The national play organisation PLAYLINK, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers and the schools grounds charity Learning through Landscapes (LTL) have joined forces to help ensure that children and young people have access to quality play opportunities in all educational settings.
In Wales, open-access play is one of the four core services required for a children's centre to be considered fully integrated. In England there are no obligations for early years settings or children's centres to have adjoining outdoor play areas.
The bodies have launched a consultation paper, Play in Educational Settings, to seek the views of education and play professionals, parents and governors. When responses have been compiled, they plan to pressure the Government to issue guidance for all new-build and refurbishment projects detailing how to develop outdoor, play-friendly environments for children.
Peter Carne, director of operations at LTL, said, 'We believe the statements contained in the consultation paper reflect the views of a lot of people in the early years sector: that there simply isn't enough space available for proper outdoor play in many settings.'
The organisations are calling for the Government to amend Standard 4 of the National Standards, which covers the physical environment, to require that all early years settings provide children with good access to adequate outdoor play space that adjoins the premises.
They hope to develop a statement on play that can be used to support all who work with children in educational settings.
Mr Carne said that he hopes the initiative will have the opportunity to influence the political agenda.
'It's timely because the DfES has recently launched a consultation on Education Outside the Classroom, the Big Lottery has announced 155m worth of funding for children's play in England and the Building Schools of the Future programme is now underway. We believe the Government should be focusing on outdoor play as well as buildings,' he added.
The consultation, which ends on 28 February, can be found at www.freeplaynetwork.org.uk.
