organisations should consult
play providers on adopting the
Joint National Committee on
Training for Playwork (JNCTP)
Charter for Training and
Education.
Carry out consultations on the
adoption of the JNCTP Charter for
playwork education and training.
Develop assessment criteria to
assess the quality of play
opportunities offered by play
facilities.
Identify assessment models. Work
with nationally agreed
assessment criteria to support the
assessment process. Ensure
assessment programmes support
each other and are not
duplications.
Support playworkers and play
providers to work within the
quality assurance scheme.
Monitor the effectiveness of First
Claim in increasing the quality of
play opportunities for children.
Build on the quality assurance
scheme and identify further
strategies for increasing the
quality of play opportunities for
children.
Work in partnership with providers
to ensure all those delivering play
opportunities are signed up to the
Quality Assurance scheme.
Evaluate the training strategy and
programme against the charter.
If this is supported, obtain
Member agreement to adopt the
charter.
Publicise the commitment to the
charter.
Assessments should be carried
out in a supportive and affirming
manner.
Implement assessment
programme.
Support providers to meet
national assessment
programmes.
Establish a mechanism to gain
feedback from participants in the
assessment programme.
Review the assessment
programme. Develop the criteria
and the programme in light of
feedback and national
developments in assessment.
Develop assessment criteria and
a self-assessment programme in
partnership with the voluntary and
statutory sectors including the
play forum and the children and
young people’s forum.
Pilot the assessment programme.
Obtain feedback and revise the
programme if necessary.
5.7
Ensure effective monitoring
and evaluation of the play
strategy.
Develop a structure to monitor the
implementation and outcome of
the play strategy.
Continue to monitor and evaluate
the strategy on at least an annual
basis.
Ensure play forums and other
voluntary, and statutory sectors
providers are involved in the
monitoring and evaluation
process.
Revise the strategy in light of
feedback from the consultation
process.
Continue to monitor and evaluate
the new strategy.
5.8
Ensure systems for effective
monitoring and evaluation of
spending on play provision
Through consultation, develop
local performance indicators for
play related to quality of provision
and outcomes, along with
systems for monitoring their
achievement.
Evaluate achievements against
the performance indicators and
set targets for future years.
Evaluate effectiveness of
spending on play.
Comprehensive review of
spending on play, including
consultation with groups who are
not in receipt of grant aid as well
as those who are.
5.9
Ensure play development in
Wrexham is informed by good
practice locally, nationally, UK
wide and internationally.
Develop a strategy to inform play
providers of local, national, UKwide & international developments
in good playwork practice. This
could be done through
newsletters, conferences and
seminars.
Implement the information
dissemination strategy.
Evaluate the strategy and develop
further sources that can influence
the development of good practice.
Monitor its effectiveness and
continue to support its
development.
Join organisations that can inform
the play development section and
providers of play opportunities of
good practice, e.g. Play Wales,
Wales PPA, MYM, NATLL, NPFA)
Identify funds for providers of play
opportunities to attend national,
UK-wide and international events
to learn about good practice.
Invite outside speakers to support
the development of good practice.
Establish a culture of critical
thinking in Wrexham, particularly
amongst play providers, which
supports and develops education
of play providers.
5.10
Ensure that playworkers in
Wrexham have opportunities to
engage in wider debates and
consultations about play and
playwork developments at
regional and national level and
beyond.
Provide funding for playworkers to
attend relevant conferences on
behalf of the Play Forum, to
enable a two way flow of
information. Provide funding for
cover where appropriate.
5.11
Provide opportunities for
children and young people to
meet and make friends with
children and young people from
other localities and countries.
Provide opportunities for children
and young people to meet each
other through County-wide
events, and organised trips/visits
to other play provisions locally
and nationally.
Work with the children and young
Continue to support children and
young people in developing their
ideas for making friends locally,
nationally and internationally.
Continue to support children and
young people in developing their
ideas for making friends locally,
nationally and internationally.
Support children and young
people to fund-raise.
Widen the scope of the exchange
programme to include more
children.
people’s forum to identify a plan
for international exchanges
6.
Develop a service that is
properly resourced and
supported
6.1
Develop a funding plan and
structure within Wrexham
County Borough Council that
supports the development of
good quality play opportunities
for children and for the
implementation of the strategy.
Consult internally and externally
on the best funding structures for
the delivery of the strategy.
Support initiatives that increase
access to play opportunities for
all children.
Continue with the existing grant
aid schemes (e.g. the Children
and Youth Partnership Integrated
Activities schemes) in the first
year until the play development
section is established
6.2
Ensure core funding is made
available for the play in Wrexham
and in particular for the play
development section to carry out
its duties and tasks.
Actively seek increased core
funding to reflect increased play
opportunities for children in
Wrexham, especially to provide
for play in areas not targeted by
main grant programmes where
play deprivation may still be
occurring.
Review the levels of funding
available for play in Wrexham and
the benefits of financial
investment in play.
Continue with grant aid schemes
and implement clarified criteria.
Review the grant aid scheme and
its effectiveness in increasing the
quality and quantity of play
opportunities.
Establish a funding structure to
reflect the increased profile and
provision for play.
Increase the level of funding
available to the grant aid scheme.
