SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE MATTERS
Thurs 1st October 2009 saw the Launch of SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE MATTERS! Report. PlayBoard call on the government to urgently provide a Departmental lead and funding for School Age Childcare in Northern Ireland

Click here for a copy of the report
Click here for a copy of theJoe McVey's presentation
Click here for a copy of the Press Release
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PlayBoard's Play Gathering

PlayBoard are excited to present Play Gathering 2010 - a two day event promoting play at its best? The gathering offers a fun, interactive programme for anyone working with children and young people with lots of new ideas along with the old favourites from the last 2yrs. Click here for a copy of the expression of interest form. Fill it in and post back to us and watch this space for more information.

Play Gathering 2009 ‘Out of the Box’. More...

NEW NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PLAYWORK:CONSULTATION JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010

SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning, is consulting on 4 national occupational standards (NOS) that have been newly drafted for inclusion in the Playwork suite. The NOS have been drafted as a result of work with a number of key stakeholders as part of a review of the current Playwork standards. The new standards are:

A)     Develop, maintain and sustain adventure playgrounds
(Level 3)
B)     Support open access play opportunities in a public space (Level 2)
C)     Manage the facilitation of open access play opportunities in public spaces (level 3)
D)    Carry out playwork with young children (pre-school) (Level 3)

 The new drafts are intended to complement the NOS that currently exist in the suite and denote best practice in the functions that they cover. These draft standards are now available and ready for consultation. Through a number of consultation events and an online consultation questionnaire we are looking for feedback to help to ensure the standards meet the future needs of the sector. To view the consultation questionnaire click here 

CONSULT ON NEW PLAYWORK STRATEGY

SkillsActive has launched a consultation on its UK strategy for playwork education, training and qualifications and is urging the playwork sector to get involved.

We are asking the playwork sector to feedback their views and opinions on the new vision, aims and objectives and the general direction of our work.
Feedback can be given via a short online questionnaire at www.skillsactive.com/playworkstrategy or by attending one of a series of consultation events being held across the UK.

Please click here for updates on the Play and Leisure Implementation Plan

72% of parents want more time to play with their children.
Figure released on 3 August 2009 for Playday 2009 show that nearly tree-quarters of parents (72%) want more time to play with their children..More

For a copy of our Press Release click here

Check out The Big Deal small grants programme! Its
for individual and groups of children and young people
in Northern Ireland up to 25 years of age.

An individual can apply for an award of £500
A group can apply for an award of between £500 and £2500
For more information call YouthNet: Tel: (028) 90331880 or
Email: info@thebigdealni.com or Visit: www.thebigdealni.com