Play Strategy

The overriding aim of the play policy and strategy is to increase the quantity, and enhance the quality, of children’s play opportunities in South Somerset. The play policy shall be taken into account whenever decisions have potential to have an impact on children’s play opportunities.

In collaboration with other organisations South Somerset District Council (SSDC) will create play opportunities that will allow children and young people to explore, manipulate, experience and affect their environment in challenging settings free from unacceptable levels of risk, regardless of race, economic and social circumstances, gender or range of abilities. The emphasis is always to be on the children’s choice and control over their own experience.

SSDC recognises play as equal to formal education in terms of it’s fundamental role in enabling children and young people to engage positively with the complexities of the world around them.

SSDC believes that every child needs opportunities to play. It is therefore critical that play provision is welcoming and accessible to every child, irrespective of gender, economic or social circumstances, background or origin, or individual capacities and abilities.

SSDC intends that play provision should meet the play needs of all it’s disabled children and young people within inclusive provision.

Where this is judged not possible or desirable, full reasons will need to be given. It is SSDC policy that children and young people’s services want to ensure accessibility to a wider range of children and young people than is currently the case.

SSDC has adopted the Play Safety Forum’s Position on Managing Risk in Play Provision. SSDC is committed to ensuring that play providers are given play specific training and support to enable them to conduct risk assessments.

SSDC affirms that it’s play provision, and that which it supports, will work to the Seven Play Objectives.

File: Download