What We Believe In

We support children to thrive though play.

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We focus on play because we know how much this benefits children’s health, wellbeing and development. It is important for their lives in the here and now as well as for their future life chances.

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Our focus is self-directed play of all types – we follow children’s lead. We are supportive of children undertaking appropriate challenges, and building their risk management skills. We want children to have access to everyday adventures, which help them to learn, grow and develop.

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Our play policy is downloadable from this page, which further sets out our approach to play.

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Our aims

Our aims are to:

• Provide enriching opportunities for children to play in support of their health, wellbeing and development

• Build family, community and professional capacity to support play

• Advocate for play and inform and influence decision-making

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Underpinning values

Playing is something children have a right to do. This right is protected in article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, an international agreement that the UK has signed up to:

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‘State Parties recognise the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.’

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