Practical tips for play rangers to facilitate risk in playInside:• Overview• Riskinplay• Formalriskassessment

• Dynamicriskassessment

• Fires• Playingwithtrees• Looseparts• Resources

Practical tips for

This series was compiled by Dan Rees-Jones; a practising play ranger and author of Playing on the Range. The briefings have been developed in response to FAQs to the Play Ranger Support Service e-group. The e-group was set up by Dan in 2008 with support from Playwork Partnerships and Play England to provide play rangers and playworkers with an access point to share experiences, information, advice and good practice.

About these briefings:About these briefings:

Play rangers in parks actively listen, encourage and support children, make them feel comfortable about playing in their neighbourhoods, and extend the range of play opportunities available.

Themonitoringofprojectshasshownthatmanychildrencometoparksbecausethey,andtheirparents,feelreassuredthatsomeoneisthere.

Manyolderchildrenalsochoosetocometothepublicspaceswhereplayrangersarepresent,notalwaysto joinin,butmainlytofeelbetterabouthangingoutinamorevibrantandloosely-supervisedspace.

Whenconsultingwithchildrenabouttheirsessions,playrangershavefoundthatchildrenwilloftenrequestchallengingplayactivitiesthatinvolveelementsofrisk.

Key points • Playrangersneedtoeffectively

communicatewhattheserviceistoallitskeyclients

• Establishthebaselineofcurrentparkoropenspaceusage.

• Makecontactwithlocalagenciesthatimpactonplayrangerprovision.

• Establishagoodmarketingcampaignwithstrongpublicitytoprofessionaliseimageofservice

Don’tletthisstopyou-challengingplayhasitsbenefits.Ithelpschildrentodeveloptheirownskillsinregardtoassessinghazards,risksandsafetyandisakeyapproachtoreducinginjuries.

• Playrangersneedtoeffectively

communicatewhattheserviceistoalltheirkeyclients

• Establishthebaselineofcurrentparkoropenspaceusage

• Makecontactwithlocalagenciesthatimpactonplayrangerprovision

• Establishagoodmarketingcampaignwithstrongpublicitytoensureaprofessionalimageoftheservice.

Play rangersPlay rangers

Key points Key points

Risk, or perceived risk, is different for each individual so will need to be considered as a dynamic process.

Forexample,toonechild,playinginthedarkonaswingmightseemveryexcitingandrisky.Foranotherchild,theriskmightbepluckingupthecouragetogodowntotheparkforthefirsttimebythemselves.

Throughplayrangerprovision,childrenmaytakepartinplayactivitieswhichincludemakingandcookingonfires,makingandusingoutdoorovens,usingknivesforwhittlingandstonecarving,playingwithlargecatapults,buildinggo-kartsandusingarangeoftools.

Playrangersareresponsiblefortheplayactivitiestheyorganiseandthereforeneedgoodrisk-assessmentskills.Theyneedtoclearlyidentifythedifferencebetweenrisksandhazardsinordertomakeassessmentsandcompleteformalriskassessmentforms.

• Ahazardissomethingthatcancauseanaccidentorharmtosomeone.

• Ariskisthechanceofthehazardcausinganaccidentorharm.

Note:theOctober2010reviewbyLordYoung:CommonSense-CommonSafetycanbefoundinthereferencesectionattheendofthisdocument.

Play England published guidance which helps play providers strike a balance between the risks and benefits of offering children challenging play opportunities.

Theguidance,whichisendorsedbytheHealthandSafetyExecutive,showshowcurrentrisk-assessmentpracticecanbereplacedwithanapproachthattakesintoaccountthebenefitstochildrenandyoungpeopleofchallengingplayexperiences,includingtherisks.

TheguidebuildsonthePlaySafetyForum’soriginalpositionstatementManagingriskinplayprovision(PlaySafetyForum,2002).

Itstartsfromthepositionthat,whileoutsideexpertiseandadvicearevaluable,theultimateresponsibilityformakingdecisionsrestswiththeprovider.

