adaptinglockdown

website:www.
playengland.
org.
ukemail:info@playengland.
netPlayAfterLockdownAPlayEnglandBriefingIntroductionOneofthemosttoxiceffectstocomeoutofthecurrentpandemicisthedestructiveimpactithashadonchildren'splay;thespacestheyplayin,thedegreeoffreedomtheyexperienceandtheirabilitytochoosewhattheydoandhowtheydoit.
Instead,childrenhavebeenimprisonedinthehome,ofteninthesamespaceastiredandpressuredparents.
Thepotentialincreaseinpoormentalandphysicalhealthfromthismix,nottomentionitslikelydevelopmentalconsequencesisobvious.
Thisshortdocumentisintendedtoprovideaframeworkmakingitpossibletoaddresstheissuesarisingfromtheimpactonplayofcoronavirusandhelpthosewhowillbedealingwiththefall-outwhenthevirushasabatedandasparentsbegintotaketheirchildrentodifferentplayandchild-carefacilitiesagain.
Asithaswitheverythingelse,thearrivalofcoronavirushaschangedhowweviewplayandtheconditionswemayhavetoadopttoprovideforitinthefuture.
Ourinitialreactiontoithasbeentoapplymeasurestoprotectchildrenusingthemechanismoflockdown.
InSpainchildrenweretotallyincarceratedforsixweeks.
However,becausetheviruswillbeactiveforsometimetocome,withoutaccesstoavaccine,ourresponsemayhavetoconsiderotherfactorsforexamplesocialdistancing,surgicalfacemasks,prohibitedplaytypes,barringsomechildren,zoningtheplayspaceandothermeasures,whichwouldhavebeenviewednotonlyasabhorrentbutcounter-productiveonlyafewweeksago.
Goodphysicalandmentalhealth,vitaloutcomesoftheplayprocess,dependupontheprovisionofappropriatephysicalandsocialenvironmentscapableofmeetingthedeep-seatedbiologicalneedsofchildrenaswellasthoseoffun,creativityandfreedomofaction,allessentialtothedevelopingindividual;theevidencebeingthatpsychopathologycanresultwhentheseneedsarefrustratedorunmet.
Wemightconcludethatanyfrustrationofdeeperdevelopmentalneedscausedbythefearandpowerlessnessexperiencedasaconsequenceoftheinsidiousnatureofthevirus,wouldresultinmanifestationsofgrossandunmistakablepsychopathology.
Onlyplayinginauthenticandhappysurroundingscancounterthis.
Accompanyingtheearlierandlesspunitiverestrictionswasanoutcryofconcernfortheimpacttheymighthaveifchildrenwereunabletoplayauthentically.
Perhapsweshouldre-considerwhytherewassuchconcernTheframeworkisintendedtohelp,byofferingsimpleguidelinesforourwork,whichshouldmakeprovisionpossiblewhilstatthesametime,notsuffocatingtheveryprocessesitisintendedtohelp.
Weallknowthatplayisanimportantingredientofchildren'slives.
Andalthoughsomeofusaremorecraftorientated,ormoresporty,orarty,evenrisky,wesometimesforgetthatwhenweplayed,normallytherewerenoadultscloseby.
Wemadeitupourselves,survivedthescrapesourselves,madeourownrulesandtothisdaystillrememberwhatwedid,whereandwithwhom.
Nowasadultsweknowthatthatisbecauseplayisanintegralcomponentofourbiology.
Weneedtoplay,itisadrive,toplaywasandstillisanessentialineverysinglechild'slife.
Andplayinggivesusnotonlythewherewithalltonavigatetheworldasweseeitaschildren,itgiveseachoneofusauniquefoundationforlife.
Touseagardeninganalogy,thatfoundationnotonlyincludesthewholerangeoftoolswemayneedtohelpusflourish,plant,pruneandplan,itincludesthegardenshedforstorageandthegardenorallotmenttotrynewideasandprocessesout.
Everychildisabletousethosetoolsandprocessestonavigatetheworldastheyseeit,ourjobistomakesurethattheycan,butnottotellthemhow.
BobHughesPlayAndWellbeingTheimpactofstayingathomehashadasevereeffectonthephysicalandmentalhealthandwellbeingofchildren,youngpeopleandpeopleofallages.
