The NOF programme, worth up to 200m, will cover children aged nought to 16 and the highest priority will be neighbourhoods and communities with the most need and least facilities. A review being carried out by the Government will look at play provision currently available at schools, nurseries and other educational settings, adventure playgrounds and holiday playschemes.
The written consultation runs until 7 March 2003 and seeks views on issues such as quality standards and what balance of capital and revenue funding the programme should offer. It also aims to gain specific local information about neighbourhoods or groups of children with particular needs, as well as examples of successful play provision which could be adopted in other places.
Early years consultant Margaret Edgington said she hoped the consultation would lead to funding and support for good outdoor play areas at all settings, as well as greater protection for school grounds and a halt to the sale of playing fields.
Marjorie Ouvry, author of a book about the importance of play for young children, Exercising Muscles and Minds, said it was 'paramount' that the review should look closely at the specific needs of children. 'The subject of play is not addressed fully in childcare and education courses and there is a massive training need,' she said. However, she applauded the consultation's definition of play: 'Play is understood to be what children do when they are given the freedom to follow their own ideas and interests, in their own way and for their own reasons.' The consultation document is available on www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations, www.culture.gov.uk, or www.ukonline.gov.uk(in the CitizenSpace section under Government publications). Alternatively, write to Wini Kirby, Education and Social Policy Unit, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1 5DH. To find out about the parallel consultation in Wales, contact Elinor Jones on 02920 801119.