Thefullimplementationguideiswrittenforthoseresponsibleformanagingplayprovision,andforthoseinvolvedindesigningandmaintainingsuchprovision.

Thegeneralapproachshouldalsobeusefulforthosewhomanageotherspacesandsettingswherechildrenplay.

Managing risk in play provision: implementation guideManaging risk in play provision: implementation guide

Risk in play Risk in play

TodownloadManagingriskinplayprovision:ImplementationGuide,visit

www.playengland.org.uk/managingrisk

Formal risk assessmentFormal risk assessmentRisk-assessment forms should detail the activity, potential hazards, possible risks and precautions that need to be considered.

Agenericformalrisk-assessmenttemplateisavailableonlinefromthePlayworkPartnershipswebsite:www.playwork.co.uk

UsetheRiskAssessmentAideMemoironpagestwoandthreeofthatPDFforhelpincompletingformalriskassessments.

Externalhazardsateachsettingsuchasloosegravel,brokenglassordogfaecesshouldbedetailedonaseparateassessment.Activityrisk-assessmentformsshouldthereforebequickandeasytocompleteandregardedasguidanceandsupporttostaffratherthan justmorecumbersomepaperwork.

Note:Itisextremelyimportantthatplayrangersattendarisk-assessmenttrainingcourserunbytheirrespectivelocalauthority.

Itisimportantforchildrentotakeresponsibilityforthemselveswhenplayingoutdoors.Gettingchildrentocreatetheirownrulesinplayisagoodwayofdevelopingriskmanagementskillsandindependence.

Theopenaccessnatureofplayrangerprovisionmeansthatthenumbersofchildrencanfluctuate,sometimesdramaticallyinashortspaceoftime.

Thismaymeanthatsomeactivities,suchasmakingsmallfires,mightbecometoodifficulttomanagesafelyandwillneedtobediscontinued.This judgementwillbebasedontheobservationsoftheplayrangersatthesetting.

BeingsensitivetothePlayworkPrinciplesandinterventionstyles,whilealsomakingsurethatchildrendon’tseriouslyhurtthemselvesisadifficultskilltomaster,butimproveswithconfidence.

Formoreinformationoninterventionstyles,pleaserefertoBobHughes’FirstClaim:aframeworkforplayworkqualityassessment.Thisprovidesadescriptionofappropriatewaystointerveneintheplayprocess.

Ultimately,talkingopenlyabouthazardsandpotentialriskshelpschildrenmanagetheirownsafetywhilestillenjoyingfreelychosenoutdoorplay.

‘Dynamic risk-benefit assessment refers to the minute-by-minute observations and potential interventions by adults who have oversight of children in staffed provision…’

(Ball D, Gill T, and Spiegal B, 2008)

Playrangersneedtobeproficientinmakingdynamicandinformalriskassessments.Theseassessmentshappenonsiteandarebasedonobservationsofwhatishappeningatanyonetime.

Playrangersessionsareofanopenaccessandfreeplaynature,whichmeansthatsituationscanescalateveryquickly.Thereforeplayrangersneedtomakefrequentdynamicriskassessmentsassessionsprogress.

Accurateassessmentswillhelpplayrangerstobeawareof,andsensitiveto,differentplaybehavioursastheyarise.This,inturn,willhelpthemworkwithchildrenandyoungpeopletosupportthemthroughsituationsofdangerorconflict.

Dynamic risk assessmentDynamic risk assessment

Inmanycases,youngpeoplewillneedtomakedecisionsforthemselvesabouthowtomoveforwardorwhatcollectiveactiontheyshouldtake.

Becomingaperceptiveobserverwillenableplayrangerstoremaincalminstressfulsituations,unprejudicedandobjectiveatalltimes,andfocusedonmaintainingapositiveandexcitingplayenvironment.

