Children to rule on play areas as strategy is unveiled
Tom Lloyd
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Children and young people are to decide whether local play areas and parks meet government standards.
From 2009 children in Years 8, 9 and 10 will be asked annually if facilities in their area are up to scratch.
The results will be used to determine whether local authorities are meeting an indicator on play, which is part of a revised set of the 198 indicators used to judge local authority performance.
The play indicator was the final indicator to be added to the list, at the expense of one on reoffending by sex offenders.
Details of the play indicator were released alongside a play strategy that sets out how funding outlined in The Children's Plan will be spent.
The figure of £225m has now been increased to £235m, which will be used to fund 3,500 play areas across England.
All local authorities will receive some cash, and 30 play pathfinder authorities will get an extra £2m for adventure playgrounds. In addition 43 playbuilder authorities will get £1m extra.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls said play helps young people learn by taking risks in a managed environment.
He added: "Let's see an end to the no ball games culture and the start of a new era where children's needs and children's play areas are at the heart of the planning process from start to finish."
The results will be used to determine whether local authorities are meeting an indicator on play, which is part of a revised set of the 198 indicators used to judge local authority performance.
The play indicator was the final indicator to be added to the list, at the expense of one on reoffending by sex offenders.
Details of the play indicator were released alongside a play strategy that sets out how funding outlined in The Children's Plan will be spent.
The figure of £225m has now been increased to £235m, which will be used to fund 3,500 play areas across England.
All local authorities will receive some cash, and 30 play pathfinder authorities will get an extra £2m for adventure playgrounds. In addition 43 playbuilder authorities will get £1m extra.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls said play helps young people learn by taking risks in a managed environment.
He added: "Let's see an end to the no ball games culture and the start of a new era where children's needs and children's play areas are at the heart of the planning process from start to finish."
