SkillsActive Welcomes Government Pledge of £225m towards Children's Play
The launch of the ‘Children's Plan' by Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, marks the beginning of a new relationship in which Government commits to working with families and their children and making sure that their needs come first.
Building on a decade of reform and results, and responding directly to parents and young people's concerns, the Children's Plan:
• strengthens support for all families including during the formative early years of their children's lives;
• takes the next steps in achieving world class schools;
• seeks a step-change in parents involvement in their child's learning;
• helps to make sure that young people have exciting things to do outside school, and more places for children to play.
The launch of a new national play strategy early next year was also announced, with the reassurance of the Department's commitment in improving the childhood experience.
A total investment of £225m over the next three years wil ensure the building or upgrade of more than 3,500 play areas across the country – an average of 23 per local authority; 7 per constituency – the largest government investment in children's play ever.
SkillsActive's Playwork Unit Director, Paul Bonel, said: "I am delighted to see so much in the Children's Plan about children's play and Playwork. SkillsActive has been lobbying for several years for more prominence in government strategy for the needs of children to quality play experiences facilitated by highly skilled and professionally qualified playworkers. We are at last seeing a turn in the tide and I sincerely hope that this will begin the process of full recognition for Playwork as a crucial sector in the children's workforce. A government play strategy and new funding for play provision means we shall need further investment to train and qualify playwork staff."
The Children's Plan also outlines funding to enable 4,000 playworkers to achieve recognised play qualifications, SkillsActive will continue to further professionalise the playwork sector.
Download the Children's Plan here.
Jan 2008