Develop criteria for play grant
schemes that demonstrate an
active commitment to including
marginalised children.
6.3
Encourage innovation in
children’s play opportunities.
Develop criteria for funding that
incorporate innovation and
methods of enhancing play for
children such as research
projects.
Promote the criteria to existing
Implement the criteria.
Monitor any affects in the quality
of play opportunities.
Review the criteria, their effects
and revise if necessary.
and new play providers.
6.4
Identify additional funding to
develop play opportunities.
Carry out a comprehensive audit
of potential funding available e.g.
Welsh National Assembly,
European funds, Grants and
Trusts, National Lotteries and
funds from the different
Directorates in Wrexham.
Implement the strategy to draw in
additional funding for play.
Continue to monitor all national
developments that could impact
on funding opportunities for play
and delivery of play opportunities.
Review funding opportunities in
conjunction with the review of the
play strategy and polices.
Develop a fund-raising plan that
correspondence to the
development of other play-related
strategies.
Identify a strategy for drawing
these funds into children play,
using the play strategy and the
play policy to ensure a coordinated approach to play is
maintained at all times.
6.5
Identify funding that enables
communities to provide play
opportunities for children in the
local communities.
Work in partnership with
organisations that support local
community groups to identify and
access potential sources of
funding.
Publicise widely sources of
funding available to local
community groups for play.
6.6
Support the development of
play resource centres with
scrap materials, loan/hire
equipment and bulk buy
materials to enable groups to
offer a wide range of creative
play opportunities
Work with existing play resource
centres to identify needs and gaps
in provision.
Develop a strategy to provide play
resources to support local groups.
Continue to support local
community groups to identify
sources of funding.
Strengthen partnerships that
support local community groups to
access funding for play.
Monitor the results and identify
the benefits of increased play
opportunities for communities.
Support the development of new
initiatives in existing resource
centres or provision in new areas.
Evaluate cost effectiveness of
play resource centres and identify
future action plans for resourcing
play.
Appendix
Appendix one
National Assembly for Wales, Play Policy
The extract below is taken from Play Wales’ magazine, Play for Wales,
publised in August 2002.
A t the Spirit of Adventure Play is Alive
and Kicking conference in Cardiff, Jane
Hutt, Minister for Health and Social
Services, announced that she had
approved a play policy for the Welsh
Assembly Government. The drafting of the
policy had been undertaken by Play Wales
and subsequently redrafted to reflect the
responses of a wide consultation, with
many organisations and individuals with
an interest in children's play from across
Wales.
Play Wales has also developed guidance
on policy development at a local level,
which should be available shortly.
We believe that such is the importance of
the adoption of a play policy by the
Assembly that we have included the full
text.
WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT
PLAY POLICY
This policy statement has been produced
to reflect the value that the Welsh
Assembly Government places on play and
the importance of children in our society. It
reflects our commitment to ensure that
children and their needs are central to
policy making and that provision is made
to meet those needs. The statement is
founded on the principle that the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the
Child, ratified by the UK Government in
December 1991, recognises the
importance of play for the child. The Welsh
Assembly Government, in seeking to
ensure the full implementation of Article 31
of the Convention, intends that this
statement should contribute to creating an
environment that fosters children's play
and underpins a national strategy for
providing for children's play needs.
The Welsh Assembly Government
believes that:
play is the elemental learning process
by which humankind has developed.
Children exhibit a behavioural
imperative and instinctive desire to
play. It has contributed significantly to
the evolutionary and developmental
survival of our species. Children use
play in the natural environment to
learn of the world they inhabit with
others. It is the very process of
learning and growth, and as such all
that is learnt through it is of benefit to
the child
play encompasses children's
behaviour which is freely chosen,
personally directed and intrinsically
motivated. It is performed for no
external goal or reward, and is a
fundamental and integral part of
healthy development -not only for
individual children, but also for the
society in which they live
play is so critically important to all
children in the development of their
physical, social, mental, emotional and
creative skills that society should seek
every opportunity to support it and
create an environment that fosters it.
Decision making at all levels of
government should include a
consideration of the impact of those
decisions, on children's opportunities
to play
play is first and foremost the process
of a child's own, self-directed learning
and as such is a process that has a
validity for all ages of children. It is
such a vital component of a child's life
that the child's capacity for positive
development will be inhibited or
constrained if denied free access to
the broadest range of environments
and play opportunities
it is the very freedom and child
centredness of play that makes it such
an effective and comprehensive
learning process.
This policy statement is predicated upon
the principles that:
every child is entitled to respect for
their own unique combination of
qualities and capabilities
the perceptions of the child, their
views and opinions should always be
respected for each child is connected
to, and a bearer of, a wider culture
the child's free choice of their own play
is a critical factor in enriching their
learning and contributing to their well
being and development.
The Welsh Assembly Government
recognises the significance and the value
of play in children's development and that
children have an innate desire to seek out
opportunities to take increasing risks. This
is an essential part of their play and
learning. This requires us to respond
positively by extending the range of
environments and opportunities available
for children's play while continuing to have
due regard for their physical and
psychological well being.
The Welsh Assembly Government is
committed to ensuring that all children
have access to rich stimulating
environments, free from inappropriate risk,
and full of challenge, thereby offering them
the opportunity to explore through freely
chosen play both themselves and the
world.
