In undertaking the preparation of this strategy, we have taken account of the following policies and their impact on play:
It covers the period 2006-2009 but will be reviewed on an annual basis in the light of changing needs and priorities.
The Play Strategy complements these outcomes where possible and contributes to their achievement through the implementation of actions within the Play Strategy Action Plan. The High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales Children and Young People’s Partnership has a formal link into the structure of the Children and Young People's Plan. As the Play Partnership for the strategy, the Partnership will ensure that the play outcomes relate to the outcomes within Every Child Matters.
The following policy statements within this strategy have been taken account of:
The Borough Council has access to funding from Big Lottery Fund: Children’s Play Initiative. Big Lottery Fund has identified £200,000 for High Peak Borough Council, based on child population weighted by poverty indices, out of a total of £124 million and a further £31 million for innovation in play. We have indicated that we would enter the bid round, ending March 2007.
The initiative is targeted at young people under 16.
The Borough Council has also identified funding from within the Capital Budget for the improvement and creation of play facilities on council owned land. Details of the investment programme can be found in Appendix 3. Other match funding sources are being explored.
This strategy acknowledges that the following stakeholders have an interest in the preparation and delivery of the strategy:
We support the formation of a Play Partnership that reflects the stakeholder interests and the existing Play Strategy sub group will form the basis of this partnership as we move to achieve our Action Plan. We will invite other lead agencies who have responsibility for service delivery within the Borough to be part of the Partnership, ie Derbyshire County Council and Peak District National Park Authority.
The following agencies have been invited to form the Play partnership:
In view of the potential for duplication across the County resulting from two tier status we are pursuing the option of integrating the Play Partnership into the High peak and North Derbyshire Dales Children and Young Peoples Partnership.
In preparing this strategy we have reviewed the management of risk and as a result have adopted the following position statement prepared by the Play Safety Forum.
The Play Safety Forum, a grouping of national agencies involved in play safety, has produced Managing Risk in Play Provision to support the work of those involved in play provision of any kind (for example play areas, playgrounds, adventure playgrounds, play centres and holiday play schemes). These include local authorities, voluntary organisations, play equipment manufacturers and inspection agencies.
The statement has relevance to other settings and environments in which children play, such as childcare provision, schools, parks and public open spaces. It will also be of interest to those involved in insurance and litigation in relation to play provision. The statement has equal relevance to children and young people of all ages from 0 to 18, and it uses the term “children” to cover the whole age range. It focuses on physical injuries resulting from accidents.
However, the overall approach, namely that a balance should be struck between risks and benefits, is also relevant to agencies concerned with other issues, such as the personal safety of children.
The statement is in two forms: a summary and a full statement. The summary is set out below and the full statement is included as an appendix to this strategy. The full statement has been accepted as the Borough Ccouncil’s position on managing risk in the context of play.
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.