Managing play and risk

Those responsible for managing play spaces should be involved in the design of new spaces and should adopt a new approach to risk management that takes the benefits into account as well as the risks.

Managing play spaces

Those responsible for management of new spaces must be involved from the start of the design process. This helps management staff to understand the design approach and ensures that the designer takes account of maintenance implications.

The management of play spaces should aspire to the Green Flag Award standard, the national standard for parks and green spaces for England and Wales. Adequate resourcing for maintenance also needs to be considered from the outset.

Specific issues that might need addressing include managing and maintaining different types of surfacing, vegetation, equipment and fencing. A more naturalistic approach to play will need a maintenance regime that focuses on landscape maintenance rather than equipment inspection.

Managing risk

Managing risk in play provision: an implementation guide helps providers to strike a balance between the risks and benefits of offering children challenging play opportunities. It is published by Play England and the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport,

The guide advises that all risk management in play provision should start with a clear policy framework. This is best set out in a play policy which clarifies the values, understandings, principles and criteria on which judgements are based.

Using risk-benefit assessments

Play providers should replace current risk assessment practice with an approach that takes into account the benefits of challenging play experiences as well as the risks.

This ‘risk-benefit assessment’ approach recognises that providers can make sound judgements about many of the risks and benefits relating to play provision but that they need to record their considerations and evidence base systematically.