Peopleofallagesarefeelinglonely,missingfriendsandsocialinteractions.
Somechildrenandfamilieshavebeenstuckinovercrowdedaccommodationwithnooutdoorspace,particularlyinthemostdisadvantagedareas.
Thisisespeciallyhardforchildrenwhodonothavecontroloverhowandwhentomeetotherchildren.
Lackofplayislinkedtomentalhealthproblemstoo,withisolationincreasingdepressionforsomechildren.
Playandbeingoutdoorswithfriendsisvitalforchildandfamilywellbeing.
Playworkisaneffectivemethodologyforworkingwithchildren,basedonsupportingandrespondingtochildrenandyoungpeople'sneedforfreedomandcontrolintheirplay.
Playhasgreattherapeuticvalueforchildrenenablingthemtoworkthroughtrauma,formfriendships,exploreidentity,developphysicalandcognitiveskills,creativityandresilience,intheirownwayandattheirownpace.
PlayisimportanttohelpchildrenadapttothechangescausedbyCoronavirusandlockdownanddealingwithtransitionandreturningtoschoolaslockdowneases.
Playworkmethodologiescanbeusedbyeveryonewhoworkswithchildrenatplayincludingteachers,socialworkers,medicalpractitioners,parksofficers,youthworkers,earlyyearspractitionersandparents.
HOWCANWETAKEAPLAYWORKAPPROACHAplayworkapproachcanbedefinedasonewherechildrenandtheirplayneedsareputattheheartofyourvision,atthecentreoftheprocess.
Asweadapttochangestakingplacearoundus,ensuringthatchildrenhavegoodopportunitiestoplaywillbeessential.
ThePlayworkPrinciples,theprofessionalandethicalframeworkforPlaywork,provideausefulguideforeveryonewhoworkswithchildrenatplay.
Beingflexibleandresponsivetochildren'splayneedsisakeyplayworkskillthatwillbedrawnon.
Advocatingforfreeplayandfindinganinterventionstylethatsupportschildren'splaywillalsobeimportant.
Canyouvisualiseyourplayareasetup,givingchildrenmorespace,beingabletoaccessloosepartswheneverythingwillneedtobe2metresapartHowcanyouplanthisplayfullyandsafelyHowwillyoumanagenumbersofchildrenonsite,limittimes,bookgroupsoflowernumbersandcreatephysicaldistanceandsocialbubblesHOWCANWEALLOWCHILDRENTOPLAYWITHTHEIRPEERSFREELYThinkabouthowchildrencanhaveasmuchfreedomandcontrolintheirplayaspossible.
Allowthemtoplayintheirownwayincludingactivitieslikeclimbing,balancing,hopping,skipping,jumpingandrunning.
Aimtokeepadultinterventionstoaminimum.
Beawareofwhatisgoingonbylisteningandobservingwhilechildrenplayingandbepreparedtostepinonlyifneeded,forexampleinresponsetoacuefromachild.
Trytoavoidshoutingandstoppingchildrenfromplaying.
Ifachildisdoingsomethingthattheyshouldn't,trydivertingthemorhelpingthemtoadapttheactivitysothattheycanstillenjoythemselvesbutwithoutputtingthemselvesorothersatriskofseriousharm.
Encouragechildrentocomeupwiththeirownsolutionstohelplookafterthemselvesandothers.
HOWCANWEIMPROVEOURPLAYSPACEForinspiration,thinkbacktothethingsthatyouenjoyeddoingwhenyouwereplayingasachildandtrytoencourageandsupportchildrentobeabletoenjoysimilarexperiences.
Therearelotsofgreatideasontheinternetforoutdoorandnatureplayaswellasindoorplaywithartsandcraftsmaterials.
Observehowchildrenareplayinginyourexistingplayspace.
IsplayhappeningnaturallyinyourenvironmentordoyouneedtodomoretosupportitWhatwouldyouaddtoyouroutdoorenvironmenttopromptplayfulactivegamesDoyouworkwithchildrenofdifferentagesandphysicalabilities,ifso,howdoyouensuretheyareincludedChildrenlovetobeabletomanipulateandadapttheenvironmentforthemselves,egmovingthingsaroundandadaptingtheiruse.
