Play sufficiency
“[Play]… makes you feel free, creative, happy, energised and 100% makes you happy”
Play Sufficiency is an ongoing process of research and action. This aim of the process is to assess, improve and protect children’s opportunities for play. Play sufficiency asks…are opportunities to play good enough?
Play Sufficiency in Leeds
Leeds is leading the way in England by becoming the first city to complete a Play Sufficiency Assessment.
This is about much more than thinking about play in playgrounds. It is about the time, space and permissions needed for children’s play to flourish in their homes, doorsteps, streets, community spaces. It’s also about play flourishing as a priority in the local authority policy and practice.
Put simply, it’s about more children playing in Leeds, more of the time.
Play Sufficiency is led by Child Friendly Leeds and Active Leeds, and Ludicology were commissioned to mentor Leeds along this journey (Ludicology are play consultants providing advice, research and training to those working with or on behalf of children and their play).
Play Sufficiency is a project that brings together partners from across the city to champion children’s right to play. Play is everyone’s business. Although children will play wherever and whenever they can, the actions of adults influence their ability to do so. By taking a Play Sufficiency approach and looking at spaces from the perspective of a child, we can understand how to improve conditions for play across the city.
The research
The experts in play – children – are at the heart of this research. Detailed research was carried out in six neighbourhoods in Leeds to understand children’s opportunities to play in their homes, neighbourhoods, and schools.
During research sessions, children spoke about what play meant to them and why it was important. They talked about the time they had for play, the spaces they play in and whether they had permission to play out independently. The research highlighted the places and spaces where play was brilliant (the things that needed protecting) as well as the things that made it difficult (or impossible) for them to play.
Although there were differences between each neighbourhood, there were some common themes that came from the research.
The next steps
This research has led to nine strategic play priorities, which are now the focus for action planning across the city.
This action plan is a live document, which is always changing and updating. You can follow progress here: Play Sufficiency Action Plan (notion.site)
A group called the Play Sufficiency Partnership meet regularly to drive forward progress on the objectives of the Play Sufficiency Action Plan. The membership of this group spans across the city, including:
- LS14 Trust
- Playful Anywhere
- OPAL
- Leeds Beckett University
- Representatives from across different departments within the council
- Councillor Helen Hayden (Play Champion for the city, who chairs this Partnership).