Nursery World - Disabled children win play provision

Inclusive play facilities for children with special needs have won more Government support, following a Private Members' Bill tabled by a Liberal Democrat MP. The Children with Disabilities (Play Areas) Bill was presented by Torbay MPAdrian Sanders and supported by the national charities Mencap, the Children's Play Council and Kidsactive. It called for local authorities to assess the needs of disabled children when they renovate or build new unsupervised play areas.

The Children with Disabilities (Play Areas) Bill was presented by Torbay MPAdrian Sanders and supported by the national charities Mencap, the Children's Play Council and Kidsactive. It called for local authorities to assess the needs of disabled children when they renovate or build new unsupervised play areas.

Mr Sanders withdrew the Bill after confirmation earlier this month that the Government will enact its measures and extend them to include all play areas. By 2004 all local authorities must have assessed their play areas in consultation with organisations working with disabled children. Simple changes could include wide, clearly-marked paths, handrails fitted to ramps, safety tiles, and the use of bright colours and different textures.

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