Adynamicrisk-assessmenttemplateisavailableonlinefromthePlayworkPartnershipswebsite:

www.playwork.co.uk

Itisimportanttostressthatalthoughthistemplateisonpaper-drawnasaflowdiagram-theactualassessmentplayrangerswillmakeusingthismodelshouldnotbeinwrittenform.Crucialtothemodelarethethoughtprocessesadopted,whichshouldbemeasuredveryquicklyandthencommunicatedwithcolleagues,toestablishasuitablewayforward.

Below are some useful guidelines and advice on facilitating children to encounter and manage risk in play activities.

Fires‘Anyonethathassataroundacampfireknows,thattheyhavethecapacitytobringpeopletogetherwhilemakingusfeelclosertothenaturalworld;andchildrenarecaptivatedbythemagicofacampfire.’

(Danks,FandSchofield,J2005)

Ifplayrangersareplanningtousefireinasessiontheywillneedtofirstrequestpermissionfromthelandowner.Oncepermissionhasbeengranteditisalsoadvisablefororganisationstohaveafirepolicyand/orsafetyguidelinessothatallstaffareawareoftheprinciplesandprocedures.

Thefollowingwebsiteswillprovehelpfulinthisarea:

• AgenericfireguidecanbefoundatthePlayworkPartnershipswebsite:www.playwork.co.uk

• Tipsonhowtomakefireswithchildren:http://bit.ly/cookingfires

• Cookingonacampfire:http://bit.ly/cookingandcampfires

• Makingandusingcardboardboxovens:http://bit.ly/cardboardboxoven

Playing with treesChildrenandadultsalikearenaturallyattractedtotrees;theyareplacesforallsortsofadventures,places justtositquietly,andplacesthatprovideshelterfromtheelements.

Notallplayrangersettingswillhaveaccesstotreesbutiftherearesomenearby,notsurprisingly,children’splaymayeventuallygravitatetowardstheminsomeway.

Tree safety tips

• Childrenshouldonlyattempttoclimbreasonablymaturetreeswithsturdybranches

• Donotletchildrenclimbalongdeadbranches

• Limitthenumberofchildrenclimbinganyonetree

• Encourageclimberstostayclosetothetrunkofatree

(Danks,FandSchofield,J,2005)

TheForestryCommissionhaspublicationsonlinethatcanhelpyouunderstandandmanagetherisksofchildrenplayinginandaroundtrees.

‘TheForestryCommission...iscommittedtoprovidingopportunitiesforoutdoorplayandgrowingadventureforchildrenandyoungpeople...

...Woodlandsaregreatplacesforchildrentomaketheirownchoicesaboutplayandtocreatetheirownplayenvironmenments...Provisionof...[these]...spaces...helpstodeepentheirengagementwith,andunderstandingandappreciationof,thosesettings.’

(Harrop,P,2006)

Useful information and signpostingUseful information and signposting

Loose partsLoosepartsrepresentanythingthatcouldbeplayedwithbyachild.Thismeansthattheskyisprettymuchthelimit.

Recycledloosepartsareagreatsolutionforplayrangersastheresourcesusedarecheap,varied,unusualandalsohelptoreducewastegoingtolandfill.Onceyoustartlookingatwasteaspotentialplaythings,it’samazinghowmuchofitthereisandhowmuchchildrenenjoyplayingwithit!SimonNicholsonwroteaboutthetheoryofloosepartsbackin1971.Henotedthat:

‘Inanyenvironmentboththedegreeofinventivenessandcreativity,andthepossibilityofdiscovery,aredirectlyproportionaltothenumberandkindofvariablesinit.’

Soaccordingtothetheory,agreatervarietyofobjectsandmaterialstohandwillmultiplythepossibilitiesforplaypotential-withthechildbeingstimulatedinavarietyandcombinationofways.

