Ministers to discuss the Children’s Plan and play

Leonie Wilson, SkillsActive - 22/04/2008

The meeting of the APPG, which takes place in the House of Commons on Tuesday 22 April, will see the two ministers outline the government’s commitment to play following the publication of the Children’s Plan and the play strategy.

The plans are very wide ranging but the Department for Children, Schools and Families has, in particular, committed £235m over the next three years to:

• Offer every local authority funding that will allow at least 3,500 playgrounds to be built or renewed;

• Create 30 new adventure playgrounds or play parks, supervised by trained staff, for 8 to 13-year olds initially in disadvantaged areas;

• Deliver level 3 playwork qualifications to 4,000 playworkers.

The Department has also recently announced strategies on play and the children’s workforce, both of which will be debated at the meeting.

Paul Bonel, Playwork unit director of SkillsActive said: “This is a great opportunity for both Parliamentarians and sector representatives to engage in this timely debate. SkillsActive, as secretariat to the APPG on Play, are keen to support government in this new and much welcomed strategic direction.”

Adrian Voce, director of Play England, said: "The Children's Plan announcements and subsequent play strategy consultation, Fair Play, represent the biggest policy initiative for children's play ever seen. These measures are central to questions about the role of government in the quality of childhood itself. For this investment - and the wider proposals - to have long-term impact will need cross-party support and cross-sectoral commitment.  We welcome the APPG taking a lead on this vital debate".

The chair of the group, Janet Dean MP, said: “I am very pleased that Ed Balls and Kevin Brennan are able to meet Parliamentarians and those from within the playwork sector to discuss what are very important policy developments for all those involved with children and play.”