The Welsh Assembly Government
recognises that the impact of modern
society on children's lives has significantly
restricted their opportunity to play freely
and has resulted in a poverty of play
opportunities in the general environment. It
is therefore committed to encouraging the
creation of high quality 'compensatory'
play provision that is appropriate, local,
stimulating and challenging for all children
in Wales.
The Welsh Assembly Government
commits itself to the development in
partnership of a strategy that will set out
the way in which the principles in this
statement can be implemented.
Appendix two
People consulted
Name
Organisation
Matt
Aiken
Gwyn Evans Playscheme
Jean
Allen
Wrexham County Borough Council, Youth Service
Heather
Bamfield-Williams
Homestart / Family Friends
Barbie
Bartlett
Caia Park Partnership :Caia Park Playschemes Coordinator
Debra
Bayley
Parent (Dynamic)
Alama
Belles
Children’s Information Bureau
Beryl
Blackmore
Roft School
Vicky
Boll
Social Services
Vicki
Burrows
Wrexham County Borough Council, Integrated
activites
Louise
Cattle
Offa Playschemes Association
Denise
Chadwick
Plas Madoc Leisure Centre
Craig
Chadwick
Wcbc, Gwyn Evans Sports Centre
Sylvia
Clough
Garth CP School
Kathy
Cunnah
Parent (Dynamic)
Michelle
Daltry
Wrexham County Borough Council, Disability Sports
Development Officer
Ken
Danskin
Wrexham County Borough Council, Leisure Services
Fred
Derbyshire
Offa Community Council
Julia
Dillon
Plas Madoc Youth Partnership
Marjorie
Dykins
AVOW
Claire
Edwards
Wrexham County Borough Council, Young People’s
Initiatives Unit
Alan
Forest
WCBC Community Services
Carol
Gardner
Dynamic - Charity Manager
Terry
Garner
WCBC Director Of Education and Leisure Serivces
Jan
George
Groundwork Wrexham & Flintshire
Beulagh
Griffths
Wales PPA
Andy
Harris
Plas Madoc Leisure Centre
Martin
Howarth
Wrexham County Borough Council, Countryside
Agency
Teresa
Hughes
Dee Valley Families Project
Julie
Humphries
Wrexham Association of Summer Playschemes
Jim
Humphries
Wrexham County Borough Council, Principle Youth
and Community Officer
Val
James
Clwbiau Plan Cymru Kids Club
Ian
James
Wrexham County Borough Council, Head of Young
Peoples Initiatives Unit
Malcolm
King
The Venture
Wendy
Loton
Plas Madoc Youth Partnership
Joanne
Maclunes
Parent (Dynamic)
Dave
Maguire
AVOW - Community Development Officer
Phyllis
Matthews
Wrexham Early Years and Childcare Partnership
Dave
McNicholl
The Venture
Lynn
Mealings
Wrexham County Borough Council, Arts Section
Kate
Meredith
Sure Start
Graham
Minniss
Wrexham County Borough Council, Youth Inclusion
Programme Manager
Geoff
Moore
Wrexham County Borough Council, Youth Service
Margaret
Morris
Mudiad Ysgolion Metthrin
Christian
Olsen
Offa Community Council
Thelma
Poole
Broughton Variety Club
Helen
Prince
Groundwork and Princes Trust
Ann
Pritchard
Caia Park Partnership
Pat
Ransome
Sure Start
Myra
Redman
Wrexham County Borough Council, Dragon Sports
Co-ordinator
Linda
Roberts
Children’s Information Bureau
Ken
Rowlands
AVOW
Anne
Salisbury
Plas Madoc Youth Partnership
Sarah
Shanon
Wrexham County Borough Council, Young Peoples
Forum
Patsy
Speed
Gwyn Evans Playscheme
Valrie
Surey
Parent (Dynamic)
Ben
Tawil
The Venture
Sandra
Thompson
Clwbiau Plan Cymru Kids Club
Jean
Topping
Offa Playscheme
Nial
Waller
WCBC
Emma
Warren
Wrexham County Borough Council, Museums
Alan
Watkins
Leisure, Libraries and Culture, Wrexham County
Borough Council
Hywel
Williams
Wrexham County Borough Council, Leisure Officer
Sandra
Williams
Wrexham Association of Summer Playschemes
Shiela
Williams
Roft School
Children, young people and parents from:
Plas Madoc Youth Partnership
Dee Valley Families Project
Gywn Evans Playscheme
Offa Playschemes
Dynamics
The Venture
Plas Madoc Leisure Centre
Tregeiriog
Darland playscheme
Site visits
Bell Vue Park
Acton Park
Llay Country Park
Llay Miners’ Recreation
Bluebell Lane, Pandy
Pandy Playground
Watts Dyke
Heol Kenyon, Johnstown
Afoneitha, Penycae
Hill Street, Poplar Road
Public Open Space, Groesfan
Cristionydd, Penycae
Peris No. 1, Plas Madoc
Gwynant, Plas Madoc
Bran, Plas Madoc
Ash Grove, Plas Madoc
Plas Madoc Soft Play
Church Street
Pont Fadog
Cieriog
Llanarmon Dyffryn County Primary School
Tregeiriog (small P.O.S)
Dollywern
Bangor is y Coed
Worthenberry
Bronnington
Penley
Overton
Appendix three
Feedback from consultations with providers and the project
steering group.
