With summer almost upon us, lots of you will be looking at recruiting summer play staff - don't forget our DVD, Play Professionals, which has been successfully used in recruitment by giving an exciting insight into the role of playworkers.  If you would like more information about this resource, click here.

We have been developing some new pages on our website, one all about trainers in the south east, which you can read about in the training section of this e-newsletter, and one for employers.  SkillsActive's main focus is on encouraging and helping employers to develop and maintain a well-trained workforce, and the new webpage supports that by gathering relevant information and news. 

IMPORTANT! We are also updating our database and would ask everyone to fill in our really short questionnaire.  This will give us valuable information to work with in the future, and will help in keeping you informed and up-to-date on the things that matter to YOU.  Please just take a couple of minutes to fill it in and return it to us: Word version (fill in on-screen and email back), PDF version (print off, then post or fax back).  Many thanks in anticipation!  If you return the form to us by FRIDAY 6th JULY, you could win a £25 Marks & Spencer voucher in our draw.

Thinking a little further ahead, our annual conference Spirit of Play will be on Saturday 1st March 2008 - so put it in your diaries!

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Risk & Childhood: Transcript of a lecture at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts (RSA) on risk and childhood.

Explore Risk through Discussion: The Risk Commission is an RSA project that aims to examine and contextualise risk in our modern society. The website aims to provide a meeting ground for experts and lay people alike who have an expertise or a general interest in risk and its discourse.

Managing Risk in Play: A position statement from the Play Safety Forum.

Risk Assessment in Staffed Play Provision:  useful information from London Play.

Safeguarding Childen & Young People:  for people working in the play sector with managerial responsibility for safeguarding children and young people. It will also be useful for those who work directly, whether paid or unpaid, with children and young people on a regular basis.

Making Space for Children - the big challenge for our public realm: a paper from David Lammy MP, Minister for Culture whose brief includes responsibility for Children's Play, around giving back outdoor opportunities to children.

Paranoid Playworker?: a fictional (or is it?!) glimpse into the future from Tony Delahoy, playwork trainer.

Child Safety Week:  Did you take part?  What were your experiences?  Complete the CAPT online survey to give your input and help make 2008's Child Safety Week even better.

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National Occupational Standards:  a new guide from SkillsActive in using the NOS to develop your workfoce.

Employers Toolkit:   The first interactive CD toolkit to help employers develop their employees in the playwork sector has been produced by SkillsActive.

Youth Shelters: A six step process for local councils and community groups to successful youth shelter provision.

Check out Play Wales' website and newsletters, which contain some really useful information and articles.

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Children's Workforce Network Conference (27th June, London):  There are still a few places left for this event.  This is a major opportunity to contribute to the refresh of the Government's Children's Workforce Strategy, and  to engage with CWN members and the major CWN workstrands.

PIP Regional Events: This term's National Inclusive Play Network Seminars will focus on the right to play, and examine disabled children and young people's access to play and recreation within the play, childcare and extended school sector. (SE: 26th June).  Dates for the autumn at 30th October (Twickenham) and 15th November (Dartford): Working with Parents.

Play England Regional Network (29th June, Hants): The first in a series of national and regional events planned over the next 9 months is a network meeting that is run in conjunction with the Big Lottery Fund.  An opportunity for you to catch up with other people in similar roles and to discuss your progress, projects and raise questions.  The meeting will also cover the topic of outcomes and SMART targets.

Employers' Networking Event (4th July): A free Play England event in Oxford to discuss training needs and the required standards for your projects.

Integrated Qualifications Framework (5th July, London): One of a series of regional events hosted by CWDC to engage cross sector stakeholders in the development of the IQF by sharing key proposals and discussing their implementation.  Places available on a first come, first served basis.

Playlink:  Unleashing Possibilities (10th July, London): an extra date for this seminar.

Playworkers Days Out (20th-21st July):  An event for all the playworkers and childcare workers around Oxfordshire and beyond.

