Play England offers guidance for local strategy
Ross Watson
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Local authorities have been issued with guidance to help them implement the government's play strategy across a range of services.
Play England's Embedding the Play Strategy recommends how children's trusts should plan and commission services based on a local play strategy.
The document is open for consultation until the end of October, with responses requested from directors of children's services, children's trusts and those working in the voluntary and play sectors, as well as members of wider strategic partnerships such as commissioning, planning, transport, health, housing, schools, police, leisure and landscape architects.
Play England will present the guidance and the consultation responses to the government with a view to the document being issued as non-statutory guidance before the end of the year.
Adrian Voce, director of Play England, said: "It is even more important in times of economic hardship to ensure that all children grow up in environments where they can thrive.
"This guidance outlines the important steps for local authorities and their partners to embed this aim within their policy and planning frameworks."