Co-ordination
1.
Need to know what existing facilities are. Children with disabilities want to
have mixed facilities.
2.
Need to address all aspects – holistic view – early years through to parenting
skills.
3.
Need to co-ordinate time, space and venue i.e. facilities, equipment, to fit with
school holidays etc. Staffing levels and provision clearly stated so people can
see what is going on where and for whom.
4.
Risk assessment of provision on an individual basis is required for legal
reasons.
5.
Liaison with all local communities so that the resources can be distributed
appropriately or can be accessed to satisfy needs.
Equal Opportunities
1.
Children with special needs much more provision for leisure facilities, during
school holidays, support workers transport etc.
2.
They also need appropriate provision to meet their abilities, increased
awareness of how much support they need.
3.
Freedom of choice for the children, they have a right to say no.
Supporting local communities
1.
Need to access local knowledge and discover what the needs and wants are
within each community.
2.
Needs to come from the bottom up, not the powers that be moving in and
enforcing things on the community that is not really wanted or needed.
3.
Need to involve everyone – integrate the whole community – young and old,
social barriers, different schools, street to street.
4.
Regenerating the communities, capacity building, ownership projects.
Training and development
Care standards – quality training
Accessibility of training
Parental training – raising awareness
Involving communities
Research
Outdoor play provision
Term “play” – is it an issue?
Safe environment
Design – flexibility, planning
Involving all groups e.g. police, communities, planners, health, children, ownership
Age appropriate facilities
Supervised play – safety, guidance, affirmation
Need to ensure a co-ordinated approach to outdoor play e.g. environmental services to
clean up playgrounds and planners and designers working together to build interesting
parks and playgrounds.
Feedback from the Project steering group
The project steering group met a number of times during the development of the
strategy. Below are some of the discussion topics they considered and covered.
What play in Wrexham needs
Financial resources
People resources
More play
Play Development officer
Play Policy
Increased profile
Cross directorate recognition
Wider accessibility – cover all areas
More workers
Levering additional funding
Increase the quality of existing play provision
Strategic commitment from the top
Play ambassadors
Co-ordination / one central point
Disseminating good practice
Influence at Council member level
How to make it happen?
One co-ordinating unit - where should this be located within the Wrexham County
Borough Council structure?
Play strategy
Establish a Play Development Officer/ Director of Play.
The location of a play development unit, or a play development officer should
ensure the unit/post had strategic impact and operational ability and included
the voluntary sector.
Possible models
The following models were explored by the steering group. No conclusion was
reached and it was not within the remit of the consultants commissioned to
develop the strategy to identify one.
Welsh National Assembly
Wrexham County Borough Council
Director of Play
(funding from every other directorate)
Development officer
Development worker
Play forum (constituted)
(decisions on expenditure etc.)
Voluntary and statutory sectors to be represented.
Encourage the development of NEW groups.
Play helps with and can impact on:
The project steering group identified the wider implications of play. They identified
some of the areas in which play can impact on:
Housing
Reducing crime
Increasing health
Creativity
Safety
Building communities
Increasing involvement of volunteers
Learning
Accessing different provision such as libraries and museums
Appendix four
Possible tasks for the Play Development Section
Undertake internal and external consultations on most effective structure and funding
arrangements for the Play development section to be located within Wrexham County
Borough Council.
Develop clear aims, objectives, roles and responsibilities for the Play Development
Section. The section should undertake the following:
develop a corporate play policy in consultation with children, young people, parents
and community members, statutory and voluntary organisations
continue carrying out an audit of existing play provision and identifying the gaps.
This should include outdoor formal and informal play spaces and supervised and
unsupervised provision
responsibility for the strategic development of play within Wrexham County Borough
Council
promote the importance and profile of play within the Council, in the communities,
amongst other non statutory organisations and public at large
develop partnerships between Council departments to provide an effective play
service
developing an action plan to implement the play strategy
ensure a co-ordinated delivery of play opportunities and provision in partnership with
the voluntary sector and other local authority departments
develop guidelines to measure the impact on play opportunities on any Council
decisions and strategies in all Departments
identify and develop new initiatives in play
build partnerships with statutory and non statutory organisations involved in
children’s play
identify and accesses sources of funding
provide information on play and deal with enquires (such as funding, legislation,
health and safety information and regulations)
consult with children, young people, parents and other community members and
within the local authority and voluntary sectors on decisions affecting play
opportunities and the development of play provision
support voluntary organisations to develop funding applications
manage a budget for play
provide training and advice on training on all aspects of play and playwork
support local play providers (statutory and voluntary) to develop a play policy and
strategy
give practical support to local providers to enable to them to offer play opportunities
(such as facilities for police checks and meeting regulation standards)
Appendix five
Draft performance indicators for play strategy/policy
Audit Commission & IDeA
Library of Local Performance Indicators
DEVELOPING INDICATORS FOR PLAY PROVISION
Developing local performance indicators
for inclusion in the Library of Local PIs
FOR CONSULTATION
JUNE 2002
Developing indicators for play provision
Introduction to the topic area
Play is fundamental to children’s lives and is one of their most important means of
exploring and understanding themselves and the world.
