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Also inside… • • • • • • • • •
News about play in Oxfordshire Article: The Influence of Play in the Early Years Play idea: Keepsake books OPA updates Oxfordshire’s first play barge and new sensory bus! Having a street party Rainy play ideas Updates and information for playworkers And more!
What is the Oxfordshire Play Partnership (OPP)? newsletter is produced by Oxfordshire Play Association on behalf of the Oxfordshire Play Partnership, a group of organisations whose aim is to increase the amount and quality of play opportunities for children and young people aged approx 0-19 years across Oxfordshire. OPP creates and updates the Oxfordshire Play Strategy — this and lots of other OPP info is available on Oxfordshire Play Association’s website www.oxonplay.org.uk — see under ‘Play Resources’. For further information about OPP, Inspiring Play or any other aspect of play and playwork, contact Oxfordshire Play Association: Tel: 01865 779474; email: enquiries@oxonplay.org.uk.
UPDATE - Inspiring Play Newsletter
Plans are underway to organise three exciting Playday events in Oxfordshire. As soon as funding is confirmed, we will promote the events, so look out for updates in the next issue. If you would like to help out with a Playday event, contact OPA (see contact details on page 5).
Due to the current economic climate, future issues of Inspiring Play will only be available electronically. If you would like to receive future copies by email, please contact OPA with your name, work and email address(es). Email: enquiries@oxonplay.org.uk Tel: 01865 779474
Objects Dart Puppet Company Theatre using whatever is to hand! From intimate performances to large scale shows and workshops, I create theatre using anything that is not a puppet when the show begins – encouraging the creativity and imagination of every child! I am also the only puppeteer in the UK performing hand shadow puppetry. “Just a thanks for today, the children really loved it original, fun and good value!”
- Francesca McLoughlin, Deputy Head Teacher, Plaistow School, Plymouth
www.objectsdart.info 07898 840053 2
rainy
e Mak ls nne cha half with pipes n drai
ideas
play sh Spla in it
e Mak n de s
ect Coll it
Get wet
Eat it
Hide t i from
e Mak s dam
G et dy mud
ow Foll es lin the he on t w o wind
Lie in it
p Cam i in t
Look for rainbows!
Dovecote Afloat! Exciting news – Oxfordshire now has its first ever play barge! Dovecote Afloat is an exciting, challenging and fun way of introducing children and young people of the Leys in Oxford to the natural environment. The boat is a community-led project, and will open up a different side of life to the young people, giving them the opportunity to observe wildlife and learn more about the natural environment, as well as relaxing and playing together. The boat, called ‘Biddy’s Dream’, will give The Dovecote Centre in Blackbird Leys the opportunity to extend from a fixed-base play activity centre to become a mobile activity centre, offering valuable and innovative learning experiences to young people from an area of high deprivation. For more information about this amazing project, contact Carol Richards at the Dovecote Centre on 01865 712299.
Reproduced with kind permission of J A Sayers
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Play idea: keepsake books This is an idea I have just introduced at my after school club (ASC). I have made some A4 books by folding sugar paper and threading them along the spine. I then offered each child at the club the chance to make their own scrap book of their time at ASC. The books are kept in a box by the art table so are easily accessed by the children as and when they want. They can draw / write / colour / collage / stick in bits and pieces as they wish, and they know they can do as much or as little as they like. If I have taken any photos of the children, I print them out and leave in another box by the side and they can help themselves to stick in their books. The books are a great success with all ages and genders. Children like to talk to each other, reminiscing over the photos. When the book is full or the child leaves, they can take it home as a keepsake of their time at ASC. by Kaz Walters, St Nicolas Primary School After School Club, Abingdon
How?
1. Get involved with your local Play Partnership— call OPA for more info (details on page 5). 2. Join Oxfordshire Play Association. 3. Check out Play England’s ‘Save Children’s Play’ web pages at: www.playengland.org.uk > Our Work > Save Children’s Play.
A big thank you goes to two fantastic play officers from Oxfordshire County Council, whose work contracts end in March. Sophie Cresswell and Howie Watkins have helped the Oxfordshire play world to move on in leaps and bounds over the past few years, and we hope they will stay involved and in touch.
