Play Sufficiency Assessment Executive Summary

Conwy County Borough Council  Play Sufficiency Assessment Executive Summary 2025-2028.

1. Local Authority Summary Statement

Play is a fundamental part of a healthy childhood and it is every child’s right to be able to play. 

We recognise and adopt the definition of play in Wales’ National Play Policy (2002) as; “children’s behaviour which is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated”. That is, it is what children do when they follow their own ideas for their own reasons.

We believe that ALL children have a right to sufficient time and space for playing as enshrined within article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and further defined within General Comment 17.

We believe that in order to secure sufficient opportunities for playing we need to work in partnership with organisations and communities to cultivate the conditions of TIME, SPACE and PERMISSION for play.

We believe that, to support children’s right to play is to provide a whole range of benefits to children and the communities in which they live and conversely, to deny that right can have serious implications for children and the wider community.

We recognise the link between resilient communities and resilient individuals and foresee a future in Conwy where ALL children and young people can be visible participants within the life of their communities through playing.

We recognise that play is a golden thread which should be weaved through all policy and practice in Conwy and urge all stakeholders, organisations and communities to understand the role they have in securing sufficient opportunities for playing within children’s communities as part of the statutory duty. This also includes understanding that providing quality play opportunities contribute to many of the aims around tackling child poverty. Finally, we are committed to securing sufficient opportunities for playing by;

1. Supporting organisations to better understand play and how best to support it.
2. Identifying barriers to children’s freely chosen play in their communities and working together to find ways to remove or reduce them.
3. Supporting the development of new play provision and opportunities.
4. Supporting the increased quality and quantity of existing play provision and opportunities.
5. Co-ordinating the development of projects, partnerships and work programmes in order to secure sufficient opportunities for playing as required under the Children and Families (Wales) Measure and to co-ordinate and produce Conwy’s Play Sufficiency Assessment and Action Plan.

 

2. Methodology

Conwy Play Development Team (referred to throughout as PDT) sits within Leisure Development and is part of the wider Conwy County Borough Council Leisure Services. PDT lead on all aspects of play development and playwork across Conwy County Borough Council.

The Senior Play Officer leads and advises on all strategic development work and also develops and delivers play sufficiency workshops across Conwy. A number of departments and stakeholders have been engaged in the process through a range of methods described below.

In 2015, Conwy adopted the Conwy Play Policy (see above). This document established a clear policy statement underpinned by the National Play Policy (2002) and Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

During this assessment a new approach was adopted to ensure that stakeholders at a decision making level could engage with the assessment and action plan. Play Sufficiency Workshops we’re hosted and individual meet ups or conversations we’re planned beyond these workshops ensuring that stakeholders could not only develop an understanding of the legislation surrounding play sufficiency and the importance of play and the day to day lives of children in Conwy but consider how their individual roles may impact opportunities to play.

Play Sufficiency Network Building – Understanding Sufficiency was delivered on the 8^th January 2025 and was supported by Play Wales. There was a large attendance from Heads of Service within the local authority, local councillors, strategic officers and some 3^rd sector partners.

There was engagement from the Lead for the Council, Education, Social Care, Leisure, Economy and Culture, Community Focussed Schools, Planning, Open Spaces, Economic Development, Family Support Teams Leads, Housing, People and Performance, Family Information Service, Childcare officers and many elected members who also represented their Town and Community Councils within this workshop.

The second Workshop Play Sufficiency Network Building – Planning for Play was delivered on the 22^nd January and was well attended by partners many of the same partners attended the second session with additional portfolio holders, officers and leads from across key areas including parks, neighbourhood planning and youth services.

The last large workshop Play Sufficiency – Steering Group- Accountability was delivered on the 20^th May and it was agreed at this meeting that the group would meet bi-annually moving forward with the Senior Play Officer hosting ‘sub-group meetings’ around the 4 themes adhoc to provide guidance, support and focus around identified actions. The bi-annual meetings would then provide a platform for officers and leads to feedback on success and challenges to ensure a collaborative and joined up approach.