Introducingarangeofitemsthatcanbewasheddownanddisinfectedinbetweenuse,willgreatlyincreasetherangeofplaythatchildrencanenjoy.
Anythingthatrollsorhaswheelswillworkwellinaschoolplaygroundorastreet,includingballs,skittles,tubes,rollerskates,skateboards,scootersorbicycles.
Lookoutforchildrenplayinginyourlocalarea.
WhataretheydoingArethereideasthatyoucanintroducetoyourplayspaceChildrenloveplayingwithwater,particularlyinthesummermonths,soconsiderwhetherwaterplaycanbesafelyintroduced.
Thiscouldbesomethingassimpleasallowingchildrentocollectandplaywithwaterinplasticcupsfromahosepipeorwaterfountain.
Encouragechildrenandparentstobringappropriateclothing,egwellies,outdoorclothes,towelsoroverallssothatchildrencanexperienceoutdoorplayinallweathersormessyplayindoors.
HOWCANWELISTENTOANDLEARNFROMCHILDRENTransitiontoa''newnormal''willtaketimeandchildrenneedtobeactivelyincludedintheprocessofchange.
Listeningtochildren'sopinionsandfeelingsiscrucial.
Ifachildtellsyouthey'vebeenlonelyandorfeelworried,howwillyourespondandwhatcanyoulearnthatwillhelpyousupporttheiremotionalwell-beingWhetheryouareaskeddirectquestionsthatmaybeeasytoanswerorhearingpotentiallytraumaticexperiencesyouwillneedtoreallylisten.
Ifnecessary,youwillneedtore-assure,respondandinsomecases–ifyouareconcernedaboutSafeguarding–report.
Reflectivepracticeisanessentialtoolusedbyplayworkersandchildren'sprofessionalstoenablecontinuouslearning,improvingawarenessofchildren'sengagementwiththeplayenvironmentandwitheachother.
Itishelpfultosetasidetimeattheendofeachdayforthestaffteamtoreflectonchildren'splayandwriteupthoughtsandinteractionsandusethemtoincreaseyourunderstandingofwhatworksandwhathasn'tworkedHOWCANWEINVOLVECHILDRENANDENCOURAGETHEIRPARTICIPATIONParticipationshouldbeanactiveandongoingprocessinvolvingchildrenindecisionmakingfromdaytodayactivitiestowiderdecisionsabouthowtheprojectisrun.
Children'sparticipationincreasesownershipoftheirplayspacesandtheabilitytofeelincontrolasfarasisreasonablypracticable.
Childrenaremorecompetentthanadultsgivethemcreditfor!
Takingaparticipatoryapproach,asopposedtoamoreone-offstyleconsultationaboutspecificchoicescreatesacultureofparticipationanddevelopsconfidenceandcompetence.
DochildrenhaveameaningfulroleinyoursettingareactivitiesinitiatedbychildrensupportedbyplayworkersDochildrenwhoattendtheprojecthavesomecontrolovertheresourcebudgetallocatedtoitWhenundertakingnewandchallengingtaskschildren'screativeideasandparticipationareessential.
Newboundaries,includingphysicaldistancing,socialbubbles,betterhygieneandhandwashingaswellasappropriatebehaviour,workbetterforallwhendiscussed,negotiatedandagreedwithchildren.
ChildrenneedtoknowtheirparticipationisrealsohowwillyouactonandsupporttheirideasHOWCANWESUPPORTCHILDREN'SCHOICEANDAGENCYTheUNConventionontheRightsoftheChildsetsoutrightsforallchildren.
Article31stateschildrenhavetherighttoplay,article12giveschildrentherighttoexpresstheirviewsandhavethemtakenseriouslyandarticle15isabouttherighttofreedomofassociation,IEchildrenmeetingothersandjoininggroups.
Howdoyoutakechildren'sviewsseriouslyandenablechildrentomakechoices,withinagreedsafetyboundariesCountriesaroundtheworldgoingintolockdownhaveseenchildrenhousebound,notabletoexercisetheirrightstoassociationandtoplay.
Childrenofallagessayoneofthefreedomstheyhavemissedisseeingfriends.
