Wraparound Childcare Programme

What is play?

Play offers children the chance to explore social, material and imaginary concepts at their own pace, led by their own behaviour and motivation. Play can be a solitary or social experience.  

Playwork principles

There are eight principles which underpin playwork practice and training in the UK. These are -

1. All children and young people need to play. The impulse to play is innate. Play is a biological, psychological and social necessity and is fundamental to the healthy development and well-being of individuals and communities.
2. Play is a process that is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated. That is, children and young people determine and control the content and intent of their play, by following their own instincts, ideas and interests, in their own way for their own reasons.
3. The prime focus and essence of playwork is to support and facilitate the play process and this should inform the development of play policy, strategy, training and education.
4. For playworkers, the play process takes precedence and playworkers act as advocates for play when engaging with adult led agendas.
5. The role of the playworker is to support all children and young people in the creation of a space in which they can play.
6. The playworker's response to children and young people playing is based on a sound up-to-date knowledge of the play process and reflective practice.
7. Playworkers recognise their own impact on the play space and also the impact of children and young people's play on the playworker.
8. Playworkers choose an intervention style that enables children and young people to extend their play. All playworker intervention must balance risk with the developmental benefit and well-being of children.

Reference: Playwork Principles Scrutiny Group, Cardiff 2005.

Role of the playworker

Exemplary playwork creates an appealing and adaptable environment where children can play freely. To create this environment, playworkers observe, listen to and understand the play needs of the children. They provide choice, encouragement and understanding as well as having the professional awareness to continually assess levels of acceptable risk, ensure health and safety standards are met and to enable all children that attend the setting to be included. Playworkers join in when invited to by a child and know when not to interfere with the play process.

Creating play spaces

Play can take place in a range of indoor and outdoor spaces. When setting up these spaces, it is important to consider how they appeal to children as well as physical factors such as lighting, ventilation and free flow to the outside. The spaces should be accessible and suitable for all children and meet the key safety standards.
Play spaces have the opportunity to give children a sense of belonging and security, particularly if they feel involved in the creation of these.
Spaces should be open, allowing for movement as well as having sheltered, enclosed areas which give the sense of privacy. Including varied equipment and materials will provide access to a range of textures, colours, sounds and smells.
Including loose parts allows the space to be changeable and encourages creativity, experimentation and learning at the child's pace.  Loose parts can be natural such as shells, pinecones and feathers or be man-made such as tyres, plastic tubes or fabric scraps.

Benefits of a play- focussed approach

• Play allows for physical, fine motor and cognitive development. Children are encouraged to take and learn from suitable risks. By doing so, they develop skills such as problem solving and risk assessing whilst benefitting from increased independence, creativity and resilience.
• Play is fun; it also allows children to explore their feelings and learn to express them.
• Social skills are developed as children share with others and learn directly from their peers.