PLAY
INCLUSIVE
PLAY
Rachel Scott and Victoria Turner discuss the importance of play for disabled
children and KIDS’ role in providing guidance on inclusive play provision
A
ll children have the right to A survey carried out by Contact a expectations, requiring local authorities
play in their local communi- Family in 2002 revealed that disabled and service providers to address the spe-
ties. It’s essential to healthy children and young people are fre- cific requirements of disabled people and
physical, social and emotional quently excluded from play and leisure to ensure that ‘reasonable adjustments’
development and a fundamental part facilities, with parks and playgrounds are made to facilitate their inclusion. In
of childhood. Through play children cited as the least user-friendly. A more addition, two major government initia-
learn how to negotiate, take risks and recent consultation carried out in 2009 tives are paving the way for significant
overcome obstacles. Most importantly of more than 4,000 children and young progress to be made for disabled children.
it’s through play that children develop people in Dudley, revealed that disabled Aiming High for Disabled Children (2007)
friendships and a sense of belonging children are disproportionately suscepti- presents local authorities with a require-
to a peer group. ble to bullying and therefore least likely ment to develop a wide range of short
to use outdoor play spaces. breaks for disabled children and the Na-
Playing together In response to these findings, the tional Play Strategy (2008) asserts that
Disabled children need to play just as Midlands Architecture Centre (MADE), play areas must be ‘accessible for all local
much their non-disabled peers and in- in partnership with Dudley Play Path- children, including disabled children’.
deed the benefits of play and physical finder, drew up a design manifesto with
activity can be even greater, so it is vital recommendations to encourage disabled The Children’s Plan and
they don’t miss out. However, many children to enjoy outdoor play spaces. National Play Strategy
barriers to play, leisure and making The Play Together manifesto was en- The Children’s Plan outlines the govern-
friends are put in the way of disabled dorsed by KIDS – a chairty for disabled ment’s strategy for improving services
children and young people. children – and Play England and can be for children and young people and their
downloaded from www.made.org.uk families over the next 10 years. Play is
Local authority play pathfinders and play- Previously, many of those respon- prioritised in a National Play Strategy, as
builders will deliver £235m in play sible for planning services for disabled are the specific requirements of disabled
investment to transform play spaces children rarely looked beyond special children which are addressed in propos-
educational needs provision in schools als relating to housing, poverty, bullying,
or specialist and segregated services out play, sport, extended schools, school
of school. Within play, childcare and exclusion, childcare, staying safe and
leisure service providers have rarely seen positive activities for young people.
the inclusion of disabled children in The strategy signifies the biggest
ordinary settings a priority. policy commitment and investment in
Happily, it appears that both the children’s play that England has ever
value of play to children’s wellbeing and seen. Local authority play pathfinders
the importance of inclusion are filter- and playbuilders will deliver the govern-
ing through to government policy. The ment’s £235m investment in play and
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and transform local areas into innovative
Disability Equality Duty are changing play spaces. The responsibility now falls
to local authorities to ensure that this
right becomes a reality.
To create truly inclusive services and activities, it’s vital
KIDS is working closely with Play Eng-
to engage young people in the decision-making process
land to provide advice and guidance
on inclusion to play pathfinders and
62 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 1 2010 © cybertrek 2010
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84