Playtimescanprovidechildfriendlyplacesforchildrentoplay,tomeetoldandnewfriends,testboundariesandtakerisksnotjustphysicalbutemotionaltoo.
Whatplansdoyouhaveforstafftosupportchildren'schoicesAretherepoliciesandprocessesyouneedtoadopttogivechildrenmorechoiceandcontrolDoyouhaverobustsystems,IEriskbenefitassessments,inplacetosupportchildrensafelyHealthAndSafetyAndPlayHowbesttomanageriskhasalwaysbeenaprimeconsiderationinplanningforplay.
Professionalshavetostrikeabalancebetweenchildrenandyoungpeople'sneedforfun,excitementandchallenge,withtheneedtokeepthemsafefromunacceptableriskofharm.
Strikingthatbalancehasneverbeenmorechallenging.
Fortunately,RiskBenefitAssessment,developedbyplayworkersinconjunctionwithgovernmentandtheHealth&SafetyExecutiveprovidesatoolthatcanhelpchildrentogetoutdoorsagainandenjoyingthebenefitsofplay.
Anelementofrisktakinginchildren'splayisbeneficial.
Riskhelpsthedevelopmentofphysicalskillssuchaswalking,cycling,climbing,swimming,learningtofallsafely,balance,lifeskills,socialskills,experiencingfailureandlearningtorecover,resilience,health,fitness,exhilarationandfun,self-esteem,self-awarenessandabilitytomakejudgementsandtodealwithriskandchallenge.
Smallaccidentsandupsets–trips,slips,falls,grazes,arguments,tearsanddisputes–areallpartoftheexperienceofgrowingup.
Learningtocopewithsetbacksandmanageemotionslikefear,angerandadegreeofdistressareessentiallifeskills.
Playprovidersalsohaveadutyofcaretothechildren,youngpeople,staff,volunteersandmembersofthepublicwhouseourservicestotakereasonablecaretoavoidcausingharm.
AREWEMAKINGSURETHATCHILDRENGETTHEBENEFITSOFPLAYWHILSTMINIMIZINGTHERISKSFROMCORONAVIRUSWithplaygroundsinparksstillclosed,weneedtothinkaboutcreativewaysthatchildrencanstillhavesomefunandenjoyplaying,wherepossiblemakingthemostofoutdoorspace–likeparks,schoolplaygrounds,ballcourtsandstreets.
TheevidenceindicatesthattransmissionofCoronavirusismuchlessoutdoors,sothinkaboutgames,sportsandactivitiesthatchildrencandoindividually,inpairs,orinsmallgroupswhilstsociallydistancing.
Forexample,tennis,juniorgolf,running,jumping,skipping,bowling,chalking,hopscotchandmanyothergamescanbeadaptedforasmallnumberofchildrenmaintainingsocialdistancing.
Trytotakeaplayfulapproachbasedonrespondingtochildren'sneedsandwishes.
Askthechildrentocomeupwiththeirowngames.
Haveasimplesupplyofequipmentandthingstoplaywiththatcanbedisinfectedinbetweenuse.
AREWESUPPORTINGCHILDRENANDFAMILIESTOGETTHEBENEFITSOFPLAYChildrenandfamiliesareunderstandablyfearfulabouttherisksofcontractingCoronavirus.
Encourageandsupportfamiliestoallowtheirchildrentoplaybyexplainingthebenefitsofplayforchildren'shealthandwellbeing,learningandresilience.
Withplaygroundsclosed,Coronavirusandlockdownhaveintensifiedchildrenandfamilies'fearsofbeingoutdoors,ofdirtanddiseaseandofcontactwithotherpeople.
Howeverreasonablethismaybe,ithastobebalancedagainsttheriskstoyoungpeople'sphysicalandmentalhealthandwell-beingfrombeingindoorsandawayfromtheirfriendsforprolongedperiodsoftime.
UseRiskBenefitAssessmenttoidentifytherisksandbenefitsofplayforchildrenandtakeabalancedapproach.
AREWESUPPORTINGCHILDRENWHOLIVEINSHIELDEDHOUSEHOLDSChildrenwithphysicalconditionsputtingthemathighestriskofCoronavirus.
Theyshouldnotbeattendingplayprovision.
