Chwarae Plant

The Fframwaith Partners believe that

• Play is the elemental learning process by which humankind has developed. Practically everything a child does, when s/he has not been asked to do something, is play. Children exhibit an instinctive desire to play.
• Play is what children freely choose to do, they decide what they want to do, and to play is a natural motive for children. Children play with no particular goal or reward expected.
• Play is as fundamental a need for children as food and shelter. Without opportunities to play children cannot develop socially, emotionally, physically, or intellectually in a healthy and satisfactory way.
• Play is first and foremost the child's own self-directed learning and as an important part of the child's capacity to develop there is a need to ensure access to the broadest range of environments and play opportunities.
• When children choose to play it is that very freedom that makes play such an effective and comprehensive learning process.

Plato wrote many years ago:“Enforced learning will not stay in the mind so avoid compulsion and let your children play.”

Fframwaith’s Play Policy is based on certain principles

• Every child is unique and is entitled to be respected for their particular qualities and capabilities.
• Every child is part of a wider community and their views and opinions should always be respected.
• Freely chosen play is an important factor that enriches children’s learning and contributes to their healthy development.

Fframwaith Partners recognise that as part of the learning process, through play, children will seek out opportunities to take increasing risks. This assessing of risk is a vital part of learning through play. Ibsen said “there is always a certain risk in being alive, and if you are more alive there is more risk.”

Fframwaith wants and is committed to ensuring that all children in Rhondda Cynon Taf have access to stimulating play environments that are full of challenge allowing children the opportunity to explore through play both the world they live in and themselves.

As a modern society we have ‘stolen’ many of the natural playing places and that limits the quality play opportunities for children. Fframwaith are committed to encouraging the development of play provision that compensates our children and creates appropriate local, stimulating and challenging play places in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The Fframwaith Partners are committed to developing, in partnership, a strategy that will ensure that the principles in this policy can become a reality for the children and young people of Rhondda Cynon Taf.