Play Sufficiency Assessment
Matter D
Supervised provision
The Local Authority should aim to offer a range of supervised play provision.
RAG Status
Amber: Criteria Partially met
Criteria
- The Local Authority keeps an up to date record of all supervised play work provision as described in the Statutory Guidance
RAG status 2019
Amber: Criteria partially met
RAG status 2022
Green: Criteria fully met
Evidence to support strengths
- Regular audits are carried out by the Child Care Development Officers, tri-annually, to gather the information required.
Identified actions for Action Plan
- Childcare Development Officers & Family Information Officer to work in partnership with settings to gather information and store findings to address the changes in sufficiency.
Criteria
- The Local Authority offers play work provision which offers a rich play environment as described in the Statutory Guidance
RAG status 2019
Amber: Criteria partially met
RAG status 2022
Green: Criteria fully met
Evidence to support strengths
- A designated FIS officer provides weekly updates to the DEWIS website, ensuring all registered play provisions are logged.
- X3 Specialist ALN youth clubs as well as x17 designated youth club provisions promoting play
Identified actions for Action Plan
- Childcare Development Officers & Family Information Officer to work in partnership with settings to gather information and store findings to address the changes in sufficiency.
Criteria
- The Local Authority ensures that partners offering play work provision are supported to offer rich play environments as described in the Statutory Guidance
RAG status 2019
Green: Criteria fully met
RAG status 2022
Amber: Criteria partially met
Evidence to support strengths
- CDO supports with policies and procedures – applications can also be made to improve provisions
Identified actions for Action Plan
- Childcare Development Officers will carry out improvement SACERS to raise rich play environments
Criteria
- Staffed play work provision that the Local Authority provides meets the regulatory requirements and National Minimum Standards
RAG status 2019
Green: Criteria fully met
RAG status 2022
Green: Criteria fully met
Evidence to support strengths
- Childcare Development Officers have this in place within the Early Years Sector to ensure a consistent approach. All LA registered settings are visited termly.
Criteria
- Staffed play work provision that the Local Authority funds meets the regulatory requirements and National Minimum Standards
RAG status 2019
Green: Criteria fully met
RAG status 2022
Green: Criteria fully met
Evidence to support strengths
- When procuring places from the PVI play sector. Only registered provision is used. Within the panel system of awarding spaces one CDO has representation for the registered provision.
Criteria
- Staffed play work provision that the Local Authority’s partners provide meets the regulatory requirements and National Minimum Standards
RAG status 2019
Green: Criteria fully met
RAG status 2022
Amber: Criteria partially met
Evidence to support strengths
- Childcare Officers have developed and delivered National Minimum Standards Checklists that are a used as a toolkit to audit against the NMS and to be used as a quality improvement checklist.
Identified actions for Action Plan
- Childcare Development Officers will carry out SACERS audits will all OOSC settings
- Childcare Officers to review process of NMS checklist and to identify if any gaps in provision.
Criteria
- Staffed play work provision across the Local Authority works to a recognised quality assurance programme. The Local Authority prioritises quality issues when engaging with/ commissioning the private sector to deliver recreational activities for children.
RAG status 2019
Green: Criteria fully met
RAG status 2022
Green: Criteria fully met
Evidence to support strengths
- The LA has procurement regulations and a contracting system in place and works with private nurseries who provide play opportunities. These are carried out annually.
Criteria
- The Local Authority provides council premises and space free of charge to organisations which provide free (at the point of access) playwork provision for children
RAG status 2019
Amber: Criteria partially met
RAG status 2022
Amber: Criteria partially met
Evidence to support strengths
- Some of the play provision venues are free of charge i.e. within school premises. Although leisure centres and community halls charge rental costs due to funding cuts placed upon their departments.
- We have x3 play provisions run by the LA which have use of the facilities free of charge
Shortfalls
- Funding is an issue to facilitate this.