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Brighton & Hove CEYCD: are running a National Play Day event in Hove Park on Wednesday 1st August from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm as part of their four week Entertainments in the Park programme.  There will be a range of activities on offer for children from babies up to 11 years old.  Hove Park is next to the Old Shoreham Road in central Hove - more details from 01273 293495.

Play in the Park - 1.30-4pm Fort Road Recreation Ground, Fort Road, Newhaven  - further details from N.I.P.P.E.R.S. 01273 514440, 07796267388.  Any provider can promote their services to the community providing they provide a free play opportunity for attendees.  Bouncy Castle, bug hunts, face painting, displays, design a logo competition for Re-Play, football and cricket coaching.

SkillsActive:  This year SkillsActive will be taking part in Playday at Victoria Park in East London.  Organised by Hackney Play Association and Play Association Tower Hamlets, last year the event was attended by over 7,000 children and young people.  Victoria Park will be transformed into play activity zones, and SkillsActive hopes to take part in making this a fun-packed day. 

Kids Fun Festival: In case you're in Dorset on August 1st, pop along to this playday event, run by Bournemouth County Council.

If you are having a PlayDay, let us know and we will add it to our website.

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New Trainers Webpage:  go to our new page to find out  information about our Code of Practice/Register of Trainers playwork trainers in the south east - where they are, what they offer, and how to contact them.   If you are a trainer and your details are missing, get in touch.

Professional Development Training:  from the London Centre for Playwork Education & Training.

Bridging the Level 3 Playscheme Gap:  new L3 induction standard developed by SkillsActive for temporary holiday playscheme supervisors.

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Playground Partnerships 2007 (UK):  Schools within the UK that wish to improve their play spaces have the opportunity to apply for funding through the Playground Partnerships Initiative 2007. Schools can apply for awards of ￡1,000, ￡2,000, ￡5,000 or ￡10,000. All schools that are shortlisted will receive at least ￡250. Schools wishing to apply will first of all need to order the free Playground Partnerships resource pack.  Applicants are encouraged to develop a pupil-led approach. The closing date for applications is the 20th July 2007.

The Local Network Fund for Children and Young People: a fund that supports small voluntary and community groups to improve outcomes and opportunities for children and young people aged 0-19.  Closing date for applications is 21st July 2007.

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Association of Volunteer Managers:  Launched on 4th June, an association run by volunteer managers for volunteer managers.

Association of Directors of Childrens Services: Through its national network of expert professional leaders in children's services, ADCS provides invaluable routine professional support and advice to colleagues.

Child Accident Prevention Trust:  Lots of information, news and advice.

Performance Hubs: working to help voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations achieve more through practical information and resources.

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Employers in the SE:  Are you a playwork employer?  If so, we would like to know!  We are aiming to clarify the roles that our members carry out within play, and are particularly interested in identifying employers, so please click on the link to fill in our very short questionnaire so that you can be added to our employers' database to receive information relevant to your role.

SE Employers' Webpage: a new webpage on the Playwork South East website for playwork employers.

Workforce Development: Read about SkillsActive's resources for Workforce Development, including the new interactive Workforce Development Toolkit CD.

The SkillsActive Academy: What does it mean for employers?

Apprenticeships:  No matter how large or small your organisation, apprenticeships give you the chance to develop the skilled staff you need for your business.

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Performance Indicators:  Over the past two years, Play England has been developing and piloting a system of performance assessment for local provision for children and young people's play and informal recreation.  

Exploring regional partnerships with SkillsActive:  Play England's regional teams have met with the SkillsActive regional teams to explore how to align their activities and ensure good partnership work between the organisations. The meeting focussed on strategic development at the regional level.

Playscape:  Play England is sponsoring an exemplar 'Playscape' which will be exhibited at this year's Hampton Court Palace Show from 3-8 July 2007.

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Playwork South East Database Update:  If you haven't already been persuaded by our open letter at the top of this page to fill in our questionnaire - here's a tidy prod!  This really short questionnaire will help us identify the various roles our members hold within the play sector, and ensure that we have all the correct details.  Please take a few moments to fill it in and return it to us by 30th June, you may even win a prize!

PDF version (post/fax back)
Word version (fill in online and email back)

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