Play is
instrumental in children’s development;
essential for physical, emotional and spiritual growth;
essential for intellectual and educational development and for acquiring social
and behavioural skills;
pleasurable, and is the way that children often choose to spend their free time.
When children have access to a range of play opportunities and a supportive,
creative and risk-taking play environment, they are able to build self-esteem and
confidence which they will carry with them into their adult lives.
Because children have a need and a natural tendency to play anywhere possible,
play provision can impact upon, and is impacted by, the wider local authority
provision. Effective provision of play is more than swings and roundabouts, and
cannot, and should not, be done in isolation from the broader range of local authority
services. It can be an important vehicle for bringing people together and enhancing
local authority provision throughout. For example play can enable community
regeneration through volunteer training programmes which leads to employment;
build partnerships with schools through lunch time play provision; affect planning for
housing development; reduce crime and generate substantial income for commercial
development.
This consultation focuses on an initial indicator which assesses a local authority's
progress in developing and implementing an authority wide approach to play. We
are also seeking views on further areas for which performance indicators are
required, around play opportunities for children of all ages.
Introduction to the library of local performance indicators
Background
Developing local PIs that provide a balanced picture of a service or theme and focus
on the priorities of an authority or local area is not an easy task. It is further
complicated by the desire to enable comparison between different local areas, which
requires that those involved gain a common understanding and agree standard
definitions for indicators.
To support the development and dissemination of commonly agreed indicators with
definitions, the Audit Commission and the Improvement and Development Agency
have developed a Library of Local Performance indicators.
Aims of the library
The Library will build on the good practice evident in local authorities and groups, for
example benchmarking groups, and will aim to:
prevent having to ‘reinvent the wheel’;
fill the gaps in the national PIs;
encourage consistency and therefore enable comparisons to be made;
provide performance indicators which are meaningful to local people.
The Library will ultimately aim to cover the range of services provided by local
authorities, and issues of importance to local people. However it will be developed
incrementally with local PIs being added on an on-going basis.
Using PIs from the Library of Local PIs
Use of PIs from the Library of Local PIs is entirely voluntary. It is acknowledged that
some of the indicators provided through the Library of Local PIs may hold little
relevance to the priorities of an individual authority or local area, and it is therefore
important that users are selective in those they adopt, ensuring that they remain
focused on:
their core objectives;
how the proposed indicators will reflect their objectives and progress in achieving
them.
Whilst performance indicators are a useful measure of performance and how far
progress has been made in meeting objectives, they are not an end in themselves.
They do not aim to provide answers as to why differences exist but raise questions
and suggest where problems may exist.
Developing indicators for play
This document has been produced to consult on one indicator for play. This
development of this indicator has been led by PLAYLINK, the Children’s Play Council
and INSPIRE, and is supported by the Children’s Play Policy Forum facilitated by the
Local Government Association.
Whilst it is our usual approach to develop and consult on a set of indicators for a
particular area, this consultation is different in that it focuses on one indicator
designed to assess a local authority's progress in developing and implementing a
policy for play.
However, we aim to follow the development of this first indicator with a broader set of
indicators for play opportunities for children of all ages. We would like to use this
consultation to identify the key issues that you would like to see addressed, and also
to identify any good ideas already in practice.
The short description of the indicator is as follows:
The status of the local authority's policy and strategy for play.
It is designed around a checklist / self-assessment format against which local
authorities would assess their performance to identify their current status in terms of
having developed and implemented a play policy. Whilst the indicator provides a
comparative assessment of performance across local authorities, it has also been
designed as an aid to improving performance in this area through highlighting the
elements of a good practice approach to developing play. A detailed definition of
how to carry out the assessment required to report on this indicator is provided in the
appendix.
Other related indicators
A number of other relevant indicators that have relevance to play and early years
provision already exist. The indicators, all of which have full definitions to enable
consistent comparison, are as follows:
LIB001
Percentage of residents surveyed who said they feel “fairly safe” or
“very safe” during the day whilst outside.
LIB005
Percentage of child road accident casualties per 100,000 population of
0-15 year olds categorised by (i) nature of casualties, (ii) road user
type.
LIB009
Primary school pupils' main mode of travel to and from school.
LIB020
Percentage of signalled controlled junctions with green man facilities
LIB023
Percentage of visits to collect syringes and needles discarded in
public spaces undertaken within the target time.
LIB036
Percentage area of the authority’s park and open spaces which are
accredited with a Green Flag Award.
LIB037
Playgrounds and play areas provided by the council
LIB038
The number of sports pitches available to the public per 1,000
population.
LIB039
Areas of parks and green spaces per 1,000 head of population
LIB040
Total net spending per head of population on parks and open spaces
BVPI30
Percentage of 3-year olds receiving a good quality, free, early years
education place in the voluntary, private or maintained sector.
BVPI114
The adoption by the authority of a local cultural strategy
QoL8
The proportion of children under 16 living in low income households
QoL20
The number of childcare places available per 1,000 population of
children under 5 not in early education
QoL21
Percentage of respondents finding it easy to access key local services
(g) publicly accessible green space e.g. park
(j) sports / leisure centre
(m) childcare facilities
These existing indicators should be considered when identifying further areas for PI
development.