Identified actions for Action Plan
- Allocate funding to enhance play provision across the county
Structured recreational activities for children
Criteria
- Local authority sport, physical activity, and active recreation plans are contributing to increasing free play and recreational activities
RAG status 2019
Green: Criteria fully met
RAG status 2022
Amber: Criteria partially met
Evidence to support strengths
- Work in close partnership with Sport Pembrokeshire to provide this through various programmes of activities i.e. Summer of Fun and Winter of Wellbeing initiatives.
Shortfalls
- Heavily reliant on funding to provide all these activities though.
Identified actions for Action Plan
- Continue to promote free initiatives to ensure families are taking advantage of sport and recreational activities available to them
- Raise awareness of the importance of keeping active not just to CYP but to parents too.
Criteria
- The sports agenda contributes to the provision of sufficient recreational activities for children
RAG status 2019
Green: Criteria fully met
RAG status 2022
Green: Criteria fully met
Evidence to support strengths
- The Active Young People team in Sport Pembrokeshire works closely with schools to improve physical literacy, increase targeted participation, create leadership opportunities for older children and link schools to community clubs.
- Opportunities are provided for disability sport sessions, in collaboration with Leisure
Criteria
- The cultural and arts agenda, is contributing to the provision of sufficient recreational activities for children
RAG status 2019
Green: Criteria fully met
RAG status 2022
Green: Criteria fully met
Evidence to support strengths
Through our Scolton Manor facility and site-based resources we are able to provide access to play projects and events which support inclusion. Outdoor play is a key feature of this site and WG Capital funding has allowed us to include specialist disability friendly equipment within the park area.
Identified actions for Action Plan
- Allocate funding to enhance play provision across the county
Criteria
- The Local Authority Youth Service provides for children’s opportunities for leisure and association
RAG status 2019
Green: Criteria fully met
RAG status 2022
Green: Criteria fully met
Evidence to support strengths
- Youth club provision is delivered across Pembrokeshire, ranging from 1-3 evenings a week dependent on the areas. CYP are consulted with on which leisure and recreational activities they want to do; activities often include sports, arts and crafts, outdoor water-based activities etc.
- The youth service also provides clubs, trips, school holiday activities and day trips for children with ALN, as well as partnering with leisure to provide opportunities on Saturday nights. The youth services works with schools and social services to promote these activities, as well as through social media.
Shortfalls
- Many of the recent activities delivered by the youth service have been made possible because of the recent increase Welsh Government grants. As the youth service is not statutory, is has not previously been well-funded and needs this regular funding in order to continue providing these opportunities for CYP
Supervised play provision
Where the Local Authority has assessed settings as part of the Childcare Sufficiency Assessments (CSAs), how have these settings been assessed in respect of the quality of play opportunities they provide and offer?
The Early Years team ensure that play provision meets the regulatory requirements and National Minimum Standards. As part of the CSA, CYP were asked about after school clubs and play activities that they enjoy and would like to do at their after school clubs. This was targeted at primary and secondary aged pupils and did not include play outside of school. The CSA also assessed the supply and demand of childcare, but play assessment was not largely incorporated into the CSA. Consultation with parents asked about the overall quality of childcare provision, but this was not directly related to play.
How has provision that is not part of the CSA been assessed in respect of the quality of play opportunities they provide and offer?
Although it is play providers’ choice whether to complete quality assurance programmes, there are grant opportunities for childcare providers to apply to support this initiative. During the consultation carried out as part of the PSA, children, parents and play providers were consulted on the quality of play provision. Play providers reported positive feedback from parents on the quality of provision and children were largely happy with the places they were able to play.
Have there been challenges?
Majority of play settings currently pay for their premises. Sport and recreational activities are heavily reliant on grant funding.
How can these be overcome?
Disseminate messages as to the importance of leisure and cultural opportunities and chance to access free activities through key partners. Raise awareness of keeping active through continuing to promote activities to families. Continue to reach out to community groups to promote leisure and consider subsidising or funding premises for play work, particularly in disadvantaged areas