Inside… PLAY NEWS, IDEAS & TRAINING PLAYDAY EVENTS LIST THEARAPEUTIC PLAY MAGIC EYE OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL NEWS FOR PLAYWORKERS • PLAY ORGANISATIONS’ UPDATES
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News
The national Playday 2013 theme is Playful Places.
The Playful Places campaign is calling on everyone to help make sure that the places where children live and hang out are great places to play. The campaign recognises that: • Children should fell welcomed where they live and feel part of their communities. • Parents want their children to be able to play outside. • Public space should be designed and managed with children's play in mind. • Children and young people need to be involved in planning the places and spaces where they play.
Oxfordshire is organising 12 Playday events this year—see next page. Congratulations to Project Wild Thing, who have successfully raised the money to make a documentary about getting young people outdoors. View the wonderful trailer here: http://kck.st/Wa4Mf2. The project is run by Play England, the National Trust and RSPB.
New Family Information Service online directory The Oxfordshire Family Information Service has now launched its online directory – a one-stop site for information about services for families, including childcare, early education, family support and activities for children and families – see page 17 for more info.
Oxfordshire Playful Woodlands
The first funding has been received by OPA to run the county’s Playful Woodlands project, making woods playful to encourage more young people and families to play there. More info coming soon, or contact: jane.gallagher@oxonplay.org.uk.
newsletter is produced by Oxfordshire Play Association on behalf of the Oxfordshire Play Partnership (OPP), a group of organisations whose aim is to increase the amount and quality of play opportunities for children and young people aged 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; www.oxonplay.org.uk. 2
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Playwork qualifications are for all staff working in out-of-school play settings with young people aged 4-16 years. OPA offers the following playwork training—AND 80% of the fees of the courses below are currently funded by Oxfordshire County Council until March 2013 —so sign up now!
TAKE 5 FOR PLAY
QCF LEVEL 2 IN PLAYWORK
TRANSITIONAL AWARD LEVEL 3— FROM EARLY YEARS TO PLAYWORK
QCF LEVEL 3 IN PLAYWORK
QCF LEVEL 4/5 IN PLAYWORK (for those who have completed level 3)
Take 5 for Play -15 hour tutor-led course—ideal for those who are new to playwork. QCF Level 2 in Playwork - a work and classroom-based qualification. Short workshops plus assessor visits in your workplace throughout your qualification. QCF Level 3 in Playwork - as above, but at Level 3 which is suitable for Supervisors and Managers. QCF Level 4/5 in Playwork - as above, but for practitioners who already hold Level 3 in Playwork, and who wish to extend their knowledge. Transitional Award – from Early Years to Playwork - a level 3 qualification suitable for those already holding a level 3 qualification in Early Years or Childcare. OPA also offer SHORT COURSES in play to Childminders, Children Centres, Out of School Providers, School staff, Early Intervention Hubs & Community Associations/ Groups throughout Oxfordshire. These include: Inclusive Play * Promoting Positive Behaviour * Playwork Principles * Loose Parts Taste of Playwork * A Bit Risky but a lot of Fun * Kitchen Chemistry & Magic Potions Fun with Food * Arts & Crafts from a Big Red Box * Promoting Play at Playtime Recycled Creations * Managing a Playwork Setting * Something up your sleeve
We are constantly developing our training around local and national changes and new developments in the field of play. We are happy to adapt current courses and design new ones to meet specific requirements that you as a provider may have.
If you would like more information on any of our courses please contact Brid on: 01865 779474 or email: trainingofficer@oxonplay.org.uk or visit our website www.oxonplay.org.uk 4
I've started studying play therapy and although it is different to play in after school clubs and holiday playschemes, it has got me thinking about some things that might cross over:
Reflect feelings and statements back to children
Have a story box.
so they can hear what they say (it shows you listen too) - there's often a temptation by adults to jump into conversations too quickly; by keeping quiet more and just reflecting feelings / statements, some children open up and talk a lot more. One book around this is 'How to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk' by Faber & Mazlish. It's just any old box with a 'story box' label on. Children go over to it when they want to make up a story - make sure they take the lead in the storytelling if you are doing it together. You might have a ball to throw so you take turns making up the story a sentence at a time, or maybe the child can gather things around the room to tell a story about. 'Roy's story cubes' are nice to get things started (they are like dice but have pictures on). Also why not have some therapeutic stories lying around (Margo Sunderland has some nice ones).
Sand tray
Getting cross is a normal emotion.
We all get cross, mad or frustrated, and whilst you might not want children to break any toys, why not have stuff that you can suggest as an outlet e.g. pillows to hit, or throw clay at a sheet pinned to the wall. Coloured water bombs work well this way too, as does drawing scribbles, bashing saucepans, stamping on egg boxes. It really helps get rid of that energy.
Do you really need all those rules? Boundaries in the play room are really important but there are only 3 basic rules which makes it easier to explain - these are: the child is safe, the adults are safe and toys are safe, i.e. sand needs to stay in the tray, paint needs to stay on the table, some play therapists summarise by saying 'there's no hurts in the room'. Safeguarding remains paramount and it's important that procedures around that are explained.
Puppets are great.
Have a countdown.
Although some people cringe at the word puppets, they really do help children say something as it’s not really them saying anything. You don't need expensive ones, make your own with a paper bag, plates, wooden spoons etc. Take it seriously, and talk to the puppet not the child.
It seems to make a big difference. Try giving a 'ten minutes to go' warning (maybe change the music or lights in a club environment to change the mood too), then a 2 min and 1 min finally count down from 10 - it just seems to give clarification of times. Really useful if children are heavily engaged in their play or are thinking of ending / beginning a game. Remember to stick to your timings or the countdowns won't mean anything. Encourage the children to count from 10 with you.
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OFFICE TO LET
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AVAILABLE NOW Due to the relocation of our existing tenant, OPA currently have an office to let with immediate effect. Accommodation comprises a large, carpeted furnished office plus the shared use of a meeting room;
Prime location just within the Oxford ring road (c.3 miles from Oxford city centre) near all amenities;
Free parking directly outside and on main bus routes; In the converted upstairs of a small church. First Floor Offices, Temple Cowley United Reformed Church, Oxford Road, Temple Cowley, Oxford. OX4 2ES (opposite Cowley Police Station)
Office Measures 20.2ft x 18.5ft (360 sq ft) – 6.15m x 5.62m (34.6 sq m) Meeting Room Measures 11.7ft x 8.8ft (103 sq ft) – 3.54m x 2.7m (9.5 sq m) Current Rent Contribution = £580.47 Per Month / £6,965.66 Per Annum (reviewed in April 2013) plus monthly contribution towards bills.
For more information or to arrange a viewing, contact Martin Gillett at Oxfordshire Play Association on 01865 779474 / martin.gillett@oxonplay.org.uk 6
Happy Birthday Orinoco In 2013 Orinoco the Oxfordshire Scrapstore will be 20 years old. That’s right, we have been banishing boredom and saving the world for two decades. To celebrate this achievement we will be running a series of Birthday events during the year. We hope you’ll be able to come to some or all of them and help us make this a creative anniversary year to remember. We haven’t decided on the date for our actual birthday party yet because none of our records show when Orinoco actually started. Perhaps you can help?...
Our history is a mystery Like most small voluntary organisations, Orinoco has had its ups and downs over the years. We’ve also relocated several times and not always in the best of circumstances. In the various historical upheavals, many of our historical records have been lost. We know that the first AGM was held in December 1993 and according to legend the first Orinoco Scrapstore was a cupboard somewhere in North Oxford. Orinoco was once based in a warehouse in Botley, has squatted in Wood Farm and Blackbird Leys and once ‘popped up’ as a shop on the Cowley Road. In this anniversary year we want to reach back and reconnect with our oldest members, our founders and all who remember our past better than we do. Did you ever visit the Botley warehouse? Do you remember the shop in the Cowley Road? Perhaps you once worked for or volunteered with us. Are you one of the founders? Please tell us your Orinoco memories. Send an email to Howie@oxorinoco.org or use the special online form at http://bit.ly/orinocomemories 7
The hunt for the perfect cardboard box is over It’s generally agreed that letting children play with cardboard boxes is generally to be encouraged and celebrated. However, getting the right kind of box isn’t as straightforward as you might expect. It’s never a problem to get together a few cereal boxes, especially with a few families contributing and a bit of notice. But what about bigger boxes, boxes children can climb into and turn into a boat, spaceship, house, castle? The perfect play box is: • Large enough for two or three children aged 8-10 to fit inside; • Small enough to fit in a house or (when folded flat) fit behind a door; • Strong enough to build a decent house or castle out of; • Available in quantity from a reliable source. As Orinoco’s resident Scrapmaster, I was just about to abandon my search when I got an email from the Abbott Diabetes Care factory in Witney. ‘Would Orinoco’, they asked, ‘be interested in some cardboard boxes?’ When I saw the boxes, I couldn’t believe my eyes. They were perfect. But there’s more. Many more, as many as we want. So, they’re also available in the Scrapstore. They’re 25p each to Orinoco and OPA members, 50p each for everyone else. If you want a van full, we can deliver anywhere in the County for £50. You can book an Orinoco Scrapmaster and a van full of boxes to transform playtime at your school or your play setting. Prices start at £150 for a van, an artworker and all the boxes, paint, glue, you’ll need. If cash is tight, we have some funding in place to enable us to make a number of visits for free. Contact Howie at the scrapstore to find out more: Howie@oxorinoco.org / 07771 708178.
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Help! Would you like to see what it takes to become a Scrapmaster? We need help to man stalls at events and with our playdays. We also need Scrapfinders and Scrapfunders. Find out how you could make Orinoco better. See how you could gain valuable experience and qualifications as you do so. Visit http://bit.ly/orinocovolunteers for information on the latest volunteer news and to see some volunteer profiles. http://bit.ly/orinocovolunteers
Remember Orinoco is open to everyone, you don’t have to be a member. Members of Orinoco and the OPA get reduced prices (between 2050% off). Present your membership card to get your discounts. Opening times, maps and directions at www.oxorinoco.org
TRANSITIONAL AWARD in PLAYWORK If you already hold a level 3 qualification in Early Years or Childcare and would like to easily gain a level 3 qualification in Playwork, this course is perfect for you.
Book before 31st March 2013 for a place on this course.......
2nd May 2013 – 11th July 2013 – Unit 1 12 September 2013 – 21st November 2013 – Unit 2 Please contact us for a booking form at Oxfordshire Play Association Phone: 01865 779474 or email: Martin Gillett: martin.gillett@oxonplay.org.uk Brid Muldoon: trainingofficer@oxonplay.org.uk 9
INSPIRING PLAY WORKERS: ALL CHANGE AT THE LET’S PLAY PROJECT April this year will mark the end of an era for Banbury’s Let’s Play Project, when its first ever employee will leave after 10 years. Sarah Wallis, Project Manager for Strategy and Personnel, first accepted the post as Co-ordinator in 2003. Sarah is leaving to continue her role with Oxfordshire Multiagency Safeguarding training and her advisory work with an overseas education charity. Sarah’s dedication and enthusiasm for the project will be greatly missed but she will be leaving the charity in a strong position with a fantastic staff team. She is keen to point out the varied and particular skills of her colleagues: “I have been privileged to work with such a committed and talented team and know that the project will continue to develop and reach more families over the next decade. Partnership with local schools, other providers and with professionals in supporting services has been key to our crucial work. I will miss the families and colleagues very much and look forward to hearing how the work continues.” Let’s Play evolved as a partnership between parents and professionals and in 2003 secured Lottery funding to enable the Project to run holiday activities for disabled young people. From this small beginning the team has grown to over 30 employees and runs all year round activities for over 70 families. It is now the main provider of inclusive play and leisure activities in Banbury. In 2010, Let’s Play was commission by Oxfordshire County Council to provide after school and holiday sessions for disabled young people with a range of abilities and interests. Working as a play worker is a rewarding experience. Helen Kuhn, a senior Play Worker says, “I have been involved in Let’s Play for 7 years and have seen the project grow so much over the years, both with staff and the amount of young people that now attend the sessions. I love being part of the team because it is such an amazing and rewarding job - seeing all the young people so happy and engaged with the activities that we provide for them. The day trips always go well and are very popular. It’s so nice to see the young people playing with other peers that they might not see at school and how confident they are in doing 10
this. It is great to see their confidence grow from when they first start at Let’s Play to when they have been here a few years.” Emily Milward, another play worker said, “I love working at Let’s Play because whether it’s spending time with the young people or play workers, I never fail to leave with a smile on my face.” Let’s Play also has a number of willing and enthusiastic volunteers. Danielle Traves said, “Being a volunteer is great. I think it’s really rewarding after a play session to see the young people going home with smiley faces. I feel more confident, not just at Let’s Play but in life.” As a parent of a young person who has attended the project for 10 years, I have seen the project go from strength to strength, with strong leadership and a committed and dedicated team. I never fail to be amazed by how much fun my daughter has at Let’s Play and with the confidence that she will be safe and well-supported by trained and experienced play workers.
Contact: w: www.letsplaybanbury.org t: 01295 263 694; e: info@letsplaybanbury.org
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Many older young people love to try the amazing 3D ‘Magic Eye’ books, such as this one (very cheap on Ebay). To start, hold you nose to the picture, relax your eyes, and slowly move away from the pic. Keep trying—it’s amazing!
