Managing Risk in Play Provision: Implementation guide

Managing Risk in Play Provision: Implementation guide

Foreword by Baroness Delyth & Morgan and Gerry Sutcliffe MP

The huge response to our recent Fair Play consultation shows that children and young

people want to play outside. They also want bigger and better play areas with more

exciting, varied and challenging equipment and activities available to them.

As we carried out our Children’s Plan consultations around the county, we heard this

message from parents too. Strong new evidence tells us that play is not only vital as part

of a happy childhood but is also needed to develop skills that are important for success in

life. The Government’s Play Strategy responds to this, and sets out a vision for excellent

play opportunities in every local area. We want all children to enjoy playing outside in safe,

but exciting, environments.

Parents and children recognise that you can never make everything completely safe, and

that a balance is needed between risk and fun. As we said in the Government’s Staying

Safe Action Plan, everyone has a role in making sure that children are safe to enjoy their

childhoods. To do this we all need to strike the right balance between protecting our

children from harm and allowing them the freedom to develop independence.

This Managing Risk in Play Provision guide sets out in clear, practical terms how this

difficult balance can be achieved in play provision, through the decisions providers and

managers make locally. We are very pleased to have worked closely with the Health and

Safety Executive and other key partners to get this guidance right.

With the use of this guide and Design for Play: A guide to creating successful play spaces,

we look forward to more exciting, innovative and challenging play opportunities being

offered to our children and young people in every neighbourhood.

Baroness Delyth Morgan

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children

Gerry Suttcliffe MP

Minister for Sport