Dear Colleagues

This edition is a little late so that we could announce the appointment of the new Regional Development Officer - she will be familiar to some of you already, but we are pleased to announce the promotion of Hanna Boyce to the position.  Hanna has worked as an administrator for the play and playwork sector for many years, and has been with Playwork South East since 2002, moving with it into SkillsActive in 2006.  Since October 2006 with the RDM on secondment, Hanna's role has expanded and she has taken on more responsibility, and now is looking forward to the opportunity of taking SkillsActive Playwork South East into 2008 and beyond!

This will also be the last mauve e-newsletter as our colours are changing - our next edition will be in orange!  Orange within SkillsActive denotes anything to do with playwork, and each of the nine regions will share the same logo (see our new logo at the top of the page).  You will also be able to find us now on our new regional webpages.  Our original website, www.playworksoutheast.org.uk, will still be operation for a little while longer but will close once the content has been fully transferred.

Lastly, Spirit of Play 2008 was a terrific success, with the speakers going down especially well.  You can read the full report here.

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The Benefits of Play & Playwork:  Research by SkillsActive and CYWYU on the benefits in all areas of play and playwork.

Play & Autism: Children with autism are impaired in their play, and this article gives an indepth explanation as well as offering advice.

Play Therapy:  the latest research from Play Therapy UK found that play therapy helps over 70% of children with emotional, behaviour and mental health problems. Based on over 700 cases, this is the largest single play therapy research programme.

Outdoor Play:  Researchers at University College London claim that children who are allowed to play outdoors and unsupervised are likely to be healthier and more sociable.

Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A new 372m cross-government strategy to help everyone lead healthier lives has been published by the Health Secretary, Alan Johnson and the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls.

Well Child Awards:  recognising the individuals making a difference to children's health, as well as the children themselves.  Nominate on-line by 25 June.

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CACHE NVQ Level 2:   The CACHE Level 2 NVQ in Playwork was launched on 1st April 2008, and is a brand new qualifcation which reflects the latest National Occupational Standards, and gives the learner access to a broader selection of career options by helping them to develop skills across a variety of playwork related subjects.

New L2 Qualifications:  Working in partnership with SkillsActive, Meynell Games is leading a Qualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA) funded project to develop a range of new qualifications in playwork.

New L3 Training: Crechendo Training has developed a new Level 3 playwork training course designed to upskill those at Level 2 who wish to explore the possibilities of taking on a more senior role in holiday playschemes.

Foundation Degree in Playwork:  Recruitment is taking place for June/September 2008 -  to register your interest or for further information contact the course leader, Deborah Price, on dp47@brighton.ac.uk or text/phone 07974 651601.

Training Quality Standard:  a quality process established by the LSC, with a focus on employer engagement and the extent to which training providers are meeting employer demands.

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Institute of Working with Children & Young People:  SkillsActive is working to establish a professional body for playwork practitioners, where activepassport plays a major part. 

activepassport: Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, and Children's Minister Kevin Brennan have both been presented with an activepassport for Playwork following a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Play on 22 April.

Equality & Diversity Toolkit:  A newly launched online resource toolkit, produced by SkillsActive and Skills for Justice.

A Guide To Successful Workforce Development Planning in Playwork:  The first interactive CD toolkit to help Playwork employers develop their employees in the Playwork Sector, this tool-kit is available at a discounted rate of £20 when you join SkillsActive as part of your membership package. Membership of SkillsActive is available to organisations from £25. Click here to find out more on membership. 

Recognising Success:  SkillsActive presented an award last month to a playworker who passed his NVQ in playwork making his the 100,000th NVQ in the Active Leisure & Learning Sector.  Read his tutor's testimonial here.

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Playing Out! 8 May: an exciting day of workshops in Birmingham just for Play Rangers! Choice of four great workshops developed specifically for Play Rangers and led by experienced Play Rangers, playwork practitioners and authors.  Bookings and more information from the link above or telephone 02380 629460.

