Staffed play provision 'can cut offending'

The report, commissioned by Play England, identifies the importance of offering staffed play provision for children who are too young for youth clubs but too old for children's centres.

It found services run by the voluntary sector, including after-school play programmes and play-ranger schemes are often more cost-effective than statutory services.

Play England director Adrian Voce said: "A typical eight- to 13-year-old today is effectively battery-reared, spending five or more hours in front of a screen, rarely, if ever, allowed out without an adult."

The research states that play services provide young people with the chance to learn life skills such as mutual respect, sharing, teamwork and self-empowerment. Its role in combating health and behaviour issues is also cited.

Explaining the need for more supervised play provision Voce added: "Parents are widely encouraged to allow children more freedom to play out, but in some areas, if this is unsupervised they are at risk of bullying, crime or road traffic accidents on the one hand and antisocial behaviour on the other."

The report was based on six case studies in deprived areas across England. An 11-year-old boy who contributed to the research said: "Without this I would mess about and make trouble, here I can play."

The report comes as Play England prepares to appeal to the government to do more to support staffed play provision, in a Manifesto for Play set to be launched later this month.

As part of the ten-year Play Strategy, published in 2008, the government proposes to have funded 3,500 unstaffed play spaces.