Nursery World - First play strategy on cards

Children will be asked what they think about their local play areas and parks, as part of the Government's first-ever strategy on play.

The Fair Play consultation, a cross-departmental document by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, says the Government will take action to end the 'no ball games' culture by working with town planners and developers to create more child-friendly public spaces and to investigate whether excessive health and safety fears are causing local authorities to stock only unstimulating and unpopular play equipment.

Local authorities could also be given targets to improve children's play provision as part of a new performance framework.

The Government pledged to invest £235m in play over three years, including the £225m already announced in the Children's Fund, for an extra 3,500 play areas for children. Thirty local authorities in disadvantaged areas will benefit from £2m each to build new adventure playgrounds.

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