Childrenwithhouseholdmembersthatfallintothisgroupshouldalsostayathome.
Itisimportanttostayintouchsothatshieldedfamiliescanfeelincluded.
Youcanuseonlinevideoconferencingsoftware,telephoneandemailtostayintouchwithparentsand–whereparentalpermissionisgranted–withchildrenandyoungpeople.
Makesurethatsafeguardingandprivacysettingsforonlineplayservicesarefullyimplemented.
Considersendingplayfulideas,smallgiftsandtreats(forexample,aplaybagorparcelwiththingsforchildrentoplaywith),andmessagesofsupporttoboostmorale.
DOOURSTAFFNEEDTOWEARPPEPPEshouldonlybeusedasalastresort.
Byfarthemosteffectiveapproachistowashhandsregularlyandmaintaingoodhygieneandimplementsocialdistancingbykeepingatleast2mapart.
YoudonotneedPPEifyouaredoinggeneralsupervisioninaschool,afterschoolcluboroutdoorsetting.
PPEhastobeusedcorrectlyandcancauseproblemsifitisisn't(forexample,ifpeopletakeitonandoff,touchtheirfaceortouchmultiplesurfaceswithgloves).
Youmayuseitwhenclosecontactisneedede.
g.
whendoingfirstaid.
CANWEREOPENOURADVENTUREPLAYGROUNDAdventureplaygroundswillnotbeabletouseplaygroundequipmentuntilgovernmentguidanceallowsthis.
However,theymayusebuildingsandoutdoorspacetoprovidearangeofothersupportservicesforchildrenandfamilies,including:one-to-onesessionsfordisabledchildren,safespaceforvulnerablefamiliesandprovidingfoodsupplies.
Governmentguidancestatesthateachvenueshouldmaketheirowndecisionsaboutwhentheirfacilitiesareready.
Adventureplaygroundsthatareplanningsmallgroupactivitiesshouldfamiliarizethemselveswithgovernmentguidanceandcarryoutathoroughriskbenefitassessment.
Playgroundequipmentmayneedtobecordonedoff.
Youwillneedtoconsiderhowtomanagenumbersinlinewithgovernmentguidance.
Adventureplaygroundsmayalsowishtoconsideradaptingtoprovideplayrangerservicesinlocalparks,estates,streets,sportspitches,ballcourtsandpublicspaces.
Thiswouldinvolveplayworkersworkinginpublicspaceswithsmallgroups.
Theywouldneedtoensurethatgovernmentguidanceonsocialdistancingismaintained.
Foradventureplaygroundsthatremainclosedthisisanidealtimetoworkonplanning,policiesandproceduresandimplementationofthePlayEnglandguidance,QualityinPlay.
AREWEMEETINGREGULATORYREQUIREMENTSTheHealthandSafetyatWorkAct1974appliestoactivitiesforchildren.
TheActdoesnotrequireeliminationofriskandaccidents–thatwouldnotbepossible.
Thelegalrequirementistocarryoutasuitableandsufficientassessmentoftherisksassociatedwithasiteoractivityandtoactaccordingly.
Forchildren'sactivities,theprocessrecommendedbytheHealthandSafetyExecutiveistocarryoutaRiskBenefitAssessment(linktoManagingRiskinPlayProvision).
Professionalsalsoneedtomakesurethattherearesufficientstaffwithfirstaidqualificationsandfoodhygienecertificatesandthatproceduresareinplaceforloneworking,liftingandhandlingandworkingatheight.
AREWECARRYINGOUTADEQUATERISKBENEFITASSESSMENTSCreateasupportivecultureforemployeestoworktogethertofindsolutionstohealthandsafetyconcernsthatenablechildrentogetthemaximumbenefitfromplaying.
Ratherthanautomaticallystoppingriskyactivities,considerwhetherthereisawaytoadapttheactivitysothatchildrencanstillenjoythefunaspects.
RiskbenefitassessmentswillhavetobereviewedinviewofCoronavirusguidanceandnewproceduresputinplace.
Awrittenriskbenefitassessmentshouldbecarriedoutforallareaswherechildrenplayincluding(butnotlimitedto)playgroundsandplaygroundequipmenttakingthevirusintoaccount.