Key to abbreviations used above:
LIB
indicators already in the Library of Local PIs (www.local-pi-library.gov.uk )
QoL
Audit Commission Quality of Life indicators (which will in time be included in the
Library). www.audit-commission.gov.uk/pis/quality-of-life-indicators.shtml
BVPI
Best Value Performance indicators set for 2002/2003
www.local-regions.dtlr.gov.uk/bestvalue/indicators/indicatorsindex.htm
Consultation
The purpose of this consultation report is to seek the views of local authorities,
voluntary and national organisations on this PI proposed for inclusion in the Library of
Local PIs, and to identify key areas for further development. The project team would
welcome your views as follows:
1. Detailed comments on the indicator proposed;
2. Identification of broad areas to be addressed in the context of play
provision, clarifying particular issues to be addressed through performance
measurement;
3. Identification of any existing indicators that you are aware of for this area,
that might be suitable for adoption and wider dissemination through the
Library, detailing:
- a short description of the PI;
- the rationale for the PI – i.e. why it is useful, and what it is intended to
show;
- the source of the PI, for example has it been developed by a particular
group or authority; what is the extent of its current use;
- an outline note detailing how information for this indicator is collected.
Spreading the word
We would welcome comments from a wide range of organisations who have an
interest in this area, either through using the PIs themselves, or through using
the PIs to monitor others.
Whilst we have tried to contact as many organisations as possible, we cannot
claim to have reached them all. This consultation is available through our
website at www.local-pi-library.gov.uk, so please spread the word to other
organisations or contacts you think might also be able to comment on the
indicator proposed or who are also developing local indicators relating to this
area.
Please send your comments to us by 1st July 2002, via e-mail on:
[email protected]
or if you do not have access to e-mail, please send replies to:
The Library of Local PIs Project Team,
Performance Information,
Audit Commission,
1 Vincent Square,
London, SW1P 2PN.
Please remember to provide the name of your organisation and relevant contact
details, including phone and e-mail. Further areas will be addressed as the library of
local PIs develops. Details can be found on www.local-pi-library.gov.uk.
Next steps
Following the close of the consultation period, we will review the current proposed
indicator in light of the comments received, and will make any revisions necessary
before it is added to the Library of Local PIs.
We will then review the suggestions received for the development of further PIs for
this area, and will liaise with the Children’s Play Policy Forum (facilitated by the LGA)
to take forward the development of further PIs, steered by the comments received.
Any PIs resulting from this further development will be consulted on more widely
before they are included in the Library of Local PIs.
Appendix one
DETAILED DEFINITION FOR THE PROPOSED INDICATOR
PI reference
Short title
Rationale
Definition
Play01
The status of the local authority's policy and strategy for play
This indicator identifies the extent to which the authority has developed and
adopted a comprehensive play policy that can act as a practical working tool to
influence and guide any decisions made across all relevant departments, which
affect or relate to children’s play opportunities.
It assesses the extent to which the development, adoption and implementation of a
corporate play policy that has involved users and providers, is responsive to local and
diverse needs and demonstrates an understanding of the importance of play and the
child’s right to play.
(a) Status of the local authority’s development and implementation of a corporate
play policy (advanced, established, emerging)
The status of the local authority’s contribution should be matched as closely as possible
to the criteria for 'Advanced', 'Established' or 'Emerging' as detailed in the table below,
against each of the components A to I. Please note that the policy must meet all of the
criteria to qualify at the higher levels.
Columns entitled 'Advanced', 'Established' and 'Emerging', each identify the different
actions required against each of the component elements of a play policy and strategy,
as identified in A-I.
To assess your position, review the columns to identify for each of the criteria A-I below,
which best describes your current position. For example, if your policy has identified the
range of authority services with relevance to play and their responsibilities, but has not
provided guidance to staff in these departments, then 'tick' column 'Established' for line A.
Continue working through criteria A-I, selecting for the corresponding line the columns
which best describe your current position.
Your position to be reported for part (a) of this indicator, is that for which you have been
able to tick all of the behaviours required, or demonstrated behaviour required at the
higher level, i.e. the programme must meet all of the criteria to qualify at the higher levels.
For example, an Advanced status would need to demonstrate evidence for all of the
criteria A-I as detailed in the 'Advanced' column. For an authority that meets 5 of the
criteria shown in the 'Established' column, but can only demonstrate the action detailed in
the 'Emerging' column for the remaining 4, the authority's policy and strategy for play
would be reported as having an 'Emerging' status.
(b) Number of ‘Advanced’ criteria met as a percentage of the total advanced
criteria
Of the components detailed, the number of these for which the authority meets the
criteria as detailed for an 'Advanced' plan, as a percentage of the total nine component
areas detailed.
Table 1: Development and implementation of a corporate play policy: assessing
your progress
Advanced
Established
Emerging
A
The policy is widely scoped,
including any local authority
services that might directly or
indirectly impact on children’s
play opportunities.
The policy clearly
identifies the range of
authority services with
relevance to play and
their respective
responsibilities.
