Crawley Play Service (CPS) rules
“We are different and that’s wonderful.”
“Whatever is done here by anyone must not harm the
enjoyment of others.”
Playworkers must ensure that they and other people are aware of CPS policies. These
include:

Ensuring that there are notices explaining what open access play is

Ensuring that during open access play sessions:
 there is always a senior on site and a playworker to meet and greet people
 all unaccompanied children between six and eighteen years old are registered
 if there are children outside there is a playworker outside
 there is always a playworker managing children in the building.

CPS expects everyone to behave reasonably. People who constantly break the rules or
can’t do what playworkers ask them to do will be asked to leave.

No one is allowed to smoke or drink alcohol in or around any of our sites or managed play
sessions.

Anyone who we believe to be under the influence of drugs will not be allowed to stay on
any playsite.

No one is allowed to use or bring proscribed drugs onto the playground.

Dogs are not allowed on playgrounds.
Playworkers:
 playworkers are professionals employed by the council to ensure best play
practice although friendly, we are not ‘friends’ of any of the children and as such
must not invite or accept invites from children to their homes, social networks or
exchange personal information such as addresses or phone numbers.
 are the ‘face’ of the service and will act appropriately and dress according to the
CPS policy.
 on their lunch break will cover their uniform and not be disturbed.
Unregistered people at adventure playgrounds
Children brought by parents or other responsible adults can only stay if properly supervised. CPS
expects the adults responsible for children to comply with our requests.
Adults who enter the playground will be approached by a playworker to ascertain the purpose of their
visit. As our roots are in the Crawley community a lot of different people want to come in for a variety of
reasons, but playworkers have an important job to do – play work and focus on the needs of children.
We may have to ask adults to stop doing disruptive things such as smoking or shouting at a child. Less
obvious disruptive behaviour could be taking up physical and psychological space or ‘adulterating’ the
play environment because adults put their own needs above children’s needs.
What is open access play?
In both open access and closed access play care facilities
playworkers are responsible for the safety and care of children.
However there are important differences that parents / carers
should understand.
Open access is free to all Crawley children over six years and up
to eighteen after their parents or carers complete a registration
form accepting that:
 the gate is open for children to come and go as they please
 the play service is not responsible for keeping children on
site and is not responsible for them when they leave
 there is no limit on the number of children who may attend –
however the numbers in the buildings are monitored.
 they can abide by the play service rules and collect their
child if asked to by a playworker.
Adventure playground open access play
“There’s always lots of different people, tools and stuff to play with.”
Open access means that registered children over six can come and go when they want to. Parents are
required to fill in a registration form and children sign themselves in daily. Our qualified playworkers and
volunteers are all police checked and regularly check the site for safety. Parents and group leaders can
bring in children that they are responsible for.
Children choose between playing in our building with games, pool, table tennis or arts & crafts or outside
in our large open play space, which has swings, slides, climbing structures and sandpit. There is space
for gardening, camp building, playing games, chatting with friends or hanging out around the bonfire.
Activities might include karaoke, cooking, candle making, glass painting, barbecues or active games.
Children play outside even in bad weather and often get dirty – Old clothes are a good idea.
Children come from different backgrounds. They have a range of abilities, needs and ages. They tell us
about what is going on, who is around and what they are doing, and also who is not having such a good
time. We plan our work on what the children want and our observation of their behaviour.
There is always enough time and space to be creative and to meet friends.
We are open:
Term time: 3pm to 7:30pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.
In the holidays: 11.30pm to 4pm Monday to Friday
We are not open for free open access from December to February however we are available for:
 school, community and other group bookings
 children’s parties at the weekends
Our Rule: “Whatever is done here, by anyone, must not harm the enjoyment of others.”
The playground is supported by local people and other people volunteer in many ways - from
donations of paint, wood and old shop fittings, to helping with the tuck shop, activities, fundraising, events
and even washing-up! There are many ways to get involved. If you are interested speak to a playworker.
Our playworkers take an interest in what is happening in their local communities. They promote
the importance of play and keep up to date with current playwork thinking and good practice.
They provide a welcoming and flexible environment, attend local and national meetings sharing
skills, experiences, raising money and promoting the importance of play. We aim to empower
children by providing a welcoming, flexible environment where their perceptions of the world
have time to be “played out.”
For more information about the work of the Play Service in the Crawley community including
affordable child care see our website below or talk to the playworkers. Visit
www.crawley.gov.uk/play for more information.
Adventure playground open access play registration form.
All children between 6 and 18 years old who use the playground unaccompanied must be registered.
Which adventure playground do you want to register at? (please tick)
Cherry Lane
Creasys Drive
Millpond
Waterlea
Please fill in The Second bit, (children fill in the First bit, and return it to us - All questions starting in Bold Must be
completed, we will phone you to check these the details. Once registered children are free to come and go as they
please. Please see the playworkers for more information and details of how you can help.
The first bit
I am mainly interested in: …………….…………………………………………..………
How I could help: ……………………………………….………………………...………
How I describe myself: ……………………………………..…………………......……...
What I think about the playground: ……………………….………………..……………
The second bit
First name:.................................... Family name.......….…..…... Preferred name: ….....…………
Playgrounds
tick check
Boy or girl ................................ Brother or Sister of: ………………………………………….
Address: ...……...................................... Post code.…………….. Neighbourhood .……………..
Date of birth: ……..…................
Telephone number at home: ......................................
Other phone No: .............……………….........
Whose phone: ……...........….……..….
Email address: ………………………………………………..…..
Name of child’s Doctor: ................................…..
Doctors’ phone No: ……………......
Names of other key people: ………….…..…..….……... Phone No: ……….…...………
(e.g. friend or social worker)
School attended: ……………………………………………………………...…………..…
How would you describe your child’s ethnicity? Please circle
Asian, White British, White any other, Black, Mixed. Any other / not specified.
Do they have any special health, dietary or other issues we should know about? Please ensure that
you discuss issues with the Senor Playworker who will record information and attach to this form.
Do they have a statement of special educational needs?
YES/NO
(If so please attach information)
I ………………………………………… (BLOCK CAPITALS please) agree with the Play Service
Rules, understand what open access means, agree to pick up my child if asked to by
the playworkers and for first aid treatment to be given necessary and that the Play
Service occasionally takes photographs for use in publicity. (The senior playworker will
check photos with parents before external use).
Name of parent: .............................…………... Signed: …….…………………………
Please return completed form to the playworkers at the adventure playground you are registering with.
Information
attached?
Parents
phoned all bold
above
checked:
signed by
SoS ….....
Date:
Date
inputted to
register: