'She seems genuinely impressed when she hears about the freedom and control that children have here, and especially at the sense of community and social connection they exhibit: that this is their place, of which they are immensely proud. Before she moves on, The Princess Royal turns to me and says that these children, from … Continue reading The right to play is for every child, regardless of where they live
What influences playwork?
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Which writers and which fields of study, if any, have most influenced your playwork practice? Masters student Adrian Voce is researching the academic and other influences on playwork and would like your help (he has promised to share the results with us in a future edition!) Please complete the short … Continue reading What influences playwork?
Did you attend an after-school club during the 1990s or 2000s?
When you were at school you may have attended an after-school club at the end of the school day. The after-school club may have been in your school, community hall or even a leisure centre. The after-school club was not part of the school curriculum run by the school (for example it is not a … Continue reading Did you attend an after-school club during the 1990s or 2000s?
Playwork apprenticeship group hopes for third time lucky in trailblazer bid
The government panel did not think there were sufficient differences between playwork and early years education. Ali Wood reports on the current situation of potential government funding for playwork training in England* The playwork apprenticeship group in England has been advised that its second expression of interest to qualify for the government's Trailblazer Apprenticeship programme, … Continue reading Playwork apprenticeship group hopes for third time lucky in trailblazer bid
Let’s make this thing our metaphorical campfire
Penny Wilson offers a personal view of the struggles of playwork in a world that undervalues play, and of how the Playwork Foundation represents an opportunity for developing our common cause, building mutual support and working together for the growing recognition we deserve. Sometimes, being a playworker feels isolated. We struggle – with local authorities, … Continue reading Let’s make this thing our metaphorical campfire
Being and becoming
For her Sociology Masters, Lucy Benson used ideas about children’s being and becoming as a foundation for generating research with children. In this abstract, she suggests that though these ideas are not new, they are worth revisiting as a useful foundation for the playwork approach, and for all those with an interest in childhood, and … Continue reading Being and becoming
Politics, playwork and neo-liberalism
NO. 1 IN AN ORIGINAL SERIES OF PAMPHLETS BY GORDON STURROCK In this first of an original series of pamphlets, the UK playwork scholar Gordon Sturrock argues that avoiding the political implications of playwork practice will lead to its continuing, inevitable demise. Nor should we water our politics down to accommodate more dominant discourses. Instead, … Continue reading Politics, playwork and neo-liberalism
Flying the flag for playwork
Report of the chair of The Playwork Foundation, Karen Benjamin, to the charity's first annual general meeting, held on 8th March 2019. The Playwork Foundation was officially launched on 8th November 2017 at Goldsmiths College, University of London with presentations from Professor Fraser Brown, Penny Wilson, Adrian Voce and Meynell, who also streamed the event … Continue reading Flying the flag for playwork
Are adventure playgrounds really under threat from a risk-averse insurance industry?
Tiverton adventure playground, Devon Simon Bazley, after taking the temperature of this week’s media flurry about insurance companies and adventure playgrounds, decided to do a little bit of his own investigative journalism. He discovered that the picture is not exactly as described by some illustrious newspapers, and suggests that the more serious threats lie elsewhere. … Continue reading Are adventure playgrounds really under threat from a risk-averse insurance industry?
How youth workers can go the extra mile for play
When Ali Wood enrolled for an event, ‘In Defence of Youth Work’, in Birmingham, she saw that the agenda featured discussions on youth work in different settings and situations. Never being shy about speaking out for play, Ali asked if youth work in adventure playgrounds could be added to the programme. This is a synopsis … Continue reading How youth workers can go the extra mile for play