Supporting guidance is
provided to the relevant
staff in these departments
to ensure that the policy
is implemented in
practice.
The policy clearly
identifies the range
of authority services
with relevance to
play and their
responsibilities.
The policy broadly
identifies services
which have
relevance to play.
B
The play policy clearly identifies
the importance of play
The policy includes a
clear assessment of the
specific needs and
priorities for the local
area, identifying for
example particular
locations where action is
required.
The policy includes
a broad assessment
of needs and
priorities for the
local area, but does
not identify specific
areas of action.
The policy shows
an understanding
of why play is
important, and
defines what 'play'
and 'play
opportunities'
mean.
It displays a clear
understanding of
•
C
The policy is integrated with
other relevant community,
corporate and departmental
plans.
the child's right to
play, in line with the
United Nations
Convention on the
Rights of the Child,
•
why a variety of play
opportunities is
important, and
•
and defines play,
play opportunities,
children, and
acceptable risks.
The policy is consistent
with the authority's
corporate objectives, and
identifies the role of play
in contributing to the
achievement of these
objectives.
It considers or makes
reference, where
relevant, to other existing
activities and corporate or
departmental plans which
may impact on the
delivery of the play policy.
It displays a broad
understanding of
•
the child's right
to play,
•
why play is
important.
•
It defines play,
play
opportunities,
and acceptable
risks.
The policy is
consistent with the
authority's corporate
objectives, and
identifies the role of
play in contributing
to the achievement
of these of
objectives.
The policy does not
consider or make
reference to specific
departmental plans
or activities which
may impact on the
delivery of the play
policy.
The policy is
couched in
general terms and
does not identify
the specific
requirements and
priorities of the
local area.
The policy is a
stand-alone
document that
makes little or no
reference to
corporate or
relevant
departmental
policies and
activities.
D
The policy was developed drawing
on consultation with a range of
relevant stakeholders.
Consultation
included:
Consultation
included:
Consultation
included:
•
public sector
agencies
including tiers in
local government
•
•
•
the voluntary
sector
public sector
agencies
including tiers
in local
government
•
the voluntary
sector
•
adults, children,
young people
and the private
sector from the
local
communities
Consultation was
“Inclusive” drawing on
views from a cross
section of people,
representative of the
local community as a
whole, with particular
focus on children of
different ages,
parents and young
people, and including
appropriate
representation from
black and minority
groups, traveller
families and children
and families with
disabled children.
Consultation was
“Inclusive” drawing
on views from a
cross section of
people,
representative of
the local community
as a whole, with
particular focus on
children of different
ages, parents and
young people, and
including
appropriate
representation from
black and minority
groups, traveller
families and
children and
families with
disabled children.
public sector
agencies
including tiers
in local
government
No steps were
taken to ensure
that consultation
included a cross
section of the
population
representative of
the wider
community.
and
“Active”, using a
range of methods as
appropriate to ensure
a wide range of
representative
responses by
following up any
deficiencies.
E
The policy has been endorsed by
the Chief Executive and / or
Members of the relevant committee.
Yes and engaged for
the future
Endorsed
No
F
The play policy is based on a clear
baseline assessment of local needs
and identifies current provision and
opportunities for play.
In developing the
policy the authority
has carried out and
included an
assessment of the
current range of
provision throughout
the authority area.
The policy includes
a broad assessment
of needs and
priorities for the
local area, but does
not identify specific
areas of action.
The policy is
couched in
general terms and
does not identify
the specific
requirements and
priorities of the
local area.
The policy identifies
specific local needs
and how these are
addressed by the
current provision, and
/ or where there is a
shortfall.
The authority has
not carried out and
included an
assessment of the
current range of
provision
throughout the
authority area, and
how this relates to
identified needs.
The authority has
not carried out and
included an
assessment of the
level and
suitability of the
current provision.
G
The play policy provides a clear
framework for implementation and
delivery.
The play policy
identifies:
The play policy
identifies:
The play policy
identifies:
•
key principles
and a clear
framework for the
planned
development of
play provision
•
key principles
and a clear
framework for
the planned
development of
play provision
•
•
short, medium
and long term
priorities and
target delivery
dates
•
short, medium
and long term
priorities and
target delivery
dates
•
resource
implications and
allocation
•
•
a plan for
stakeholder
involvement
•
H
I
A Play Policy working group with
key partners has been established
for delivery
A framework is in place for
monitoring progress and regular
reporting on plans.
mechanisms to
monitor and
review
arrangements
•
short, medium
and long term
priorities and
target delivery
dates
•
resource
implications
and allocation
•
plan for
stakeholder
involvement
It does not clearly
identify
resource
implications
and allocation
•
a plan for
stakeholder
involvement
Yes, with
Yes, with
•
clear terms of
reference,
•
clear terms of
reference,
•
allocated
resources and
the authority to
drive the policy
forward, and
•
•
an agreed action
plan identified
and in the
process of being
delivered
a commitment
to secure
resources and
responsibility to
drive the policy
forward, and
•
an agreed
action plan
identified.