Many actions within the Play Sufficiency Action Plan were considered at raised at this meeting. 
The key partners contributing to the assessment are listed here: Play Sufficiency Key partners

The Senior Play Officer discussed areas identified through workshops with individual officers. Depending on the area within the assessment and the personnel the Senior Officer would either send the whole theme or areas across themes to individuals for completion.

Many officers were able to identify areas for improvement and some officers linked support and ideas. The Senior officer was also able to highlight areas of synergy for officers and link work patterns together. This has enabled Conwy to have a holistic approach to the Action Plan for example, Workforce Development is needed in many key areas, so a whole council approach for this has been included as an action.
Although encouraged to attend not many external partners were in attendance at the Play sufficiency Workshops. The Senior Officer had many 1-2-1 discussions and meetings with external partners to ensure this was captured in the assessment.

This has been identified as an area of work needed within the action plan.
The Play Sufficiency Action Plan will go through the political process annually in the autumn; where a report on each action from the named ‘lead officers’ shall be made.

Approved by Overview and Scrutiny Committee-Economy and Place – October 2025
Approved by Cabinet – October 2025

 

3. How engagement with children and families has informed the Play Sufficiency Assessment

Engagement with children and families in Conwy has played a significant role in forming the assessment and action plan. The assessment process involves gatheringinsights from various stakeholders including children of various ages to identify strengths and shortcomings in play opportunities, specific to time, space and permission afforded to children across communities.

Population (Matters A, B, E):

• Action 1: Conwy Big Play Survey indicated that on almost every metric disabled children and children from ethnic minority groups have poorer opportunities and experiences of play. Action 1 within the Play Sufficiency Action Plan under Population provides a plethora of initiatives that will support PDT and partners to develop a wider understanding of the barriers that are faced by individuals. Furthermore these findings will then set out key actions and initiatives to address barriers.
• Action 2: Through consultation with professionals, children and families, it was identified that there are varying approaches to play practice in different settings. Children play incidentally throughout the day, the objective of a Policy review and workforce development program is to ensure that the voices and experiences of children, alongside knowledge of playwork and legislative duties provide a more playful and play tolerant Conwy.
• Action 3: Based on survey and focus groups, it is clear that one of the main indicators of satisfaction is permission to play and permission for play. All initiatives under Action 3 set out to build understanding of the importance of play and strengthen advocacy for play. Conwy will lead this campaign, and collectively we can achieve a ‘tipping point’ where improved satisfaction levels are present. Fostering acceptance of play needs and play behaviours across society. Building a playful culture which supports experiences for play in Conwy. Ensuring rich and playful communities and opportunities are the daily ’norm’ for all children.

Places where children play (Matters C, F, I)

• Action 1: Children have discussed the importance of links to play spaces and the importance of informal spaces for play. Older children identified that informal play spaces host some of the most valuable play experiences for them. With this in mind, it has been highlighted that understanding the use of these spaces for children’s play is important, not only to improve access, but to safeguard their use for play by all ages.
  
  
• Action 2: The Big Play Survey highlighted that children from areas of deprivation and children with a disability face greater barriers when accessing spaces to play. These cohorts also have a limited variety of opportunities to play. The All Wales Play Opportunities Grant will be used to address some of these barriers and build upon existing access and a variety of resources for play.
  
  
• Action 3: Experiences of school playtimes featured heavily in consultation as a time when children could play with the added value of friends without parent or carer facilitation. There was a variety of experiences regarding school play times, ranging from very positive to very poor with some children experiencing the removal of playtime due to challenges with behaviour or incompletion of work. The Active Play Time challenge will support education settings to develop a rich play environment. With playwork practices strengthening participation and fostering an understanding of the importance of school playtimes. Training and policy development will encourage a playwork approach to play times.
  
  
• Action 4: During adult consultation it was highlighted that although there is a mechanism for the removal of ‘No balls Games’ signs this mechanism was not widely known and that work is needed to ensure community engagement.
  
