SkillsActive meets with Ed Balls and Kevin Brennan

Leonie Wilson, SkillsActive - 23/04/2008

Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, and Kevin Brennan, Children’s Minister outlined their ambitions for play following the recent publication of the Children’s Plan and the play strategy.

The meeting began with Ed Balls talking about his “big ambitions” for play and how best to spend the £235m on “places to go and things to do after school” for children.

At the heart of Ed’s speech was tackling a risk adverse society. Ed’s vision for play is one where parents know their children are safe by creating trained and trusted playworkers.

In line with this, Ed considers trained playworkers key to delivering a sustainable change in play. Ed talked about a ‘step-change’ in our communities to go above and beyond providing play equipment to create play opportunities that are supported by a qualified workforce. Emphasising the need to invest in trained staff he described play as a ‘very powerful way of teaching’.

On the theme of risk, Kevin Brennan talked about the challenges we face in an emerging ‘no ball games’ culture. Kevin discussed the impact of “battery farmed” children and the anxiety that surrounds letting children play outdoors. He highlighted the importance of giving children opportunities to play, manage their own risk, and build the vital skills for life through play. He also emphasised the importance of play in getting children active and condemned the negative aspects of ‘battery farming’ children which has made it difficult for children to take part in a more active lifestyle. Such a culture change, he said, needs to start with children and allow them to play in both formal and informal settings.