It is very easy to organise a street party—it just takes one keen person to start the ball rolling, and off you go. Whatever the reason—enabling people to meet and play more—or a royal wedding—or to celebrate summer…it doesn’t have to cost any money—some district councils don’t ask for separate insurance, and any minor costs can be recouped with a raffle. Oxfordshire Play Association (OPA) have put together a ‘Having a Street Party’ page on their website, with ideas, useful links and contact information for each area of Oxfordshire. See link below, or call OPA on 01865 779474.
www.oxonplay.org.uk/having-a-street-party 4
Championing the right to play for all children and young people age 0-19 years in Oxfordshire. Tel: 01865 779474; Email: enquiries@oxonplay.org.uk; Web: www.oxonplay.org.uk OPA, First Floor Offices, Temple Cowley URC, Oxford Road, Temple Cowley, Oxford OX4 2ES.
OPA Manager Martin Gillett is now the voluntary sector rep on the Oxfordshire Children & Young People’s Trust.
OPA is now a member of the National Skills Academy as a pr ov ide r of Pla ywo r k qualifications. The NSA is a national group of accredited and approved Training Providers and is managed by Skills Active.
Thanks to a grant from Aiming High, we now have a brand new range of sensory equipment to hire as part of OPA’s Play Box hire scheme. New equipment includes interactive bubble tubes, dark den, projectors, fibre optic carpet and a lightbox. This is in addition to the many other Play Boxes we offer, including badge makers and circus skills. Contact OPA for further information and to book the Play Boxes, from as little as £5 per week.
OPA has helped local play-related groups and childminders to create and update their own websites at very low cost, and we can help you too. Contact jane.gallagher@ oxonplay.org.uk or call us.
QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework - see the OPA website for more info on QCF.) QCF Level 2 training workshops have got off to a flying start and the learners are well on their way with their qualifications. QCF level 3 workshops will start on the 23rd March at Tower Play Base, Marston, Oxford. NVQ registrations are still being accepted until 31st March 2011 so until then you can choose NVQ or QCF. Short courses in play training are taking place throughout Oxfordshire. To book your place you can download a booking form from OPA’s website (web address at top of page). Transitional Award into Playwork– starting in April. This is a great way to get a playwork qualification for people who already have a level 3 in Early Years. For more information on any of the training courses OPA offers, please contact Brid Muldoon, OPA Training Officer: trainingofficer@oxonplay.org.uk or visit the OPA website for the latest training info.
Buy one from OPA only £10 incl. P&P! Advertise your play-related job vacancies on the OPA website for only £10 for 4 weeks. Call 01865 779474 or email: jane.gallagher@oxonplay.org.uk.
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Influence of Play in the Early Years By Julie Foxton Physical Activity Coordinator for the Early Years, Department of Health - South East
Play is so important that it has been recognised by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child (www.ohchr.org). Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional wellbeing of all children and young people. Key times to influence brain growth and development are during the very early years – from 0-3 years of age (Ginsburg, 2007), due to the rate of growth of pathways within the brain during these early years.
‘Bucket-type’ transport Other reasons why today’s infants are not as active as before is that many parents and carers rely on ‘bucket-type’ modes of transport. For example, pushchairs, car seats, bike seats, baby walkers, and so on. Many babies can often spend all day being carried around, with very little or no contact with the floor. Other influences that restrict movement As children become older, other influences that restrict childhood movement are seen. These involve societal and cultural changes. ‘Stranger danger’ - a perception that all children are at risk of being abducted by strangers - has led to a decrease in the extent of the range that children have to play in. Commonly children are restricted to an area of less than 300 yards. Children rarely feel welcome to play in the streets due to the growth of the ‘No ball games here’ culture or the fact that traffic congestion is a very real restriction on activity.
Tummy Time During infancy (0-1year) the ‘Back to sleep‘ campaign led to a significant reduction in the number of cot deaths. However, parents are not always told of the converse of this which is to put the baby on their tummy on the floor, or ‘Tummy Time’, when the infant is awake. Parents are often not told to play with their infants and are rarely advised of the significance of playing with their babies nor of the major developmental delays that can be caused by not encouraging play and ‘tummy time’. Babies need to spend time on their fronts when they are awake, learning to crawl. This can have an impact on their ability to develop stronger muscles in their necks and shoulders, to lift up their heads for example, and for the further development of muscles used in speech and language. Babies also need to develop their hands and fingers for the pincer-type movement that is required to hold writing utensils. These and other muscles are developed in the early years of crawling.
