Conversations Around the Table

PARS playwork model in Mainland China - Caron Zheng

This session is about how PARS model is being put into practice in Mainland China. To begin with, I will introduce the general view of children’s play in urban and rural China. I will then introduce PARS tailor-made training courses and PARS Masterclasses that have been delivered in China and their impact so far. After that, I will talk about the playwork projects in Shanghai – the adventure playground, the co-operated summer camp, and the most recent government-sponsored “Play in My Neighborhood”. I will end up the presentation by an introduction of the coming new regulation of building child-friendly communities in China, which might bring more opportunities for the development of PARS model and playwork in general.

TIME: 9:30 - 10:15 LENGTH: 45 minutes TARGET AUDIENCE: Play

AP Inspection Good, Bad & Ugly. How was it for you - Rob Wheway 

Adventure playgrounds are suffering from inspectors who do not understand what's special about adventure playgrounds. Sometimes it's unsympathetic managers, sometimes Health and Safety Officers and often annual inspectors of unsupervised playgrounds who incorrectly use EN1176 for guidance. A group of very experienced playworkers and respected AP inspectors are working to prevent the work of playgrounds being damaged by incorrect and over-cautious "advice". We want to hear from you. Have inspectors or managers tried to prevent adventurous activities at your playground?  Or have you had a good experience of inspectors who have supported your work. Do you want to know how to stand up to those trying to restrict your activities?

TIME: 10:30 - 11:00 LENGTH: 30 minutes TARGET AUDIENCE: Play Harder

Getting qualified - new playwork developments - Martin King-Sheard and Gill James

This session will look at some of the options that are newly available or in development in respect of playwork qualifications. For those who manage playwork settings, deliver playwork training or are in need of qualifications this is intended to provide an overview of the latest options available primarily in England and Wales and respond to any queries. Playwork Trailblazer (England)  - this is being developed with funding from the UK Government to deliver a new apprenticeship standard for playwork. Playwork: Principles into Practice (England and Wales) - This new suite consists of 3 qualifications at Level 2 and 3 and have been developed by Play Wales. These qualifications are now also available for delivery in England.

TIME: 11:15 - 12:45 LENGTH: 1.5 hours TARGET AUDIENCE: Play Explorer

Do playworkers think about the climate crisis? - Tilia Guilbaud-Walter

The purpose of this session is to open the line of conversation about the climate crisis. This will be a discussion had in a relaxed manner and I will not be teaching you, and there are no right answers, we need to just think. So please come along and let your thoughts be provoked.

TIME: 13:00 - 14:00 LENGTH: 1 hour TARGET AUDIENCE: Play Easy

Sustainability and corporate support - Keith Rogers

Sycamore Adventure was developed through central government Play Pathfinder money with a commitment of continued ring fenced funding. This lasted half a year before a barrage of cuts hit the service. In response, Sycamore Adventure developed a business arm where a series of income generating services were introduced to offset the cost of its public play settings. Ten years on, the sustainable adventure playground is sharing its voyage, learning, trials and errors, tools and resources to enable other organisations to generate essential non-restricted funding. The workshop will enable discussion and sharing of knowledge from attendees.

TIME: 14:15 - 15:45 LENGTH: 1.5 hours TARGET AUDIENCE: Play Explorer