Consultation on Play Sufficiency

Summary of Consultation Paper: 

We need your comments!

Consultation on statutory guidance on play opportunities

Local Authorities (LAs) are being asked to to assess the sufficiency of play opportunities for children in their areas.

Start of consultation: 13/04/2012

End of consultation: 25/06/2012

Use the following link for fuller details:

http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/childrenandyoungpeople/play/?lang=en&status=open 


Use the following link to submit any comments to this consultation: 

https://docs.google.com/a/pavo.org.uk/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dG9Odk9lbWc0bUdJWHFkY3lyZHZiaVE6MQ#gid=0




What is the timeline for completion of the Play Sufficiency?

Copy of Play Sufficiency to submitted to Welsh Government by 1st March 2013

This needs to be part of the Single Integrated Plan, required from Local Service Board on 
31st March 2013.

(the play sufficiency assessment must contribute to the overall needs assessment  for securing sufficient play opportunities and incorporated into the Single Integrated Plan.)

In Powys we already have the an Integrated Plan: The One Powys Plan. 

Progress on securing play opportunities should be reviewed annually with further Play Sufficiency Assessment being carried out every 3 years.

What is meant by "Play":

“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”. 

However, for this purpose Play also includes “any recreational activity”: this

Includes  junior and youth clubs; leisure centre and sporting activities; cultural and arts activities; and events organised for children and their families. These recreational activities may offer a combination of organised activities, and opportunities for freely chosen and child led play. In any of these situations children should have the choice of taking part and a voice in what opportunities are offered and how they are organised. 

The range of play opportunities that are covered under the Measure as

being:-

• Freely chosen Play - With or without adult supervision.

• Structured recreational activities - For children and young people

What will be covered in the sufficiency audit?

Population

Diverse needs

Space available for child’s play

Access to space

Play workforce

Information, publicity and events

Supervised play and structured recreational activities

  

How does this link with the Local Service Board & a Single Integrated Plan?

The Single Integrated Plan is increasingly becoming the mechanism through which

action on local priorities is planned and delivered, and outcomes monitored and

evaluated, based on an assessment of local needs. Action to develop, monitor and

scrutinise the Single Integrated plan is coordinated by the Local Service Board,

bringing together leaders of local government, the NHS, the police, third sector and

the Welsh Government itself. 

Local authority representatives on the Local Service Board should ensure that the

Play Sufficiency Assessments form part of the local needs assessment and that the

assessment and the proposals for securing sufficient play opportunities are

integrated into the planning, implementation and review of the Single Integrated Plan

at every stage of the planning cycle. 

Action plans are the essential building blocks of the Single Integrated Plan, and set

out in detail what actions each of the Local Service Board partners will undertake

over 3–5 years to achieve outcomes which contribute towards identified long-term

goals. 

Legal duties on local partners in respect of play remain.

How will all agencies to identify and secure sufficient play?


All agencies will need to work together in partnership to identify & secure sufficient play.

The relevant partnerships are likely to include:

• Town and Community Councils.

• Third sector organisations.

• The private sector if appropriate.

• Community groups.

• Children and their families.

Working across borders with other authorities is also encouraged to ensure all children in Wales access play.

Because play covers a wide range of provision; facilities; services and community

organisation, it is essential that budgets that cover all these areas contribute towards

the purpose of securing sufficient play opportunities.

Local partners should identify and use these budgets, including reprioritisation if

necessary, to ensure that there are sufficient resources to secure the play

opportunities required for its area.

  

How should consultation be undertaken and with whom?

For play opportunities to meet the requirements of children it is essential that they

are consulted on what they want from play and leisure activities.

The Local Authority should consult with children as to what play opportunities; play

provision; activities and events they want in their area.

The participation and consultation methods should comply with the Welsh Government’s Children and Young People’s Participation Standards and section 12 of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 on Participation.

The Authority should also consult with

parents; the local community and any other interested stakeholder on the

development of play opportunities and developing child and play friendly

communities.

The assessment should take into account: 

• The views of children, obtained through consultations, on what play and

leisure provision they want in their areas; how they would like their

neighbourhood to be organised to provide the play opportunities they

want; and what barriers stop them from playing.

• An analysis of the results of these consultations and how these have or

will be used to inform future plans.

• The views of parents, families and other stakeholders, obtained through

consultation, on play provision/opportunities and how this has or will inform

future plans.