Children are becoming increasingly sedentary in their activities. Screen time, video games and such are causing a great deal of activity to be based indoors with no contact with the outside world. Screen time is responsible for the vast majority of children’s leisure time (and adults’!) Research in Leicestershire (pending publication) has demonstrated that fewer than one in six children in the Reception Year could perform a series of basic movement tests measuring posture, stability, balance and coordination. The children were tested on 12 movement skills, including standing on one leg, walking on all fours, hopping, etc. The assessment showed that just 14% of the children could do nine or more movements. Obesity versus activity Coupled with this rise in sedentary behaviour is the rise of childhood obesity. The National Childhood Measurement 6
physical activity guidelines are being developed and will be published alongside revised guidelines for children and young people in spring 2011.
programme has identified that 1 in 5 children are obese or overweight when they start school – rising to 1 in 3 children obese or overweight when they leave primary school (www.ic.nhs.uk). Early years
Outdoor Play Week Department of Health South East is involved in an Outdoor Play Week with partners from the Forestry Commission, Natural England, Play England, local authorities and the Play Providers association. The week is to encourage more young people to venture outside and play, and is being held between 5th and 12th March. For further details of how to join in go to www.wellbeingsoutheast.co.uk, or see their Facebook page by typing in ‘South East Outdoor Play Week’. References www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/docs/ AdvanceVersions/GeneralComment7Rev1.pdf; Ginsburg S., Committee on Communications and the Committee on Psychosocial aspects of Child and Family Health (2007) Pediatrics 119; 1: 182-190; National Child Measurement Programme – www.ic.nhs.uk.
PLAY QUOTES “Expressed simply, children at play are in control of being out of control.” Gordon, G. and Esbjorn-Hargens, S. (2007): ‘Are we having fun yet? An exploration of the transformative power of play.’ Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 47: 198–222.
“Play is a way of experimenting with possible feelings and possible identities without risking the real biological or social consequences. Cut! Time for tea, time to go home and nothing in the real world has changed, except perhaps that the child is not quite the person that they were before, they have extended just a little further their inner knowledge of what it can feel like to be human.” Bailey, R (2002): ‘Playing Social Chess: Children’s play and social intelligence’, Early Years: Journal of International Research and Development, 22(2): 163-173.
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Safeguarding Children (child protection) training In the last edition we reminded you that if you are a playleader running a club or playscheme, or the designated safeguarding person for your setting, you must attend the 6-hour ‘Specialist’ Safeguarding course provided only by the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (OSCB). Since then we have organised (in Abingdon) a Saturday Specialist Safeguarding course, and all 40 places were quickly booked – mostly by out-of-school staff! Another Saturday course will take place on 2nd April, in the north of Oxfordshire. The course is advertised at www.oscb.org.uk. How to book: 1. Begin by doing a short online course. See www.oscb.org.uk. Click on ‘Training’ then ‘E-learning Introductory Safeguarding Training’ and follow the online course. Allow about 2 hours, but you can stop and save at any time if you can’t complete the course in one go. (Note: if you have done a 2hour generalist safeguarding training run by Step into Training / OSCB / your school in the past 3 years, you don’t have to do this online course.) 2. See www.oscb.org.uk. Click on ‘Training’ then ‘Booking for OSCB training courses’ and ‘View our courses’. Choose ‘Specialist safeguarding training’. It is not possible to book by telephone, so please contact your Childcare Development Officer for a postal application form if you have no internet access. You can of course choose a weekday specialist safeguarding course from the OSCB website, if this is more convenient for you. There is currently no charge (unless you cancel late or fail to attend).
