Health, Well-being and Care

'All to Play For'

In 2004, Bradford Early Years and Childcare Service launched the by ‘All to Play For - a Strategy for Children’s Play in the Bradford District’ after consulting over 1000 children and young people across the district.

Four Years have now passed since this strategy, which underpins the work of the Play Team, was launched. There have been many accomplishments since 2004, including the launch of the Big Lottery Fund’s Children’s Play Programme and Bradford’s allocation of £1.4 million for Children’s Play, the establishment of the Play Partnership, which brings together representatives from organisations and agencies whose work impacts on children’s play, and the appointment of Bradford’s first Play Champion.

Bradford has experienced a great deal of progress within Children’s Services - including the Every Child Matters Agenda, Youth Matters and the Childcare Act. 2008 therefore sees the launch of a revised ‘All to Play For’ Strategy for the District - which can be downloaded from the link at the top of the page.

Strategic Enabler Report, January 2007 - March 2008

The Strategic Enabler role was created through a partnership between the Early Years & Childcare Service and the Disabled Children & Young People Strategy Group (formerly the Joint Care Planning Team for children with disabilities and/or complex health needs) and funded as part of the ‘Inclusive Play and Activities’ project through the Enjoy & Achieve Outcome Group’s Neighbourhood Renewal Allocation (2006 – 2008).

The main aim of the role was to identify existing models of good practice which enabled disabled children and those with complex health needs to access mainstream provision, gaps in this area of work and recommendations as to how these gaps might be addressed.

Final Report Strategic Enabler ()

Open Access Play Provision Report

In 2007 Gi Cheesman and Associates undertook a piece of work on behalf of The Early Years and Childcare Service Play Team to review Open Access Play Provision across the District. The report is available to download below.

Open Access Play Provision across the District ().

Play Support

The Play Team at BEYCS are charged with implementing the recommendations of the District's Play Strategy and aims to promote and develop inclusive, quality play provision across the District in a range of settings including out of school clubs, holiday playschemes and other organisations providing opportunities for children’s play.

It is our role to support and promote the values of the Playwork approach; this includes being child centred, enabling freedom, choice and control, providing a variety of play experiences including risk and challenge.

We achieve this by visiting settings and groups to provide advice, practical workshops, and signposting to organisations who can provide additional specific support. We also support settings working towards the First Claim a self assessed Quality Assurance Framework that focuses exclusively on play and playwork.

Play Training

The Play Team deliver a range of training and qualifications, from practical ideas for inclusive play training, through to the Level 3 Diploma in Playwork. We also deliver a range of workshops in play settings, including schools. These are all delivered to promote quality play opportunities for children and young people across the District, and are available to apply for from the Bradford Early Years and Childcare Service Training Prospectus ().

How can we help?

We are able to:

• Help to deliver quality playwork practice
• deliver Playwork training and nationally recognised Playwork qualifications
• offer support and advice about adventure playwork
• signpost play providers, including schools to resources, e.g. equipment, training and funding
• offer practical support and advice with a commitment to developing inclusive quality play provision
• support community groups to develop play provision in their area
• represent the district at a range of regional, national and international sector specific networks

Play Contacts

Eccleshill Adventure Playground

BEYCS runs an open access adventure playground in Eccleshill, Bradford.

Nell Bank

The Outdoor Education Centre at Nell Bank, Ilkley

National Playday - 1st August

If you would like to find out more about Play Day events in your area, call the Play Hotline on 01274 431930.

Play schemes

Holiday play and activity schemes take place across the District in a range of different settings. For more information about playschemes in your area contact the Children’s Information Link on 01274 437503

Playscheme organisers should contact the Community Play and Activities Development Unit on 01274 435496

Play Partners

Play Partners is an exciting project which enables disabled children and young people and those with special educational needs and/or complex health needs aged 5 to 14 to access play and leisure activities. For more information see the Play Partners section of this website.

Play Champion - Councillor John Cole

In Bradford, the appointment of a Play Champion has been a significant achievement and has acted as a catalyst for change.
Cllr John Cole was elected Play Champion by the children and young people of Bradford, with support from the district's schools.
Follow the link for more information about the Play Champion.

Resources

The BEYCS Resource Library has many useful play resources. For more information see the Resources section of this site.

APAP

The Adventurous Play Activators Project (APAP) is part of Bradford Community Environment Project (BCEP). Our aim is to increase children's self confidence, self esteem and self worth and also we aim to engage children with the environment at large. We do this through facilitating play with packs of loose parts which contain many forms of different recycled items for example traffic cones, tyres and reels. We will either visit your centre/school and deliver a session or we can hire you a pack free of charge for you to deliver yourself. For further information please contact Becky or Jen on (01274) 223236 or email info@bcep.org.uk

Got a question or want to comment then why not get in touch with the team?