Writtenassessmentsshouldalsobecarriedoutforplannedactivitiesthatincludeasignificantelementofrisk(eguseoftools,hightemperatures,significantfallheights).
Ariskbenefitassessmentshouldconsiderthebenefitsoftheactivity,alongsidetherisks.
Itisalsoworthtrainingstaffindynamicriskbenefitassessment.
Childrenarecreativeintheirplayandnotallplaycanbeplannedfor.
Staffcanmanagethisthroughdynamicriskbenefitassessment–usingtheirknowledgeandprofessionaljudgementtorespondappropriatelytounplannedactivities.
HOWAREWEIMPLEMENTINGOURDUTYOFCAREProfessionalsworkingwithchildrenhaveadutyofcaretothechildrentheyareworkingwith.
ConsiderwhatwouldareasonableparentdoDutyofcareaffectsthedecisionsthatyoumakeaboutstaffratiosandsupervisionrequirements.
ImplementationofCoronavirusguidanceislikelytorequireareviewofstaffratios–asyouwillneedmorestafftosuperviseasmallernumberofchildrenthanusual.
YourRiskBenefitAssessmentshouldalsohighlightotherkeyareasthatneedsupervisionincludinggatesandentrances,whichshouldbesupervisedorsecuredatalltimesandtoiletsthatalsorequiresupervision.
HOWCANWEPREPAREPLAYGROUNDSFORREOPENINGAllplayprovidersshouldhaveaninspectionregimeinplace.
Thisincludesthearrangementsandrecordingofdaily,monthlyandannualcheckingofplayfacilitiesforsoundness,wearandtear,damage,maintenanceandcleanliness.
Playgroundequipmentshouldbeinspectedannuallybyaqualifiedinspectorandallrecommendationsimplementedingoodtime.
Woodenstructuresshouldbecheckedquarterlyforrotbyanexperiencedinspector.
Checksshouldbecarriedoutdaily(ormorefrequently)forcleanliness,litter,hazardsandsharps–andactiontakentoresolve.
HOWCANWEPREPAREFORINDOORPLAYForindoorplay,arrangementsneedtobemadetohelpchildrenmaintainsocialdistancingandminimizetheriskofinfection.
Thismightincludehavingone-waysystemsinandoutofbuildings,maintaininggoodventilation,arrangingforeachchildtohavetheirownartsandcraftsmaterialsandtoys.
Afireriskassessmentshouldbecarriedoutandtestedregularly.
OtherroutinetestingtobecarriedoutincludesPATtestingofelectricalequipment,checksandservicingoffireequipmentandgasboilers,watersafety(Legionella),especiallywhenbuildingshavenotbeenusedforanylengthoftime.
Useofhazardousmaterialsandequipmentshouldbesafelysupervisedandstoredawayfromchildren.
AREWECOMMUNICATINGOURPOLICYEmployershaveresponsibilityforhealthandsafetyasemployers.
Theymayalsohavehealthandsafetyresponsibilitiesforpremises.
Allemployeesalsohavearesponsibilitytokeepthemselvesandothersassafeaspracticable.
HavingaHealth&SafetyPolicyandpubliclyavailableinformation(egonyourwebsiteorliteratureforparents)thatsetsoutthebenefitsaswellastherisksofplayactivitiescanhelpcommunicateyourapproachtochildren,parentsandstaff.
LeadershipAndManagementTheemergenceofCovid19hascausedanunprecedentedglobaldisruptiontochildren'slives.
Theimpacthasbeenenormousforallandthisincludesyourstaffandallyourusersandstakeholders.
Thefeelingofpowerlessnessandfearexperiencedwhendecisionsaremadethatareexternallyimposedreflectsmanychildren'sexperiencemuchofthetime!
WHATAREOURAIMSANDVISIONThekeytoleadershipandmanagementisclarityandcommitmenttoyourvision.
Thinkaboutthetypeofexperienceyouwanttoofferchildren.
Youraimsmaybeeducationalattainment,socialisationortherapybutforyourorganisationtoavoidmissiondriftandtosupportyourstaff,clarityofobjectivesisfundamental.
