"Play is an essential part of every child's life and vital to the processes of human development. It provides the mechanism for children to explore the world around them and the medium to which skills are developed in practice. It is essential for physical, emotional and spiritual growth, intellectual and educational development, and acquiring social and behavioural skills. Play is a generic term for a variety of activities that are satisfying to the child, creative for the child and freely chosen by the child."
Please use the following link for the Playwork Principles:
Play is "S.P.I.C.E."
Social
Physical
Intellectual
Creative
Emotional
Play Development within East Cambridgeshire's District
East Cambridgeshire District Council has been successful in securing a bid from The Big Lottery for the development of PLAY across the region. The three main areas which will be focused on are -
- To install some new and innovative play equipment into some play areas across the East Cambs. region.
- To install 5 youth shelters across the East Cambs. region.
- To develop and produce an outreach play programme, which will provide more play activities to children and young people, inclusive of children and young people with special needs, aged between 0 - 19 years. A new post of Play and Physical Activity Co-ordinator has been created.
The play areas which have been identified for further development have been decided through a comprehensive audit and assessment carried out by East Cambs. District Council published in October 2005 on Sports Facilities and Play Areas.
The key objectives around the role of The Play & Physical Activity Co-ordinator are to -
- Raise the profile of play
- Increase participation of children, young people, parents and carers in play activities.
- Increase play activities both in term time and school holidays
- Increase free play provision
- Work with the extended schools programme
To develop the East Cambridgeshire Play Partnership (ECPP)
The ECPP was established and constituted February 7th, 2008. It'sd aim is to support the developwemnt of Play by all providors, throughout the district of East Cambs. This support will be offered by the group as a whole and may take the form of guidance, funding or attendence at meetings and/or events. This is one one of the first Play Partnerships to be set up, in conjuction with Play England.
If anybody is interested in the partaking of this group, please email michelle.burrell@eastcambs.gov.uk
Active Play Clubs
There were 12 schools that participated in Active Club Programme. Active Play is a key factor contributing to every child's physical development and wellbeing. For further information on New Guidance on Obesity, please visit www.dh.gov.uk
In order to aid the child's development. Through play the child explores the world around them and thus will develop with it as a result. It is good to have the interaction of parents throughout play and it should be seen as an enhancement of their play.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
The UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, was ratisfaied by the UK in 1991. It has been signed up to by 192 countries, and all except 2 UN member states. The USA and Somalia, who have now signalled their intention to ratify.
The Key Rights
At it's heart lies a committment to the principal that 'the best interests of the child shall be the primary consideration.' It covers four broad araes of rights:
- Survival rights
- Development Rights
- Protection rights
- Participation rights
For further information, please visit the Every Child Matters website:
Useful Contacts for Play Providers
