Play Policy

The overriding objective of this play policy is to increase the quantity, and enhance the quality, of children’s play opportunities.

This corporate play policy shall be taken into account whenever decisions have the potential to have an impact on children’s play opportunities.

South Somerset District Council will create and support play opportunities that allow children and young people to explore, manipulate, experience and affect their environment within 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 child’s choice and control over their own experience.

South Somerset District Council recognises play as equal to formal education in terms of its fundamental role in enabling children and young people to engage positively with the complexities of the world around them.

In partnership with other agencies, South Somerset District Council will encourage measures to be taken that will enhance children’s free play opportunities within educational settings during and after school.

South Somerset District Council 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.

South Somerset District Council intends that play provision should meet the play needs of all its 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 South Somerset District Council policy to ensure accessibility of services to a wider range of children and young people than is currently the case.

South Somerset District Council wants to ensure that the presumption that all play provision should be accessible to disabled children and young people and to those with special needs will be applied fully to non-staffed playgrounds.

File: Download