Rope swings, dens, tree houses and fires Arisk-basedapproachformanagersfacilitatingself-builtplaystructuresandactivitiesinwoodlandsettingsisavailableonline:http://bit.ly/ropeswingsMoredetailsandsafetyguidancefortreeclimbingandrelatedinformationcanbefoundinthepublicationNaturePlay:simpleandfunideasforall,availableonline:www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7LSEHWChildren’streeswings:Aguidetogoodpractice,supportsplayworkersinasafesetting,installationanduseofchildren’sropeswingsintrees(Murray,LandSutton,A2010):www.londonplay.org.uk/file/1542.pdf

Childrenplaywithfarmoreimaginationandflexibilitywithloosepartsthatarelyingaroundcomparedtospeciallydesignedplayequipment.

Loosepartsalsoleadtochildrendevelopinggreaterflexibilityintheirplayandbeingmoreflexibleandadaptableintheirthinking.

Itisadvisabletohavesomesafetyguidelinesforusinglooseparts.AgenericexampleisprovidedonthePlayworkPartnershipswebsite.

Scrapstoresareavaluableresourceforsourcingloosepartsofalldescriptions:www.scrapstoresuk.org

• Ball,D.Gill,T.andSpiegal,B(2008)ManagingRiskinPlayProvision:Implementationguide,London:DCSFandDCMS.Online:http://www.playengland.org.uk/managingrisk

• Conway,M(2008),QualityinPlay:Standards,assessmentindicatorsandevidence–amanual,London:NCB.Online:http://www.playengland.org.uk/quality

• Danks,FandSchofield,J(2005)NaturesPlayground,London:FrancisLincoln.

• Harrop,P(2006)Ropeswings,dens,treehousesandfires,Bristol:ForestryCommission.Online:http://bit.ly/ropeswings

• Hughes,B(2001)TheFirstClaim:aframeworkforplayworkqualityassessment,Cardiff:PlayWales.Online:http://www.playwales.org.uk/page.asp?id=51

• Murray,LandSutton,A(2010)Children’streeswings:AguidetogoodpracticeLondon:LondonPlay.Online:http://www.londonplay.org.uk/file/1542.pdf

• Nicholson,S(1971)‘HowNotToCheatChildren:TheTheoryofLooseParts’,LandscapeArchitecture,v62,p30-35,1971.

ResourcesResources• NPFA,CPCandPlaylink(2000),Best

Play:whatplayprovisionshoulddoforchildren,London:NPFA.Online:http://www.playengland.org.uk/bestplay

• PlayworkPrinciplesScrutinyGroup(2005),PlayworkPrinciples.Online:http://www.skillsactive.com/playwork/principles

• PlayEngland(2008)CharterforChildren’sPlay.Online:http://www.playengland.org.uk/charter

• Rees-Jones,D(2008),PlayingontheRange,Gloucester:PlayworkPartnerships,UniversityofGloucestershire.Online:www.playwork.co.uk

• Rees-Jones,D(2007)ThePlayRangerGuide.Radstock,WansdykePlayAssociation.Availablefromhttp://bit.ly/vKQwmB

• ThePlaySafetyForum(2008),ManagingRiskinPlayProvision:Apositionstatement,London:NCB.Online:http://www.playengland.org.uk/managingriskstatement

Play rangers build positive relationships with children and young people within their communities, by listening and responding to their play needs.

Play England is part of NCB and is supported by the Big Lottery Fund.

Published by NCB, for Play England, January 2011.

Play England8 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7QE Tel: 0207 843 6300 Email: playengland@ncb.org.uk Web: www.playengland.org.uk

Pleasealsonotetherecentreview(October2010)ofhealthandsafetybyLordYoung,CommonSense-CommonSafety.

CommissionedbythePrimeMinister,thereviewmakesrecommendationsforimprovingthewayhealthandsafetyisappliedandtacklingthecompensationculture.

‘Shiftfromasystemofriskassessmenttoasystemofrisk–benefitassessmentandconsiderreviewingtheHealthandSafetyatWorketcAct1974toseparateoutplayandleisurefromworkplacecontexts.’

LordYoung’sreviewisavailableonline:

http://bit.ly/commonsensecommonsafety

Resources