Play
What is play?
“Play is one of the ways that children learn about themselves, the people around them their environment and the community in which they live.”
Play is essential for:
- Physical, emotional and spiritual growth
- Intellectual and educational development
- Social and behavioural skills
Places to Play
Children will play anywhere at any time given the opportunity. As parents/carers, those working with children, young people, families and living/working in communities we have a responsibility to create the right conditions in which children can access opportunities for playing.
Playful Childhoods
Playful Childhoods helps parents, carers and grandparents to give children time, space, support to play at home and in their community - www.playfulchildhoods.wales
Visit the Play Wales website to find lots of further information for parents and workers.
Play in Ceredigion Schools
Our School’s Service and the Physical Activity & Play Service (Ceredigion Actif) are currently working with the Healthy Schools staff on a Play project and we wanted to outline. The two main objectives of the programme are:
- To provide sustainable play opportunities for children and young people in Ceredigion;
- To help develop Rich Play Environments within our schools
In order to achieve these objectives we have put in place the following steps:
- Sharing Information: Initial training on Free Play, Loose Parts and Health & Safety (RoSPA) delivered through the Health and Well-being Network and Healthy Schools
- Equipment: Healthy Schools have funded 30 schools to purchase loose parts to start creating Rich Play Environments
- School Visits: RAY Ceredigion staff will be arranging 4 school visits with the schools that have signed up
- Practical Staff Training: Ceredigion Actif staff will provide training and mentoring to school staff. This could be for lunchtime supervisors, supports staff and teachers. You could even include your Bronze Young Ambassadors. (If you have Playground Markings, we could also link these to the training)
- More funding: Once your staff have been trained, we will purchase additional Loose Parts play equipment to help further create rich areas and we will also provide you with a list of equipment that parents could donate to further enhance opportunities. It is essential that the staff that will be delivering the school based play sessions are suitably trained and supported
- Play Policy: We will be asking all schools involved to develop a School Play Policy. Examples and assistance is available from Helen.Lewis26@wales.nhs.uk (Healthy Schools Coordinator)
- Project Evaluation: There will be pupil and staff questionnaires to complete in order for us to evaluate the project.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact: