ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the news that the Department for Children, Schools and Families has today published its national play strategy.

The play strategy includes proposals to build 3,500 new play areas and give £2m to 30 local authorities to build new adventure playgrounds.

The document also includes plans to introduce a new "play indicator" in which children and young people are asked their views on parks and facilities in their areas.


Party response: Conservative

Michael Gove, shadow children's secretary, said: "This is just spin. We must get police back on the streets and in public areas to stop violent crime and we must change the law to stop lawyers getting rich by suing schools and charities every time there's an accident, as we have repeatedly proposed.

"Parents and children need more than warm words from Ed Balls about creating exciting areas to play. Ministers have endlessly criticised the compensation culture without coming up with any solutions to deal with it."


Stakeholder response: Play England



To send a comment to Play England click here 

Adrian Voce, director, said: "The challenge of opening up public space for play is huge. It needs a bold vision and the play strategy rises to this challenge. The proposed steps should put children at the heart of their communities; not rhetorically, but physically, out playing where they belong.

"In so doing, the government has finally come good on the full scope of Every Child Matters, recognising that children's enjoyment of play and their freedom and safety as stakeholders in public space is as important as any outcome.

"What is needed now is cross-party support for a sustained commitment to the measures proposed and a positive response from local government – led by Children's Services but with a co-ordinated effort from environment, planning, housing, traffic and open space departments.

"The proposed strategy is a massive step towards England again becoming a more child-friendly country. For it and the funding to have the impact they need, local authorities must now make play the priority that it has always been for children."


Stakeholder response: Association of Physical Education



To send a comment to the afPE click here

"The Association for Physical Education (afPE) is pleased to see this commitment from the Government to provide safe, well managed, accessible facilities and leadership for children’s play.  As physical educationists, we are horrified that so many young children have limited opportunities for movement and physical activity, and for enjoyable practice and exercise of skills and sociability.  Too many children are physically restricted by parents’ understandable concerns about safety, but it is essential that they are able to learn and practice the skills they need for participation in everyday activities with their friends. 

"afPE is concerned, too, that nursery and early years schools experience can include the opportunities for physical play and physical activity which young children need so much.  It is high time that all provision for children is both child-friendly and activity-friendly. 

"We welcome the intention to match new and improved play facilities, with appropriately trained play leaders and facilitators, although we are concerned that the budgets announced are very modest, once allocated across local authorities.  It is essential that local authorities receive the resources they need to deliver recreational opportunity, their new duty under the Children Act 2004, as recommended by the United Nations Statement on the Rights of the Child."