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Important! Revised documents for Ofsted-registered settings Ofsted have published revised versions of several more documents on the Ofsted website (www.ofsted.gov.uk). These include: Requirements for written documents: childminders delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage Ref: 120339 The numbers and ages of children that providers on the Early Years and Childcare Registers may care for Ref: 120117 Regulating provision made before and after school or during school holidays Ref: 120378 This replaces • Regulating play-based provision (ref: 090271) • Inspecting early years provision made before or after school or during school holidays (ref: 080167) • Delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage in out-of-school provision (ref:080285). Inspecting registered providers with no children on roll or no children present at the time of inspection, Ref: 080173 Giving medication to children in registered childcare, Ref: 080290 Factsheet: Childcare on domestic premises, Ref 080142
Always on the hunt for money? The Childcare and Play Team are always on the lookout for where clubs and playschemes can get money. Shalena Rahman is tracking down ways of getting money and what the latest funding applications are – really handy if you are exploring if you have enough funds to run this summer. Make sure your local Community Childcare and Play officer has your email contact as it will be arriving in your inbox soon – can you afford not to? Can’t wait? Need help now? Check out the business and funding pages on our website www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ ChildcareProviders. For some extra help ask for a leaflet to help you get started with where to go and what to think about, includes useful tips and information for applications too. Email communitychildandplay@oxfordshire.gov.uk for an “e copy”. 14
Free Safeguarding Training availability in 2013 All courses are run through Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board. See www.oscb.gov.uk. Click on ‘Training’, then ‘Booking for OSCB training courses’ and‘View our courses’. Call 01865 815843 if you have difficulties with booking. There is no charge for attending this training. Specialist Safeguarding Training - 21st March, County Hall, Oxford Specialist Safeguarding Refresher - 28th March onwards, County Hall, Oxford Generalist Safeguarding - 23rd March onwards, Cherwell District Council Offices Early Years, Childcare & Playwork Safeguarding Courses Early Years & Childcare settings - Specialist Safeguarding Refresher - 9th March onwards, Saturday sessions at County Hall, Oxford Play Workers, Early Years and Child Care Settings - Generalist Safeguarding - 21st February onwards, County Hall, Oxford Play Workers, Early Years and Child Care Settings - Specialist Safeguarding - 20th July, County Hall, Oxford Note: It’s fine to attend the ones that aren’t described as being for Play Workers, Early Years and Childcare settings, however they maybe more relevant! The childcare ones are promoted in this way, because they run at times/days that are generally more convenient for those working with children.
The Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is here! It has been a very long wait for this less complicated form of incorporation to arrive. The new structure is especially designed for charities of all sizes to benefit from the advantages that incorporation brings, but without the need to register at both Companies House and the Charities Commission, so making the administration of the organisation much less burdensome. If you are already a company limited by guarantee then this option may not be a priority to you, but if you are an unincorporated association then this could very well be for you. If you want to know more about CIO’s and how you might benefit, then your Childcare Business Development Officer is well acquainted with the structure and would be happy to speak with you about it. To find out more call your Childcare Business Development Officer for a discussion; Sue Brown, Oxfordshire, North Area 01865 816823 Andrea Pritchard, Oxfordshire, South Area 01865 323785 John Vidovic, Oxfordshire, Central Area and City 01865 323332 Alternatively you could visit the Charities Commission web site via the link below; http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/FAQS/Registering_a_charity/FAQs_about_CIOs/ default.aspx#1 John Vidovic, Childcare Business Development Officer, Oxfordshire County Council 15
Snack Time Project Do you have some fantastic snack ideas? What do your children like to make for snack? What is their favourite? The Community Childcare and Play Team are putting together a snack time book for all our out of school clubs to inspire children to get creative and involved in snack time, and we have asked for your recipes. In return the Early Intervention Service have given clubs money to buy some foodie fun equipment. We are currently putting the recipes into a snack book and all the out of school clubs will be receiving a copy soon. We hope you and the children will enjoy making and eating some of the new and exciting snack ideas. Why not invite your local Community Childcare and Play Officer to experience your snack time and sample your new snack ideas? Examples of foodie fun things to try: blender, bbq bucket, smoothie maker, storm kettle, pots and pans, ice-cream maker, chop sticks, cake pops maker, baking equipment, aprons, food.
Want to know
what’s on
for young people?
Activities Oxfordshire is joining the main OCC Children and Young People's website, oxme.info. There is a site for 8-12 year olds (Boombox) and a site for 13-19 year olds (Oxcentric).
