Play Strategy
Summary
The aim of the Play Strategy is to generate a commitment to ensuring that all children have access to a range of rich, stimulating and fun play environments, which are free from unacceptable risk, embrace diversity and encourage inclusion of all children.
Play must also encompass the 3 'frees':
- Free to choose
- Free of charge, and
- Free to come and go
Central Government has recognised the need for play formally, through the government Green Paper, “Every Child Matters. Change for Children” (HM Government 2004).
The paper highlighted
the importance of having communities where there is somewhere safe to go and something to do... (providing) recreational activity for children and young people… building the fabric of communities and increasing young people’s skills confidence and self esteem.
These principles were a major part of the Children Act 2004. It recognised the enjoyment of recreation, including play, as one of the key outcomes for children that authorities must consider in drawing up and coordinating Children’s Plans.
It is recognised that the need to make better provision for play cuts across the range of policy areas that include:
- planning
- open spaces
- transport
- health
- education
- and childcare.
Following this Bill, the Big Lottery Fund announced in November 2005 details of a new Children’s Play initiative launched in March 2006.
Haringey Council can bid for up to £780,982.05 of funding over 3 years.
The local authority is expected to take the lead role in applying for funds, working with local partners in the play sector.
The Council is required to develop a portfolio of projects that focus on areas of greatest need and form part of a Play Strategy for Haringey.
The Local Authority has taken a lead role in developing the ‘Play Strategy for Haringey’ together with the voluntary and private sector and key partner agencies. These agencies have an interest in play, recognise the important of play in a child’s development and are committed to ensuring that all children have access to a range of rich, stimulating and fun play environments. These should be:
- free from unacceptable risk
- embrace diversity
- and encourage inclusion of all children.
Two local voluntary sector organisations, Haringey Play Association and Markfield, were commissioned by the London Borough of Haringey in March 2006 to conduct an audit of supervised play and youth provision for children aged 0 to 19.
The audit’s purpose was to gather information about the amount and range of supervised play opportunities, any gaps in provision, and the quality of provision available.
In April 2006, an audit of unsupervised play facilities and spaces was also completed, by Ashley Godfrey Associates on behalf of LB Haringey Recreation Services. It measured the quantity and quality and accessibility of children’s equipped playing space.
Both audits also considered risk issues such as bullying, discrimination, and whether children feel safe and welcome to use available provision.
Since July 2005, the Local Authority and key partner agencies have carried out consultation events with play service providers, parents/carers, children, young people, voluntary and private sector organisations to produce the Play Strategy for Haringey.
The Play Strategy has drawn on information from other local strategy documents such as:
- Changing Lives’ the Haringey Children and Young People’s Plan 2006-9
- Unitary Development Plan
- Open Space Strategy 2005
- Growing up in Haringey” The Haringey Health Report 2005.
The London Borough of Haringey’s Play Strategy reflects the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child; Article 31 (1991) which states that:
- Parties recognise the right of the child 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 arts.
- Parties 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 activities.
The Play Strategy has identified 4 key objectives:
- To raise awareness and understanding of play, children’s needs and rights to play within Haringey.
- To increase participation of children and parents/carers and other stakeholders, in planning and decision making about play.
- To increase the amount and range of local play provision.
- To improve and ensure consistency of quality in local play provision.
For further information please email playstrategy@haringey.gov.uk.