  
• Action 5: As with previous assessments, parental permission was highlighted as one of the largest influencing variables to play satisfaction. Parents discussed not always knowing about spaces for play in their community and across Conwy. This means the variety of play opportunities can be limited and the increased use of paid for experiences is becoming the social ‘norm’ creating a barrier for many families. The objective of the regional website is that families can find a variety of play opportunities, with examples of play value included as well as accessibility information and advocacy for play.

Supervised Provision (Matter D, G)

• Action 1: Many supervised settings featured in the children’s experiences and children identified these areas as key spaces they may use for play. Through professional consultation and workforce development, PDT are aware of the variety and range in experiences children have across settings. PDT will explore a quality assurance mechanism for all CCBC delivered play provision, ensuring a rich, challenging, safe and inclusive environment for play. PDT will work alongside EYDCP to ensure that all settings are supported in professional development and the creation of rich play spaces for children.
  
  
• Action 2: The need for advocacy and support for families to understand the impact play opportunities have on our children and wider community is vital as the decline in play satisfaction continues. Action 2 sets out a plethora of opportunities to engage with adults to advocate for play and support adults to provide play opportunities for children.
  
  
• Action 3: Support for professionals to understand the positive impact play opportunities have on our children and their wider communities is vital as the decline in play satisfaction continues. Action 3 sets out a range of opportunities to engage professionals to advocate for play. Both accredited and introductory opportunities will be included.

Policy, engagement, advocacy and information. (Matter G, G, H, I)

• Action 1: When the details and findings of Conwy Big Play survey were shared with professionals, the group had an emotive response. Discussions quickly lead to actions needed and the development of a campaign supporting children’s voices and opinions began. Action 1 sets out some starter initiatives to begin developing a long term campaign for the importance of play across Conwy.
  
  
• Action 2: Children in Conwy have told us that when they have time, space and permission to play in local streets close to their homes they feel welcomed, included and considered by society. Some barriers to play are removed such as travel to play, time for play, money for play and permission (many children rely on transport from parents). This was highlighted as particularly important for children with no garden space. There was some indication that children with no garden space are reporting negative impacts on their mental health and well-being. This initiative is extremely important for these children.
  
  
• Action 3: It is important that children’s views are considered strategically in Conwy, this will ensure that children’s views are considered at the earliest stages of project development.

Play Sufficiency work has momentum in Conwy currently, this momentum is born from the views and considerations of children. 

It is important to continue to listen to children and give children from all areas of Conwy the opportunity to share their experiences so that we can strive to improve experiences for all. Children from coastal communities have very different experiences to children from rural communities and older children are having significantly different experiences to younger children.

These examples of differences highlight the importance of a community by community approach. Play development and securing play satisfaction will have different outcomes based on the individual community needs and the play needs of children present in those communities.

 

4.    Maximising Resources

CCBC faces significant pressures driven by an increasing demand for services. Despite these challenges, the council is committed to protecting vital services. Play is the golden thread of childhood, providing children with developmental opportunities with clear links to resilience of individuals and communities.

There are allocations for statutory services such as Social Care and Education who are key partners in securing sufficient play opportunities for all children. As a result, many initiatives for play development within the action plan provide opportunities for these teams lead by PDT.

The local authority allocates community funding and national funding to community programs and projects that promote play opportunities. Some of these initiatives include play provision, development of community assets such as parks, playgrounds, leisure centres, libraries and Family Support Centres. Through UK Levelling Up Fund many playgrounds received essential work and development to ensure their sustainability for children and families. Capital investment in assets such as playgrounds has been extremely difficult in recent years without grant programs such as UK Levelling Up and All Wales Play Opportunities Grant (AWPOG).

The Council also collaborates with partners such as community groups and organisations which can help leverage additional funding and resources to support play initiatives. An example of this is the Regional Out and About website which provides advocacy for play, support for families and information to support access to play spaces for children across North Wales.



There are a variety of funding resources used to support the PDT that come direct from Welsh Government, these include the Holiday Playworks Grant, and this is used to provide play opportunities across all school holidays and used to ‘plug’ identified gaps in provision. Holiday programs are developed to be flexible and react to community needs, some examples include delivering family play events in informal play spaces such as Forest Play and Beach Play. 

