"People play together more" handbook

Phil Ford, SkillsActive - 08/06/2007

P.inc action research provided support to the development of inclusive play (including disabled, disadvantaged or marginalised children) in a range of settings such as schools and out of school clubs. A related research cycle documented the support provided and the resulting effects and benefits. The core of this work was practical – playworkers from The Yard facilitated free play alongside participating staff, sharing ideas and approaches. Through this process P.inc learned much about supporting children and adults in a range of contexts.

“People play together more. There’s more happiness. People that don’t play together have been and different ages playing together. You could see by people’s face they were enjoying it.” (Girl, P6)

“It was like a team builder for us and really got us participating. We saw that we didn’t have to use the same resources. The wide spaces – we tended to think before that they would encourage just running around but it showed how if you use space differently with interesting materials, they got involved in positive play through it.” (Project Worker)

The practical experiences from P.inc are compiled in a resource which offers tips and advice on supporting children of a range of abilities to play. ‘People play together more: a handbook for supporting inclusive play’ was launched in March by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People. The handbook covers cheap and interesting play resources, ways of setting up for play indoors and outdoors, tailoring opportunities to meet individual needs, techniques to support children to play together and tools for consulting children.

Phil Ford, national manager (children and young people) at SkillsActive, said: “Students completing vocational qualifications in Playwork will be able to use the suggestions in this handbook to assist them in generating evidence for their portfolios, and it will help to embed the practice of reflective planning in their work.”

P.inc has recently moved to Play Scotland, which plans to develop a national training programme, P.inc and Blew (Building Landscapes, Eating Wisely). ‘People play together more’ is available for £14.99 from Play Scotland. To chat about the project contact Susan on 0131 440 9070 or to order a resource contact Elaine on the same number.

More information can be found on http://www.playscotland.org/whatwedo_information.html