Youraimsmaybeinfluencedbyfunders,theenvironmentorparentalpressurebutifyouplacetheplayingchildattheheartofyourvisionyouwillbeabletoleadanauthenticorganisation.
Inalldiscussionsbehonest!
WHATABOUTLAWSANDREGULATIONSMakesureyoucanmeettherequirementsofthelawandregulationrelevanttoplayprovisioninyourarea.
ThismayrangefromOfstedtohealthandsafetyexecutiveguidance.
Ifthereareothernon-statutorypressures,forexamplefromyourfunders,thenkeepinguptodatewithdevelopmentsandgoodpracticecansupportyouindiscussinghowtocomplywiththeseadditionalrequirements.
Clearaccountabilityandhierarchyarecrucial.
Dependingonyourlegalstructuretheframeworkforthiswilldiffer.
Alwaysmakesurethatfeedbackaboutthechildren'sexperienceisconsideredateverylevelincludingthestrategic.
HOWDOWEENGAGEANDGETFEEDBACKConsultationandfeedbackarevitalforawell-plannedserviceandmeaningfulcommunicationwiththosewearemanagingisimportantsoengageyourstaff,theparents,andthechildrenasyouplanyourservice.
Ensurethatpeoplewithexperienceoratleastakeeninterest,inchildren'splayarepartofthedecisionmakingprocessforyourorganisation–ifthisisoutofyourcontrolthenmakesureyoulobby,feedbackonandadvocateforchildren'splayateveryopportunitytoensurethateffective,ethicaldecisionsaremadeforchildrenateverylevel.
DOWEHAVETIMEFORREFLECTIONANDTHEABILITYTOREFOCUSRESOURCESBeingresponsiveandinteractiveiskeywhenworkingwithchildren.
Childrenwillbeaffectedbytheirownenvironmentsandexperiencesandwillneeddifferentlevelsofinteractionorinterventionfromyouatdifferenttimes.
Reflectionisthetoolthatunderpinsthethinkingofadultsworkingwithchildrenandshouldbegiventhetimeandsupportitneeds.
Resourcesmustbeflexibleandadaptableandshouldbemanagedinlinewithneedsincludingworkforcedevelopment,recruitmentandgoodpractice.
PeopleHOWDOWECHOOSEOURPEOPLESomepeoplelovetobearoundchildren,enjoytheconstantchangingnatureoftheworkandhavepatiencewithandinterestinthechildrenasindividuals.
Thesearethekindofpeopleweneed!
Allofushavebeenaffectedbytherecentpandemic.
Ithasmadeusthinkalotaboutmentalhealth,bothourownandothers.
Itseemsmoreimportantthanevernowthatwehavetherightpeopleonourteams,sojobadvertisingshouldbeopen,jobdescriptionsshouldbeclearandcomprehensive,andtherecruitmentprocessesshouldhelptoselectstaffwisely.
HOWDOWESUPPORTOURPEOPLEEvenwhenwehaveourteamtherewillalwaysberoomforimprovement.
Weallcontinuetolearnfromeachotherandfromourexperiencestogether.
Everyindividualstaffmemberorvolunteerhasthepotentialtosupporteachorganisationanditsaims.
Peoplethriveinsituationswheretheyexperienceautonomy,respect,andrecognition.
Allorganisationsshouldthinkabouthowthesefactorscanbeintroducedintotheirpeoplemanagement.
Regularsupervisionandappraisalsforexamplearejusttwoofthewayswecanlistenandrespondtotheneedsoftheworkforce.
Rememberpeopleneedagoodwork/lifebalancetobeatthetopoftheirgame.
ARETHEPOLICIESANDPROCEDURESCLEARANDEASYTOUNDERSTANDHumanResourcesareveryimportantandensuresthatprocessesareclearforstaffandforothersinvolvedinourprovision.
JobDescriptionsshouldbepractical,coveringtheskillsneeded;contractsneedtobetimelyandfiledcorrectlyandpersonnelfilesmustbeheldsecurely.
Policiesshouldbeclearlywrittenandeasytounderstandandfollowsothattheirexpectationsareclear.
Seniorstaffshouldrecognisethattheyaremodellingtheapproachoftheorganisationandalwaysseektorespondfairlyandthoughtfullytoallissues.