This supports families to access other free spaces for play and advocates for a varied use of spaces for play. Another example is in response to criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, the play team were able to provide positive play opportunities for children in specific areas in collaboration with North Wales Police and Family Centre Support Teams across Conwy. A further example would be the partnership work with Conwy Connect that is supported by this grant which enables the play team to provide targeted play sessions for families of children with disabilities during the holidays.

Holiday Playworks resource has also been used to access accredited training opportunities for paid and volunteer playworkers, supporting the quality of play provision on offer for communities. Furthermore, the grant has been used to provide food and snacks at sessions for children in attendance and used to purchase equipment to support children with specific play needs.

Another grant that the Conwy PDT utilise is the Children and Communities Grant. The Families’ First element of this grant is used to fund early intervention and preventative work by the play team. It enables the delivery of term time community play sessions and funds elements of the development program regarding advocacy and intervention delivered in collaboration with the Family Centres in Conwy.

PDT have also been able to utilise other grants such as the Child Poverty grant to provide meals during play sessions for families, in particular during the school holidays. During recent years PDT have been afforded the opportunity to use grants such as the UK Levelling Up Fund to provide targeted provision for older children to support the development of their experiences. Improve feelings towards their local community and involve them in volunteer and personal development programs.

This resource enabled a successful pilot project which has now received further funding from CCG due to the positive impact recorded and the alignment and synergy of KPI’s. This provides an example of how Conwy are giving children a voice in the use of grants and delivery of projects. Conwy Play Team have also been involved in projects with the Community Focused Schools Team using a joined up approach to providing opportunities for children. Conwy Play Team participated in the delivery of the Summer Food and Fun Program in a rural school. The Play Team have developed an incredibly positive relationship with the community fostered through play provision, leading to an extremely well attended Food and Fun provision.

Conwy’s Senior Play Officer is also an accredited Playwork Trainer allowing the team to build service level agreements with other training providers. This not only ensures Conwy employees and volunteers get the best professional development but that any resources received go directly back into community play provision.

Another example of how resources are utilized in Conwy is the Active Travel Initiatives which have supported development of infrastructure plans and community engagement activities. This has resulted in the creation of safe and accessible routes for children and families around communities, which in turn, has led to increased opportunities for play during active travel and improved access to formal and informal play spaces.

Through workforce development and advocacy, PDT can influence other departments and projects. Ensuring they consider the impact on play opportunities there work and resources have. Through opportunistic advocacy this can lead to an increase in resources available to support children’s experiences.

Conwy are also very thankful for the All Wales Capital Play Grant which will be used to address some of the actions and strengthen work within the Play Sufficiency Action Plan. This grant will be used in response to needs highlighted during consultation and throughout the assessment.

Since the last assessment there have been subtle changes in policy and guidance from Welsh Government across policy areas. This has led to further opportunities and play satisfaction being considered in other areas of work and included in grant guidance. PDT feel this has had a positive impact on development programs and opportunities afforded to communities. Examples of this are, Active Transport Initiatives and Community Focussed Schools Program.

 

5. Monitoring

The lead officer for Play in Conwy is the Senior Play Officer who currently sits within Leisure services, Economy and Culture department. The Senior Play Officer is responsible for activities surrounding the Play Sufficiency Assessment and Action Plan and ensuring clear communication of roles and responsibilities on initiatives included within the Action Plan and associated works. However, collectively Conwy County Borough Council takes strategic lead and responsibility for Play Sufficiency. While specific departments and teams are responsible for progress on initiatives, play sufficiency is outlined in the governance framework in the following areas and ways.

Corporate Plan 
The Council’s corporate plan focuses on five key goals including Well-Being which encompass play sufficiency and opportunities for play for all children and young people of Conwy.

Conwy’ Policy for Play
Strong links to play opportunities and well-being with reference to key legislation feature in ‘Conwy a Play Friendly County’.

Regional Partnership Board
Bringing together key partners to deliver policies and initiatives supporting play sufficiency. As referenced within the assessment Conwy’s Senior Play Officer has recently been recruited to the RPB sub group which builds stronger links for play sufficiency in regional planning and policy. During the winter, children’s consultation and resulting action plan will be presented to the board.

