Scotland commits to ‘Summer of Play’ for all children

Announcing the new funding, deputy first minister, John Swinney said that the physical and mental health impacts that children and young people have experienced throughout the pandemic cannot be ‘underestimated’.

He added, ‘This enhanced range of summer experiences for children and young people will help address the impacts associated with extended periods of isolation and reduced participation in normal activities. This offer will have children’s rights and needs at its heart, and will provide opportunities to socialise across a range of activities, combined with broader support where needed.’

Working with local authorities and partner organisations including sportscotland, Creative Scotland, Play Scotland and Education Scotland, the funding will support existing provision of community-based services while also widening access to other local facilities, such as school estates and local sports facilities.’

Although all children from babies up to aged 18 will be entitled to access the programme, it is intended to support children and young people who may otherwise struggle to access such experiences during the holidays, in particular.

Commenting on the announcement, Marguerite Hunter Blair, CEO of Play Scotland, told Nursery World, ‘We are excited and delighted that the Government is responding to the need to focus on children’s well-being this summer.’

‘With the recovery, it’s so import to focus on children’s wellbeing at the moment, rather than telling them they have to work harder at school. Children won’t be able to academic catch up academically unless we support children’s mental health and wellbeing first and foremost.’

Play strategy

The Play Strategy Progress Report (2021), released on 19 March, highlights how play organisations have responded to the pandemic with evidence of the impact of emergency measures on children and young people.

It takes account of mitigating measures that the Scottish Government have put in place to support children’s play at a time of national crisis and provides eight recommendations on how Scotland’s Play Strategy should be taken forward in the light of Covid-19.

Children and young people’s overwhelming response to the consultation was that they needed a return to the play they enjoyed, with improvements and better access to the spaces and resources in their communities, particularly for children with additional support needs.

The recommendations for play highlight the importance of leadership, partnership and collaboration across sectors and interests; the importance of outdoor play and the need for play which includes all children; the necessity of funding to deliver play; and crucially, the necessity of engaging with, and listening to, children and young people in responding to Covid-19 and developing a refreshed Play Strategy. The eight recommendations are:

• Refresh the Play Strategy and ensure national and local leadership
• Renew and develop the national and local commitment to outdoor play
• Listen to children and young people and act on what they say
• Ensure the inclusion of all children and young people
• Ensure cross sectoral and inter professional approaches to play
• Sustain and support play provision through adequate funding
• Maintain a focus on playful learning and play in schools
• Strengthen the play sector nationally and locally.