What you do next depends on what you want to achieve plus the resources available.

So when you weigh up your project, you may want to reconsider some assessments of what good play provision means.

Good play provision is usually described as such if it satisfies the ‘three frees’ test, being:

• free of charge
• where children are free to come and go
• where children are free to choose what they do whilst they are there.

(The three frees concept was developed by Perry Else, Sheffield Hallam University, 2005).

Each type of play provision has its own characteristics.

There are often similarities and overlaps. For example, parks may have dedicated play areas or may be used as the location for a play ranger or outreach project.

Your project or group may want to combine different elements of provision – that’s fine, but it’s important to be aware of the different types of play provision and how they meet various needs. Examples of dedicated play provision may include:

• Staffed adventure playgrounds, out of school or other play provision
• unsupervised playgrounds or play areas 
• bike, skate and skateboard facilities
• multi-use games areas (MUGAs)
• hangout/youth shelters.

 

Children also play in places not formally designated for play and your project or group may want to seek improvements in these spaces:

• residential streets
• neighbourhood open spaces
• parks and green spaces
• beaches, rivers and lakes
• routes to school, play areas and other children’s services
• playing fields and recreation grounds.

Examples of supervised and semi-supervised places for play include:

• adventure playgrounds
• open access play centres
• play ranger and outreach play projects
• school playgrounds.

The Play England resource Tools for evaluating local play provision contains discussions about the characteristics of the above types of play spaces.  

Play England has a range of case studies dealing with these different types of play provision, and also provides briefing papers on specific types of provision. You may want to get hold of these to help you make some key decisions.

There are national organisations that provide support, information and advice about specific types of play provision. For instance, the National Playbus Association provides advice about mobile play provision. There are others, like Play England, KIDS and the Children’s Play Information Service, that provide information about a range of play provision.

It is also worth contacting your local play association for further information about different types of play provision. Local play associations will provide information and advice about the projects they are involved with. For example, Wansdyke Play Association in Bath and North East Somerset has produced The Play Ranger Guide widely used by others across the country. London Play gives details about a range of provision delivered in the city by the London borough councils and voluntary and community organisations.

Commercial organisations and manufacturers provide advice and services to potential clients about design, maintenance and equipment for playgrounds and play areas, bike and skate facilities, multi-use games areas and hangout shelters.

Lastly, there are organisations that provide advice about how the local community can become involved in improving or supporting play opportunities in non-dedicated spaces. For example, Sustrans’ DIY Streets project helps residents redesign their own streets affordably to create home zone-type areas, making them safer, more attractive places to live and play.

Whatever you decide to do, it should meet local needs, and involve children and the local community.

When considering the possibilities you should:

• Seek advice from your local authority or voluntary organisations working in your area
• Visit different types of play provision in your area
• Talk to other providers about their experiences
• Use the Internet to research different types of play provision
• Check to see if there are any national or local organisations interested or involved in developing the type of play provision you want to support or maintain
• Consider carefully what you think would work in your area
• Make sure you consult with potential users including boys and girls, disabled children, black and minority ethnic children
• Better still, involve them in your research.

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Tools and information

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Organisations