Regional Service Board
Conwy’s Senior Play Officer will review the assessments and action plans from North Wales Local Authorities and present cross-cutting themes and actions with the objective to develop a regional action plan for the service board to integrate within policy and work programs.

Governance
Ensuring the Executive Statement for the ‘State of Play in Conwy’ and the action plan is readily available on Conwy County Borough Council website will support the ambition for play sufficiency to form a golden thread in all policy and work programs across Conwy.

The Play Sufficiency Steering Group meet bi-annually to receive updates from the Senior Play Officer and individual officers provide action plan progress updates. Any synergy, success and challenges are highlighted. The Senior Play Officer meets individuals periodically to go through objectives set out, support progress and provide guidance.

Each autumn the Play Sufficiency Action Plan is taken through Scrutiny and Cabinet for approval.

The following reports are taken:

• The PSA Executive Summary for the corresponding cycle.
• The current PSA  Action Plan
• Progress Report from the previous Action Plan

This gives officers an opportunity to highlight at a strategic level the successes of their service, discuss any challenges they face and receive support from leads.

After reviewing the cycles of the Play Sufficiency in Conwy, it is believed that this position is the strongest Play Sufficiency has ever held strategically.

This approach will generate the most cohesion and synergy working across all policy areas with a focus on the action plan and progress report.

However it is a new approach and will take steering, motivation and persistence to ensure all the cogs turn collectively and future sufficiency is secured for individual children and communities.

Furthermore, there are still key stakeholders yet to engage in Play Sufficiency, it is hoped that with this approach collectively, Conwy will achieve understanding, accountability and progression for its communities.

 

6. Conclusion

Conwy County Borough Council is making significant strides strategically to understanding the lived experience of its children and young people. 

Conwy is committed to securing future opportunities for play and to safeguard the positive variables communities afford towards sufficient time, space and permission for play.

Developing the workforce’s collective understanding of Play Sufficiency and Advocacy for Play Sufficiency will support the identification of opportunities, resources and work programs thus ensuring a positive impact on the future state of play in Conwy. 

Conwy PDT are progressing with research and consultation which will ensure children’s play experiences and play needs are considered during community development, planning and policy development. It is crucial that a community centred approach is implemented and that each community are afforded the opportunity to build and prepare localised and individual ‘Play Making Plans’.

Community based initiatives should be considered when plans are produced. PDT accept that an approach for one area of Conwy may not be suitable for another and to that end, creative, dynamic and needs based plans will be developed.

Conwy PDT are committed to the quality of play provision and play opportunities. Through workforce development, monitoring, consultation, quality assurance and training, PDT aim to support all professionals in Conwy to ensure all children have access to safe, inclusive and engaging play settings and opportunities.

Conwy County Borough Council have provided an innovative, creative and ambitious Action Plan and are developing mechanisms to implement it across all policy areas. The Action Plan requires strategic engagement and strategic leadership to ensure success.

Conwy County Borough Council welcome recent resources from Welsh Government and will strive to ensure that resources will support the implementation of the action plan. However, would welcome long term commitment from Welsh Government to ensure that we can create long lasting impacts that will benefit our communities and future generations.

 

7.  Theme analysis

Population:

Matter A: The number of children in respect of each age range within its area
Matter B: The needs of children from different cultures and backgrounds within its area
Matter E: Whether there is a charge for play provision and where there is a charge

 

Places where children play: 

Matter C: The space where children can play, including open space, and any other space
Matter F: Traffic measures that are used to promote access to play
Matter I: The extent to which education and local development planning policies take into account the need to enhance play opportunities for children 

 

Supervised provision: 

Matter D:  Supervised play provision
Matter G:  Playwork training and workforce development

 

Policy synergy, engagement, advocacy and information:

Matter F: Measures used to promote access to play, including the provision of information, publicity and events
Matter G: Training opportunities for the play workforce 
Matter H: The level of community engagement and participation 
Matter I: The extent to which other policies of a local authority take into account the need to enhance play opportunities for children