You can already search for activities – look out for more improvements to come. Keep up with changes by joining their mailing list. Activity providers can carry on adding and updating their data about activities, as all data will transfer to the new site. Are you Boombox or Oxcentric? 16
Launch of the new Family Information Service online directory The new online directory is now live, including a newly designed disability services section. The Oxfordshire Family Information Service has now launched its online directory – a one-stop site for information about services for families, including childcare, early education, family support and activities for children and families. The directory also includes a new specialist section designed to support parents of disabled children and those with special educational and additional needs. Get involved and play your part The emphasis of the directory is for content to evolve and be shaped by those directly involved with the services on offer. So the more proactively professionals and providers share information, the better the directory will be. Providers of suitable activities and services can get these listed on the site for free by registering and adding and updating entries (these are then moderated by the FIS team before being made live). So have a browse today, get involved and do your bit to build the content of this invaluable public information tool. You can also help by letting all those families you know about the directory.
Does anyone remember that time before Facebook, when we all went outside and did stuff? 17
Alfie & Friends - a creative museum play session for children Alfie & Friends is a creative play session for children aged 3-5 years and their carers. It is based at The Vale and Downland Museum in Wantage. The character of Alfie Bear helps to make the museum more welcoming and inviting to young children and our sessions hopefully inspire and enable them to get more from their visits to the museum.
Our stories vary from week to week, and are told in different ways: with percussion, song, puppets, toys, role play or a combination of these. They provide a way in from the familiar such as Little Red Hen, Thomas the Tank Engine or the Three Little Pigs. These help us link to objects and stories in the museum. So Little Red Hen links to Farming and Baking, Thomas the Tank Engine to Jane the Wantage Tram and the Three Little Pigs to buildings in our market place gallery. They are very short, but engaging. Children join in with sound effects, movement or role playing then we get up and explore objects and environments in the collection in another area. We might go and meet someone in
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costume, like Bill the Railwayman who sells us tickets before we take a seat in the tram and learn about the Wantage Tram Jane. I won’t spoil his story but with a donkey and a whistle and the bumpy ride it was pretty noisy fun, I can tell you. Another time there might be a fireside story. In the Ormond Room, the big grandfather clock makes a wonderful visual cue to our striking the hour of midnight in the story of the Elves and the Shoemaker. We go on to find out for ourselves about materials used in shoe making from the leather displays in the tanning section. Next we explore displays of old shoes and tools and then role play measuring and fitting in a shoe shop with a real measuring device.
Conversation and questions develop from looking at, handling and playing with the items carefully: “what does it feel like? What would it do? What’s it made of? What do you think?” And later at home other interesting questions arise from these objects and encounters: “What was that lady wearing?” “Did the Romans have pocket watches?” “What is a chimney for? Why doesn’t that house have one?” Children in the group are learning skills for their transition to primary school. They also begin to enjoy taking responsibility: for one of the toys, or for a special object that needs careful handling or just in leading the way to the next activity. They also have choices to make – our final activity is usually a craft or a play
opportunity. So they can play small world games or role play or make a model or both and choose which they prefer and the materials and design. Carpet squares make great fields and ribbons could be rivers one week or bandages for toy animals another time. When visiting a museum with children you might not always be able to play or make crafts based on what you have learnt there. But you could follow up at home or in your setting. Our resources are basic: a variety of toys from farm animals and trains, to dressing up clothes or textiles, building blocks and scrapstore items, card, paper and air dry clay, but from these simple things the opportunities are endless. Museums can be fun!
With a donkey and a whistle and the bumpy ride it was pretty noisy fun, I can tell you!
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FOOTBALL FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
5V5 FOOTBALL FOR U7 & U8 MORE TEAMS ARE NOW PLAYING 5V5, 7V7, 9V9 & 11V11 FIND YOUR LOCAL TEAM AT BERKS-BUCKSFA.COM/ FINDACLUB (also includes Vale & South Oxfordshire areas) Naomi Loveless 07827 858491 / 01367 246817 Naomi.loveless@berks-bucksfa.com
The ‘Campaign for a Commercial-free Childhood’ run an annual TOADY award to the most commercial toy. The latest prize winner is the Fisher Price Laugh-and-Learn Apptivity Monkey, which has an iPhone in its tummy (despite experts advising that under-2s do not watch or play with screens.) 20
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Next deadline is 14.5.13
Inspiring Play is produced 4 times a year by Oxfordshire Play Association on behalf of the Oxfordshire Play Partnership. Deadlines: March edition: 14th February June edition: 14th May September edition: 7th September December edition: 14th November