A framework is in
place that ensures:
A framework is in
place that ensures:
•
delivery against
targets and
objectives is
monitored and on
a minimum of
quarterly basis,
•
delivery against
targets and
objectives is
monitored on a
minimum of
quarterly basis,
•
progress is
reported back to
management and
stakeholders,
•
progress is
reported back
to management
and
stakeholders,
•
there are no
plans in place
for the review of
the policy.
• the policy/ strategy
is reviewed
annually, with a
comprehensive
review at least
every 5 years
It does not clearly
identify the
mechanisms to
monitor and
review
arrangements
•
general
principles and
an outline
framework for
the planned
development
of play
provision
No mechanisms
have been
identified to
monitor and
review
arrangements
Yes, with clear
terms of
reference.
However no
resources have
yet been
committed or an
action plan
identified.
There is no
framework in
place.
Type of PI
Strategic objective
Source
Developed by the Children’s Play Council, PLAYLINK and INSPIRE on behalf of the
Children’s Play Policy Forum, with support from the Audit Commission.
Additional information
The UK has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1991.
Article 31.1 commits the Government to recognise the child’s right to play and
participate fully in cultural and artistic life. Article 31.2 commits the Government to
respect and promote appropriate provision and equal opportunities for cultural,
artistic, recreational and leisure activities for all children. Article 12 asserts children’s
right to be consulted on matters that concern them. Children, who make up nearly a
quarter of the population, have a right to expect that their needs and wishes will be
taken into account in the provision of local services paid for from the public purse.
REFERENCES AND FURTHER INFORMATION
The Child’s Right to Play
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Articles 2, 3, 12, 23 and 31.
Play
Definition, importance of, public investment, community development, objectives for play provision
•
Best Play: What play provision should do for children, Children’s Play Council, the
National Playing Fields Association and PLAYLINK.
•
The New Charter for Children’s Play, Children’s Play Council
Playwork
Making Sense: playwork in practice, PLAYLINK
Playwork: a guide to good practice, Paul Bonel and Jennie Lindon, published by Stanley
Thornes (Publishers) Ltd.
Play Policies
Policy and Process (a working paper), PLAYLINK
Play as culture: incorporating play in cultural strategies, PLAYLINK
USEFUL WEB SITES
Children’s Play Council
SPRITO, Playwork Unit
PLAYLINK
Local Government Association
National Playing Fields Associations
www.ncb.org.uk/cpc.htm
www.playwork.org.uk
www.playlink.org.uk
www.lga.gov.uk
www.npfa.co.uk
Appendix six
Joint National Committee on Training for Playwork, Draft Charter
This Charter is a revision of the original charter adopted by JNCTP in 1985. It
has been informed by two further consultative processes, namely the “Getting
Recognition” process in 1993/94 and the “Having Your Say” process in 2000.
JNCTP exists to support and promote playwork education, training and qualifications that
reflect the values of play and playwork.
The following statements summarise what those values are:
PLAY is the result of a biological drive and is essential for human
development. It is manifested as behaviour that is intrinsically motivated,
freely chosen and personally directed. Through play children experience their
world and their relationship with it.
PLAYWORK is the adult facilitation of opportunities for children to play. This
involves the creation, operation and modification of diverse physical and
human environments that maximise opportunities for children to access a
wide variety of play experiences. Such experiences include make believe,
risk, personal control and experimenting with identity, ideas and the
environment.
The development, delivery, assessment and quality assurance
processes of playwork education, training and qualifications should
reflect the 10 principles listed in this charter.
THE DRAFT NEW JNCTP CHARTER
FOR PLAYWORK EDUCATION, TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS
1.
Variety of routes to qualification: There should be a variety of routes to
qualification such as full and part time study, self-managed learning, modular
routes, distance learning, accreditation of prior experience and learning and
assessment of practice.
2.
Qualified status at Level 4: Whilst it is recognised that qualifications exist at
a variety of levels, fully qualified status should be conferred at Level 4 as
defined by the QCA framework, or Level 2 of Higher Education, so providing
parity with similar professions.
3.
Core knowledge of play and playwork: Playwork education, training and
qualifications should be based on agreed core knowledge covering a range of
theories on the nature and importance of play and the role of the playworker.
This involves addressing theory, process and personal knowledge.
4.
Consultation: The development of, or subsequent changes to, core
knowledge, occupational standards or criteria for endorsement should be
subject to rigorous and widescale consultation processes across the playwork
sector as a whole.
5.
Peer-led endorsement: Playwork education, training and qualifications
should be subject to an endorsement process that is owned and controlled by
the playwork sector. The criteria for endorsement of playwork education,
training and qualifications should be based on agreed definitions of play and
playwork and should not constrain innovation and new thinking.
6.
Equality of opportunity: Playwork education, training and qualifications
should be available and delivered in a way that ensures all potential and
practising playworkers can access and benefit from them.
7.
Valuing experience: All playwork education, training and qualifications
should be responsive to the needs of participants and should value the
diverse experiences of learners and their individual learning styles.
8.
Playwork practice: Playwork education and training leading to qualification
should involve periods of supervised playwork practice and should promote
and support both personal and professional development.
9.
Reflective practice: Playwork education, training and qualifications should
encompass reflective practice.
10.
Assessment: All playwork education and training leading to a qualification
should include assessment of knowledge and practice that values
independent and critical thinking.