Changes to Working Tax Credits (WTC) Childcare providers should be aware that changes will be made to WTC from 6 April 2011, which may mean some families will receive less support for childcare costs from WTC. However there are other tax changes, which take effect at the same time, which may offset any reduction in WTC childcare support. If families require help with paying for childcare they can contact Oxfordshire Family Information Service 08452 26 26 36 or the following websites may be helpful: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk > search "help with paying childcare costs" or www.direct.gov.uk/ childcare or Daycare Trust www.payingforchildcare.org.uk/. It is good practice to remind parents that support is available for paying childcare costs and that they should update HM Revenue and Customs with any changes on 0845 300 3900 so that their WTC award is kept up-to-date. This is a particularly helpful reminder to parents if you are increasing your fees.
Enough childcare? Oxfordshire County Council is working on a new report on the need for childcare in the county. We have looked at what different families need and what the current availability of childcare is. We are currently identifying the main childcare gaps and any actions needed to address these, and will publish this by the end of March 2011. Emerging messages from our work include: • Available childcare places are still increasing slowly • Most families using childcare are very satisfied with the location and quality of their provision. Affordability remains a concern and a barrier for more than a third of parents. The Childcare Act 2006 requires councils to publish a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Report every three years. We published the previous report in March 2008 with updates in 2009 and 2010. You can access the reports from 2008 to 2010 on the County Council website at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/childcaresufficiencyassessment and the 2011 report from end of March 2011. Contact Fergus Campbell (Childcare Development Manager) on 01865 815102 or fergus.campbell@oxfordshire.gov.uk if you have any more questions.
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Funding Information Day Following on from a successful pilot based around funding information for Holiday Playschemes in October 2010, Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) partnered by Oxfordshire Community Voluntary Action (OCVA) rolled out a similar event for all settings to attend on Saturday 5th February. The day was a great success with groups from across Oxfordshire in attendance. Feedback showed that the event was of great benefit in helping settings to understand how to pin down their aims and objectives, search for funding and how to shape their applications and business plans when asking for financial help from charitable foundations. Morning presentations were given by both OCC and OCVA and attendees could choose from five afternoon workshops hosted by OCC, Pre-School Learning Alliance and Oxfordshire Play Association. The workshops were well-received and delegates took away new information that would be useful in their future work. Delegates went away with the material required for successful funding applications and business planning, along with more ideas, a clearer view on how to approach bids and much more confidence. Quote of the day: “Thank you for a well packaged and delivered information day in a joined up way.” Information from the day is on the OCC website. The link below will take you to the new pages: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/outofschoolchildcare > Running a club > Supporting effective fundraising.
for Disabled Children 2011 Training Programme
New Outlook News page from Early Years and Childcare
As part of the Aiming High for Disabled Children Programme within Oxfordshire County Council, a new spring training programme is available to increase awareness about specific impairments and how to support disabled children and young people within a group or home-based care setting.
We have now launched our new Outlook News page at http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/earlyyearsnews. You can either click on the link above or get to the page by going to www.oxfordshire.gov.uk click on early years and childcare, click on working in early years and then click on Outlook News.
Courses include: • Managing sexualised behaviour and supporting positive relationships • Supporting children with visual impairments • Supporting children with impairments through sensory play • Safer moving and handling of children and young people with mobility difficulties • Preventing and de-escalating aggression • Safe touch, safe hold and as a last resort, safe restraint.
The page is divided into four sections:-
• Training and Events • Ideas and Good Practice • For Action • For Information The most recent stories will be listed in the four sections. Clicking on ‘More news’ takes you through to view all news items. You can also print the articles for your staff to read. We will aim to send an email reminder every month. If you haven’t already sent your email address to Oxfordshire Family Information Service please, email it to fis.enquiries@oxfordshire.gov.uk. Generic rather than personal email address are preferable. See next page for a ‘How to create an email address’ guide. If you would like to submit an item of news please email it to caroline.brown@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
The courses will be running through to March 2011 and are available at no charge to out-of-school childcare, play and leisure providers. Visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/aiminghigh for more course details. Bookings can be made by email aiming.high@oxfordshire.gov.uk. Tel: 01865 456713.
Setting up a playscheme for the summer? If you are setting up a new or unregistered summer playscheme here are two important steps to success: 1) Contact the Oxfordshire Family Information Service to make sure they know about your scheme and can tell parents—phone: 08452 26 26 36 or e-mail: fis.enquiries@oxfordshire.gov.uk. 2) Look for information, resources and contacts for running your scheme on www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ outofschoolchildcare.
