Play - Development, Playgrounds and Equipment

What is Play?
Play is an essential part of every child's life and is vital to a child's development. Play is a general term applied to a wide range of activities and behaviours that are satisfying to the child, creative for the child and freely chosen by the child.

Why should we encourage play within the borough?
Play is an important part of a child's physical, intellectual, social and emotional development. Through play, children can experiment and learn about themselves, socialise and mix with others and develop into healthy rounded individuals. Play provides children with the opportunity to enjoy freedom and exercise choice and control.

Role of the Development Officer (Play and Young People)
To oversee and advise on all types of play activity within the Vale Royal Borough. This includes carrying out inspections and maintenance of play areas within the borough, working with local community groups to develop new facilities and services as well as new fixed playgrounds, supervised holiday playschemes, activities and facilities for teenagers.

Play Strategy
The Play Strategy was developed by the Vale Royal Play Forum. This forum is made up of a number of organisations and departments that are involved in the delivery of play and teenage facilities and services. The Strategy was adopted by Vale Royal Borough Council in February 2005. Copies of the annual strategy and the annual updates are available to download from this website or hard copies can be obtained by contacting:

Evelyn Thomas
Play Development Officer
Leisure and Cultural Services
Wyvern House
The Drumber
Winsford
Cheshire
CW7 1AH
or e-mail: ethomas@valeroyal.gov.uk

Last modified: 29 July 2008