Play development service

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What we do

We aim to get more children playing outside and we do this by offering advice, support and training to all childcare settings on every aspect of outdoor play and learning. We support communities with Playday events as part of the National Playday and work with neighbourhoods in developing public play spaces. We organise Forest School and Outdoor Play Taster Sessions and produce a quarterly newsletter informing people about play events in and around Wiltshire.

Who we work with

We work with all Schools, Pre-schools, Nurseries, After School Clubs, Childminders, settings for children with Special Educational Needs, Children’s Centres, Parish and Town Councils, Local Communities and Youth Groups.

Projects we are involved in

OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning)

Running as a pilot for South Glos County Council, we have worked with four primary schools across the County, helping them to re-evaluate their free playtime and re-design their playgrounds. Read the evaluation of the project here Supporting School Improvement Through Play

Playbuilder

Working with communities across Wiltshire, and a government grant of £1.2 million, we helped design and build 32 new public play spaces To find out more you may like to view this short video.

Forest Schools

Along with Woodland Learning, we run Taster Sessions for staff and volunteers from any childcare setting and signpost towards further qualification training, which Wiltshire Council is occasionally able to subsidise

Outdoor Play Workshops

Administered through Bright Horizons and again, alongside Woodland Learning, we plan to run workshops aimed to give practitioners some practical ideas to take back to their settings in using their outdoor space

Outdoor Play Projects

Working with Childcare Development Officers and Early Years Advisory Teachers, we have formed support clusters for settings keen to improve their outdoor play environments

Healthy Settings

We support Children’s Centres and Nurseries to achieve the Wiltshire Early Years Healthy Settings Award

Early Years Settings

We offer advice, support and training to all settings in developing and getting better use of their outdoor play space

How to contact us

If you would like us to visit a setting or community to offer advice, support or training in developing the outdoor space, then please contact us

Ella Coghlan (left) Tel: 07920 234094

Niki Willows (right) Tel: 07920 235890

Last updated: 12 September 2011