Political Lobbying
Play Scotland aims to influence policy, increase investment and promote awareness in play.
June 2010
The Scottish Government has published a Review to the Equally Well report. Play is mentioned in the Annex.
Extract from the ANNEX TO THE REPORT OF THE EQUALLY WELL REVIEW
SUMMARY OF ADDITIONAL ACTION ENDORSED BY THE TASK FORCE
4. The Task Force heard of action that the Scottish Government was leading to support implementation of the Early Years Framework:
The Play Talk Read social marketing campaign has been launched. It emphasises
the importance of the home-learning environment and encourages parents and other
carers to value positive interactions with their child during the first years through simple, free, fun activities. The campaign, which will run for a number of years, has been positively evaluated and has been shown to have reached 90% of the target audience.
The Go Play Programme, administered by Inspiring Scotland, has been launched with funding of £4m over 2 years. It aims to increase opportunities for children aged 5-13 years to engage in free play activities, contributing to mental and physical health outcomes and building social cohesion. Go Play targets specific local authority areas where children are least likely to have opportunities to develop through play and will improve the infrastructure of the play sector at local, regional and national levels.
A Scottish Government/COSLA/Third Sector Data and Indicators Group for early years has been working on a meaningful, manageable and robust set of indicators against which progress towards key national and local outcomes can be assessed.
A multi-agency Research Into Practice Group has been established. In response to feedback from local partners, the Group was created to provide more information from the centre on research evidence and evaluations of national and local programmes. As well as avoiding duplication of effort and sub-optimal use of scarce resources, better dissemination of "what works" information from the centre would lead to local partners basing local implementation on the best available evidence and practice.
February 2010
The Scottish Government published the Scottish Planning Policy document.
Play is mentioned with the OPEN SPACE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
149. Access to good quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation make important contributions to a healthier Scotland. The planning system has a role in helping to create an environment where physical wellbeing is improved and activity made easier. Providing play space and other opportunities for children and young people to play freely, explore, discover and initiate their own activities can support their development. Access to good quality open spaces can encourage people to be physically active and aid health and wellbeing. In settlements, networks of linked, good quality open space are important for their contribution to amenity and their role in nature conservation, biodiversity, recreation and physical activity. Rural areas provide a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities, many of which are closely linked to the quality of the environment. Planning authorities should support, protect and enhance open space andopportunities for sport and recreation.
December 2009
We were delighted to see that Play was one of the ten transformational changes mentioned in the Scottish Government Early Years Framework.
The Early Years Framework is one of three interlinked policy frameworks including Achieving our Potential and Equally Well. These three documents combined aim to achieve high quality play opportunities in every community, increased play and physical activity, and improved and increased access to play.
May 2009
Play Scotland is lobbying to have Play fully referenced in the new Scottish Planning Policy Document (to include SPP11) currently out for consultation.
A motion has been placed before the Scottish Parliament by Robin Harper MSP
3M-03965 Robin Harper: Re-establishment of Access to Play in Planning Policies
That the Parliament congratulates the Alliance for Childhood on the occasion of its first conference held at the Scottish Parliament on 23 April 2009; notes the terms of Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; expresses its concern that, although Scottish Planning Policy 11 established the principle that access to play should be embedded in planning policies, this principle has been extracted from the new planning policy document, and calls on the Scottish Government to re-establish this principle and reaffirm its commitment to incorporating the terms of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in full in all appropriate public policy areas.
Lodged on Thursday, April 23, 2009
and a Public Petitions Petition has been lodged (PE1250) from Mel Spence calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to consider additional measures, if necessary legislative, to enforce existing planning policy and guidance, such as SPP11, to ensure there are robust sanctions in place to prevent local authorities from proceeding with development on land currently used as playing fields or open spaces.
April 2009
- Play and Risk Debate
The Scottish Government in partnership with the Care Commission, Play Scotland and the police will lead a debate on understanding and balancing the benefits of play against risk.