HOWDOWEIMPROVEPRACTICERegularmeetingsanddebriefsarethebestwaytoensuregoodcommunicationandtosupporttheself-reflectionthatisvitalforhighqualityplay-basedprovision.
Staffandvolunteersarethemainresourcewehaveandtheyneedthespaceandtimetothinkaboutwhatworksandwhattheywouldliketoachievewiththechildren.
Goodprovisionwillalwayscontinuetoimproveifexperimentationandfreedomareencouraged.
Keepingjournalsanddiariesarealsousefultoolsandwillhelptosupportthereflectionofindividualstaffanddeveloptheobservationalskillsthataresoimportantwhencreatingresponsivewaysofworkingwithchildren.
WHATOPPORTUNITIESDOWECREATEFOROURPEOPLENeedlesstosay,appropriatetrainingisextremelyimportantforanyoneworkingwithchildren.
Sometrainingismandatory,focussinglearningonhowtorespondindifficultsituationse.
g.
firstaid.
Someisintendedtosupporttheworkwithchildren,i.
e.
creatingaplay-centredspacewiththenecessaryambiancei.
e.
aplayworkapproachandfinally,sometrainingintendedtowidentheknowledgeandexpertiseofyourteamwhetherasindividualsorasagroupshouldalsobeonoffer.
Givingstaffthespacetocreatetheirownlearningdevelopmentplanwillhelpthemtofeelmoreincontrol,engagedandthoughtfulaboutthefuture.
Remember,anengaged,empoweredworkforcewilldeliverthebestprovisionforchildren.
FurtherReadingThePlayworkPrinciples,PlayworkPrinciplesScrutinyGroup,2004,http://www.
playengland.
org.
uk/playwork-2/playwork-principles/DesignforPlay:aguidetocreatingsuccessfulplayspaces,PlayEngland,2008https://www.
playengland.
org.
uk/resource/design-for-play/ManagingRiskinPlayProvision,PlaySafetyForum,2013,http://www.
playengland.
org.
uk/resource/managing-risk-in-play-provision-implementation-guide/BestPlay:whatplayprovisionshoulddoforchildren,NationalPlayingFieldsAssociation,PLAYLINK,Children'sPlayCouncil,2000,http://www.
playengland.
org.
uk/resource/best-play/QualityinPlay,thenationalqualityassuranceframeworkforplayprovision,http://www.
playengland.
org.
uk/resources-list/quality-in-play/PlaybuildsChildren,Children'sPlayPolicyForum,2019,https://childrensplaypolicyforum.
wordpress.
com/play-builds-children/Coronavirus:whathappensnextSportEngland,2020,https://www.
sportengland.
org/how-we-can-help/coronavirus/coronavirus-what-happens-nextPrioritiseplaywhenschoolsreopen,saymentalhealthexperts,TheGuardian,2020https://www.
theguardian.
com/education/2020/may/07/prioritise-play-when-schools-reopen-say-mental-health-experts-coronavirus-lockdownCovid-19andchildren:whatdoesthesciencetellus,andwhatdoesthismeanasthelockdowniseasedRethinkingChildhood,2020,https://rethinkingchildhood.
com/2020/05/14/covid-19-children-science-lockdown-schools-childcare-outdoor-play/Thegovtguidance,https://www.
gov.
uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcareStatementonPlayfromPlayFirst,https://www.
theguardian.
com/education/2020/may/07/prioritise-play-when-schools-reopen-say-mental-health-experts-coronavirus-lockdownPlaytypes,https://www.
playscotland.
org/resources/play-types-poster/USEFULWEBSITESPlayEngland,www.
playengland.
org.
ukPlayBoardNorthernIreland,www.
playboard.
orgPlayScotland,www.
playscotland.
orgPlayWales,www.
playwales.
org.
ukChildren'sPlayPolicyForum,https://childrensplaypolicyforum.
wordpress.
comPlaySafetyForum,https://playsafetyforum.
wordpress.
com/PlayingOut,https://playingout.
net/REGISTEREDOFFICEPlayEngland,ScrapstoreHouse,21SevierSt,BristolBS29LBPlayEnglandisaregisteredcharityNo1150216andCompanyLimitedbyGuaranteeNo07880687