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What do children make of this Corona world and how might they react? Insights from Bob Hughes, author of A Taxonomy of Play Types

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PPE, virus, deaths today, masks, Nightingale Hospital, Critical Care, stay at home, respirators, coughs, clapping for the NHS, Lockdown, oxygen., overwhelming, wash your hands, Corona, mass graves, peaks and plateau, anti-body  …………………………….what do children make of this, how might they react? For one thing, they are playing in doors, and while numbers of reported accidents …

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COVID-19 and Children’s Play

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Download full report here. Written for the UK Play Safety Forum, including Play England, Play Scotland, Play Wales and PlayBoard Northern Ireland, by Professor David Ball, Tim Gill and Andy Yates. This report sumarises the emerging evidence on the effects of play restrictions in terms of a) reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the …

Play Guidance

Play After Lockdown

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A Play England Briefing, 15 June 2020 Play England has published a guide for professionals and parents to enable them to prioritise children’s play as lockdown eases.  With an introduction by Bob Hughes, this is a practical guide to supporting children’s play, helping to address issues including child well-being, risk benefit assessment and leadership. Children …

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Children’s Play Policy Forum Statement on Racism

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As a group of play professionals, researchers and academics leading on issues pertaining to Play in the four nations we have agreed it to be important to respond to the terrible death of George Floyd and the profound outpouring of experiences, voices and outrage that have followed.  We are deeply saddened that there has had …

Play Guidance

A Manifesto for Play: Policy Proposals for Children’s Play in England

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Play England, the Playwork Foundation and International Play Association England are delighted to have joined forces to publish a Manifesto for Play, ahead of any upcoming General Election. The Manifesto, based on a consultation with children’s professionals, calls on Britain’s political parties to include Leadership, Legislation and Investment in children’s play in their election manifestos …

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Playwork Qualifications – Level 3 Diploma (NVQ)

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Good news! NCFE CACHE has decided to continue offering the Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (NVQ) (reference no: 501/0997/2) and also the Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (NVQ) (reference no. 500/9047/1) indefinitely. Play England spoke to a staff member at the awarding body recently who confirmed that their database shows an end date of 31 …

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Children’s Right to Play: Position Statement by the British Psychological Society

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Play England warmly welcomes the Children’s right to play Position Statement published by the British Psychological Society. The British Psychological Society’s Division of Educational and Child Psychology states that: Child-led play is a critical enabler of children’s holistic development and wellbeing. Educational psychologists have a key role in championing opportunities for child-led play for all …

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Working together for children and play

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Play England trustees Laura Walsh, Libby Truscott and Nicola Butler were delighted to join delegates at the International Play Association England’s Halfway to Jaipur conference in London on 10 and 11 May 2019. Here’s a selection of the discussions and debates. Trial and error without fear of failure Opening the conference, author and poet Michael …

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Advocating for Play in the London Plan

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Play England Chair of Trustees Nicola Butler was amongst those giving evidence at Examinations in Public on the London Plan on Friday 3 May, along with London Assembly Member and Deputy Chair of London’s Planning Committee Nicky Gavron, Marion Briggs, Joanna Chambers, Tim Gill and Adrian Voce. Play England called for a Play Sufficiency requirement …

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Mark Gladwin’s work recognised at National Playwork Awards

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Mark Gladwin, who died last year, has been awarded the Paul Bonel Memorial Award at the National Playwork Conference, in recognition of his unique contribution to the play and playwork sector. Mark worked and volunteered in play development and support for over 30 years, supporting play in York, Bradford, Yorkshire Play, PLAYLINK and Play England. …