Playwork Support Group

If you are interested in being involved in this further group please contact the East Midlands Regional Development Manager the address on the front page quoting 'Playwork Support Group'

The next meeting will be held in February 2009.

SkillsActive East Midlands Playwork Support Forum  - Terms of reference

Definition of Play

Children's Play is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated behaviour that actively engages the child.  Play can be fun or serious.

Through play children explore social, material and imaginary worlds and their relationship with them, elaborating all the while a flexible response to the challenges they encounter.

Vision

Our vision is that people managing or working in play settings will see:

1. Greater recognition of the importance of play and Playwork in the well being of communities
2. Safe play open to all children in all settings
3. Regional planning recognising the important role of play in delivering improved outcomes for all children and young people

Aims

The aims of the forum will be

1. To highlight the importance of Play and Playwork
2. To get play onto the agenda of key organisations across the region
3. To influence resource allocation in the region to achieve play outcomes
4. To promote good quality play opportunities for all children and young people in all settings
5. To deliver the Every Child Matters agenda through the context of inclusive play including for disabled children, black and ethnic minority children and children in care
6. To support the individual work programmes of participating members
7. To recognise the contribution of play in enabling children and young people to develop resilience and a healthy respect for risk

Functions

In our work we will aim to -

• Update and inform
• demonstrate effective joint working
• build respect for each other’s agendas and understand the overlaps
• help to shape the workforce development agenda and opportunities for play
• collaborate to add value, and achieve joint delivery of our outcomes
• share information effectively within the group
• communicate effectively and creatively beyond the group to influence regional and local agendas around play and Playwork
• undertake partnership working as and when appropriate

Membership

• SkillsActive Playwork East Midlands Region
• Local /District Authorities
• East Midlands Play Sector organisations
• LSC
• GOEM
• Sector voluntary organisations
• Other organisations that have an interest in seeing Play and Playwork Education & Training embedded into the working structure of the east midlands region
• Other regional forums

Group operation

The group will meet four times a year

Members of the group will input to the agenda in advance for each meeting, based on contributing to the aims of the group

Themes could be used to focus discussions.  External speakers or representatives should be invited to address particular themes