Marguerite Hunter Blair, Chief Executive of Play Scotland was appointed by the Scottish Government to Chair the Risk Debate. Play Scotland will keep members up to date on the progress and activity of the project team because it is really important that everyone's voice is heard in the debate.
December 2008
In December 2008 the Scottish Government launched the Early Years Framework.
"This framework is about giving all our children the best start in life and the steps the Scottish Government, local partners and practitioners in early years services need to take to start us on that journey." Scottish Government
For further information click here
One of the ten transformational changes within the Early Years Framework is to "Improve outcomes and children's quality of life through play".
Short Term Action
In 2009 The Scottish Government in partnership with the Care Commission, Play Scotland and the police will lead a debate on understanding and balancing the benefits of play against risk.
Medium Term Priorities
Developing local play and green space policies and improving play opportunities.
Promoting positive environments for children and families through planning, regeneration and transport policies.
Nurseries and schools supporting outdoor learning and outdoor play. Trying out innovative approaches such as nature kindergartens.
Longer-term Objectives
High quality play opportunities in every community. Increased play and physical activity.
June 2008
In October 2007 Play Scotland received lottery funding to establish the Scottish Play Commission. This was to examine the 'state of play' in Scotland. In June 2008 Play Scotland launched the Findings of the Scottish Play Commission at the Scottish Parliament.
For further information on the Scottish Play Commission and to see the Findings of this report click here
March 2008
On 3 March 2008 Scottish Labour launched 'A Positive Start for Every Child' document at the Yard Adventure Playground in Edinburgh. This document highlights the need for safe places to play.
On 18 March 2008 the SNP launched the draft Consultation of 'Early Years and Early Intervention'.
We have been urging everyone with an interest in children's play in Scotland to write to Early Years Framework asking them with their Commitment to a Play Strategy lies as play is not mentioned in this document.
The SNP promised Scotland a National Play Strategy in their Government Manifesto.
Play Scotland, SCCYP and the Public Petitions Committee are all calling for this promise to be upheld.
This Policy Statement is sadly a dark contrast to the recently published Children's Plan in England which demonstrates a high commitment to Play and for Playworkers.
October 2007
In October 07 Play Scotland together with representatives from Barnardo's, Fields in Trust and PETC Scotland met with the Minister for Children and Early Years, Adam Ingram MSP to ensure that the key issues in the Play Sector would not be confined within an 0-8 years Early Years Strategy.
We were pleased when at the Early Years announcement, MSP Robert Brown's amendment to have a separate Play and Communications Strategy was carried.
May 2007
In 2007 we were delighted when all the Manifestos of the main Scottish Political Parties included a Commitment to a Play Strategy for Scotland.
The SNP Manifesto stated "We will strengthen national planning guidelines to give greater protection to green spaces for sport and informal recreational activity, particularly in urban and deprived communities. We will work with local authorities and the voluntary sector to develop an effective play strategy to increase the range of quality play opportunities for children and young people in every part of Scotland".
March 2006
In March 2006 Ken McIntosh, MSP put forward a Motion on the Importance of Play:
S2M-3890 Mr Kenneth Macintosh: The Importance of Play - That the Parliament welcomes calls from Play Scotland and Barnardo's for a play strategy that recognises the right of all children in East Renfrewshire and across Scotland to a safe, challenging and accessible play environment; is aware of the public and political concerns over levels of obesity, mental health problems and anti-social behaviour amongst children and young people; notes that lack of opportunity to play is a contributing factor to these problems; is concerned that traffic growth, loss of open space and fears over safety are further restricting play opportunities, and therefore believes that play should be supported with a vigour that reflects its importance.
This Motion made history when 81 MSPs signed up to this.
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Further to this we were delighted when Alex Fergusson, MSP sponsored a stall for us in the Lobby Garden of the Scottish Parliament in May 2006.
Over 80 MSPs signed the Play Scotland Statement which is calling for Scotland to be a designated Child Friendly Country.
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