Purpose & Scope of the Play Strategy

Purpose of the play strategy

The purpose of the strategy is to evaluate and assess the quality of the current play provisions within Pembrokeshire, to identify areas of improvement and enable the development of an action plan. The aim of the play strategy is to address the play needs within Pembrokeshire by producing a detailed breakdown and analysis of the current provisions within the council’s ownership, focusing on among others, the quality; compliance and play value. Alongside an engagement programme focused on discussion and information gathering, the analysis will be used and developed to produce an action plan, which will enable a restructure of the current play provision. This will result in a new approach to play in Pembrokeshire, one that prioritises play value and maximises economic resources. The strategy will act as guidance on the standards of play provision within Pembrokeshire, which can be used and developed to ensure future needs are met.

The strategy has been written by the Pembrokeshire Play Partnership, in consultation with a range of children and young people. It sets out a clear vision and mission for play throughout Pembrokeshire and focuses on five key objectives. The Play Sufficiency Action Plan will identify how these objectives will be met.

The scope of the play strategy

The scope of the strategy will be limited to play opportunities located within Pembrokeshire. While the Council understands that importance of play opportunities at home and within schools, these experiences are not under the control of the council and therefore will not be included within the play strategy; nor will it include any commercial play activities; these stakeholder parties will however, be included within the engagement process.

In addition to equipped play areas, the strategy will include all Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGA’s), wheeled sports areas, basketball pods and single goal ends, teen shelters and outdoor fitness areas currently owned and maintained by the council. This is because they are considered play provisions as they are intended for free play as opposed to organised sport. The strategy will not include sports pitches or clubs as these are primarily used for organised sports and the focus of the strategy is on play exclusively. Free play is different from structured activities like sport, it is what children and young people do when they are allowed free time and space to use in their own way, for their own reasons and for no external outcome, reward or goal. The strategy will however, include recreational grounds because, while historically they have not been considered play areas they are, and have the potential to be, playable spaces.

This three year Strategy will cover all children and young people between the ages of 0 – 18 years, with this being extended to young people aged up to 25 years with additional learning needs and will be supported by an Action Plan.

How we do it

Form the Play Sufficiency Assessment we identified our five key themes for this strategy, this was carried out through consultation with children, young people and partnership agencies.

The strategy sets a framework for Pembrokeshire County Council to advocate for children’s right to play and identify priorities within play development. It looks at the play opportunities available for children and young people in the area and identifies barriers they face in accessing opportunities for play.

The key themes in this strategy will enable Pembrokeshire Council to plan community based play services and the future development of fixed play equipment, whilst taking into consideration current and future resources available to tackle the highlighted need.

This strategy promotes health and wellbeing benefits related to play and therefore encourages children’s play to be placed at the heart of our local agenda.

Why is play important?

We recognise that play is so much more than an equipped play area, the essence of play is that it is child-led and initiated and not directed by adults. Play is a vital part of our everyday lives, not only is it an enjoyable pastime, it can be a tool to achieve positive development in terms of both physical and mental wellbeing and positive changes.

The roles and responsibilities of adults

Children need an element of freedom in their play that is seldom granted to them. As adults, we affect children’s play significantly. In ‘The Role of Adults in Children’s Play’ it is determined that adults affect what children experience by the permissions granted to them; by regulating time for play opportunities, by the space made available to them and by the materials provided, or denied, for play. Adults, particularly parents, need to be advocates for play, by demonstrating a supportive attitude towards play, by listening to children’s needs and by enabling play to happen.

The Play work team that delivers play services for the Council actively engages with children and young people, and responds appropriately to their needs by delivering a range of planned and unplanned games, ideas and activities using a wide range of resources. This role is demanding and requires a highly adaptive, dynamic and skilled workforce to deliver quality play opportunities, which the Council prides itself on.