PIP Summer Network Seminars:  the theme for these events is Participation Matters: Involving Disabled Young People in Service Design and Delivery.  The SE meeting is being hosted by Southampton City Council on May 14th - email pip@kids.org.uk for further details.

Spirit of Adventure Play 14-15 May: Play Wales offers this exciting event in Cardiff, and invited delegates to also help celebrate their tenth year as a charity. Book quickly though as there are limited places and the delegate list fills up quickly.

NAPHS Annual Conference and AGM 1st July: Children in Health - a day to meet up with other professionals at this event in London.

Playwork Partnerships: The 3rd Wild and Away Conference will be held on 18-20 July at Green and Away, a unique environmentally friendly tented countryside conference centre in Worcestershire, simply perfect for outdoor play.  For more information, email mcompton@glos.ac.uk or visit www.playwork.co.uk.

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Inclusion by Design:  KIDS, the disabled children and young people's charity, has launched this new publication on designing accessible and inclusive play settings.  Packed with photographs demonstrating good practice in inclusive design, this publication is aimed at planners, designers and all play, leisure and childcare providers who want to produce aesthetically pleasing, functional environments that provide choice and opportunity for all.

Aiming Higher for Inclusive Play: A briefing paper for everyone interested in Disabled children and their right to play, particularly those who commission services for disabled children; those who work in play and other universal children's services; and families with disabled children. Available from publications.nnd@kids.org.uk.

EYFS:  A comprehensive website with all the information you need.  SkillsActive have also issued a statement explaining the EYFS in the context of play settings here.

Fair Play for Children: have launched a new website and e-newsletter. The new site has a range of features including a regular news service, PlayAction OnLine, plus an events calendar, fact sheets on play and much more.

Keeping it Safe:  The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services has now launched its standards and guidelines on child protection, aimed at voluntary organisations which work with young people.

Play Therapy UK: A complete information resource for therapeutic play, play therapy, filial play and creative arts therapies. It's designed for anyone interested in helping children with emotional literacy, behaviour or mental health problem. 

Myth of the Month: a monthly offering from the Health & Safety Executive - some will make you laugh, some will make you cry! 

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Draw Winner:  Pauline Whitehead, Clerk to Cranleigh Parish Council in Surrey was the lucky recipient of £25 to spend on play equipment in her village, having responded to Re:Play's recent Research Project into the infrastructure needs of voluntary and community organisations providing play within the South East.

The report has been finalised and plans are underway for a new Re:Play website and a directory of services.  Watch this space for further news!

Play England:  In February, Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Sport, met with Wendy Brookfield and Adrian Voce from Play England at Spider Park in Milton Keynes to learn more about play provision in the region.   The minister was greeted by Sue Payne and Carol Cropton from Milton Keynes Council and three play rangers who had lit a fire ready to make toast for the children who were playing in the park despite it being freezing cold, and very early.

After a tour of the park and a chat with the staff, the minister was taken to Stony Stratford Children's Centre for a cup of tea, a game of table football and some badge making. 

Membership:  Do you support free, local, inclusive play for all children and young people? Join Play England and help shape the future of play in England. 

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The Children's Plan:  The Children's Plan aims to make England the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up.  Full details are available from the DCSF website, including a summary, fact sheets and an implementation pack. 

Next Steps:  Building Brighter Futures is the latest instalment in a family of documents which includes an updated outcomes framework and ‘Fair Play' - the first play strategy consultation for England and the first to include a commitment to playwork with an investment of £7.5m.

Fair Play Consultation: How Government departments propose to work together and with partners to create more and better opportunities for all children to play, building on the framework and investment laid out in the Children's Plan.

Fair Play Consultation Event 15 May: 'The play's the thing', run by the Campaign for Learning, taking place in London.

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Hampshire Play Project:  The Hampshire Project is a ground breaking new initiative funded by Hampshire County Council's Early Education and Childcare Unit to increase awareness of play in the playwork context and support access to playwork training.

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