Press Release

PLAY ENGLAND WELCOMES GOVERNMENT’S ‘RISKY’ MOVE

6 February 2008

Play England supports Families Minister, Kevin Brennan’s comments that, Britain risks raising a generation of battery farmed children, kept indoors by parents concerned for their safety.

Speaking at the launch of the Government’s child safety action plan, Brennan echoed Play England’s belief that challenging play is essential for children’s development as it helps them to learn how to manage risk later on in life.

Play England is part of the Play Safety Forum, a grouping of national agencies involved in play safety, which have produced the Managing Risk in Play Provision Statement to support the work of those involved in play provision, which states that:

'Children need and want to take risks when they play. Play provision aims to respond to these needs and wishes by offering children stimulating, challenging environments for exploring and developing their abilities. In doing this, play provision aims to manage the level of risk so that children are not exposed to unacceptable risks of death or serious injury.'

The statement is written for those involved in play provision of any kind, for example: play areas, playgrounds, adventure playgrounds, play centres and holiday playschemes. These include local authorities, voluntary organisations, play equipment manufacturers and inspection agencies.

Play England is in the process of developing a - Guide to Managing Risk in Play Provision. The guide will encourage providers to not automatically seek the 'safe' route and instead develop play provision that challenges and stimulates children, enabling them to experience risk and danger within an informed professional framework that does not conflict with providers’ legal and ethical duty of care.