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Continued... Creating an email address for your club It is strongly recommended that you have a club email address rather than use a personal email address, as this makes the club reliant upon one individual to receive information. A club email address makes sharing of information received and sent by the club much easier, as a number of people can access the same email account. It also means that email addresses do not have to be changed should an individual leave. You'll need to choose an email provider. Three free, popular options are listed below (please note that we do not recommend any particular provider). • GMX: can be a good option for club purposes as it doesn't include instant messaging or social networking. Go to www.gmx.com. Look at ‘The All in One E-Mail Service’. You will need to choose an email address, eg. xyzafterschoolclub@gmx.com and check that it's available. • Gmail: Go to www.gmail.com. Click on 'Create an account' and fill in the details. • Yahoo: Go to http://uk.yahoo.com. Click on 'Mail', click 'Create New Account', and then fill out the details. Once you've set up your account, think about your account options. If the email account comes with extra features, such as instant messaging or social networking, you might choose to disable these. You might also wish to change privacy settings. If the account is to be used by several people, the simplest way for everyone to access it is via a web browser (such as Firefox), rather than via an email client such as Outlook Express. The reason for this is that an email client will, under certain settings, download emails to a user's computer and delete them from the server. This would prevent other users from accessing the emails. The password to the account should be shared with all appropriate people within the club and additionally held by the chair, the secretary and treasurer, to ensure that the club can access the e-mail account should someone unexpectedly be unavailable or leave suddenly. You may find (almost certainly with a Yahoo account) that you are asked to provide an alternative email address for security. Therefore should the person who sets up the account leave the committee this will need to be amended.
Voice from a school head Gillian Lipscombe is the head teacher of St Francis Primary School, which started an after school club 18 months ago. Alison and Liz work at the club and it is thriving. The club is now breaking even with the cost and fee income, so that it’s sustainable. Gillian says the keys to the successful club are: • Having a management committee with governors, teachers, parents and workers represented. This enables the club to gain different perspectives, fulfilling the needs/requirements, and keeping and eye on sustainability and development. • Professional development of the workers – the playworkers are an integral part of the whole school and given the opportunity to get involved with other activities within the school. • Division of work – having the School Business Manager, who looks after the financial side of the club enables Gillian to concentrate on the quality, health and safety, and supporting the staff. • Having a flexible approach and not being afraid of taking measured risk – this makes the club more exciting and enjoyable. I asked Gillian how she makes time to support the club, as she must be very busy being the head of school. She replied that it is a challenge but she is normally at the school while the club is running, so she has a chance to monitor the club closely. If she is not available, she nominates another senior member of staff to cover. She also said she would try to allocate one week a term, where she can spend a little bit of time at the club and attends training with the After School Club staff. Gillian recently attended an evening course ‘What Ofsted looks for in Playwork and Holiday Playschemes’ with the Playleader. Throughout the interview it was very evident how strongly Gillian valued the committee as well as her emphasis on the development of the staff/playworkers. In her mind the club is certainly an important part of the whole school. Many thanks to Gillian for giving this interview to Masako Sparrowhawk (Childcare Development Officer).
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Oxfordshire Playbus’s New Sensory Bus is Launched! After over two years of fundraising, Oxfordshire Playbus finally has its new stateof-the-art Sensory Bus on the road. The 12ton DAF lorry cost over £155,000, and will enable Oxfordshire Playbus to continue and build on their work with children and young people with disabilities, and their families. For further information please contact: Email: oxonplaybus@aol.com Tel: 01869 233933 Web: www.oxonplaybus.org Activities Centre , Building 549, Brice Road, Upper Heyford, Bicester, Oxon OX25 5TE
Remember! Future issues of Inspiring Play will only be sent by email. To receive Inspiring Play, contact OPA with your name, work and email address.
Email: enquiries@oxonplay.org.uk; Tel: 01865 779474
Next deadline is 14.5.11
Inspiring Play is produced 4 times a year by Oxfordshire Play Association on behalf of OPP, with financial assistance from Oxfordshire County Council. Deadlines: September edition: 7th September December edition: 14th November March edition: 14th February June edition: 14th May