PLAY
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hrough the lessons learned af- ter four years of unprecedented national investment in children’s play, Play England’s national con-
ference, Playable Communities: Priorities for a New Decade, reviewed the impact of the investment from the govern- ment’s Play Strategy and the Big Lottery Fund’s Children’s Play initiative and asked ‘what next for play?’ Delegates from a range of profes-
sions across the play and wider children’s services sector explored how play can retain its hard-won place as a policy prior- ity and sustain the sector’s growth and improvements, with presentations from high-profile speakers including the former Secretary of State for Children, Ed Balls.
Breakout sessions allowed delegates to dig deeper and covered issues such as the built environment, children’s services, play provision and playwork, and the role of the voluntary and community sector. BBC Radio 4 broadcaster Jenni Murray
chaired the proceedings and set the tone for the day by recounting her children’s own play experiences, the impact it had on their childhood development and how she sees play ‘played out’ in everyday life in England. From Murray’s observa- tions, she described play as something of national significance, but nurtured at the local level, that should not be taken for granted. The conference activities were also recorded by two artists who created a series of visual minutes (see above).
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A manifesto for children’s play
In his address, Play England director Adrian Voce explored the social, cultur- al and political aspects of play and the progress of the government’s Play Strat- egy. He also launched Play England’s manifesto for children’s play. The manifesto sets out three simple
pledges that Play England wants all political parties to adopt as part of their policy ambitions for children and families. These are within the overarch- ing aim that all children should have the freedom and space to play that was enjoyed by previous generations. It also sets out the broad policy measures the next government can undertake to make the manifesto a reality.
Issue 2 2010 © cybertrek 2010
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Playable communities
Play England’s Susan Pape shares some of the highlights from the organisation’s recent national conference at the British Museum, which saw the former Children’s Secretary, Ed Balls, receive Play England’s manifesto for children’s play from local school children
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