PlayBoard NI update

PlayNation works together with leading play organisations across the UK. Here, PlayBoard NI provides an update on the region’s latest policy developments

Putting Play on the political agenda in Northern Ireland

Following the resumption of the Northern Ireland Assembly in February 2024, PlayBoard NI has been actively advocating for the child’s right to play to be recognised and prioritised at policy level. As part of this process, PlayBoard NI has met with the ministers for education, health and justice, highlighting the developmental benefits of play whilst also advocating for the development of a Play Strategy for Northern Ireland in line with recent UNCRC recommendations.

The development of a Northern Ireland Play Strategy would transform the landscape for play in Northern Ireland, enhancing children and young people’s lives whilst delivering significant developmental benefits. Development of a Play Strategy would also echo the progress made in Wales and Scotland which has been shown to deliver significant benefits for children, young people, families and communities.

Ministerial meetings have been followed up by a series of engagements with political parties focused on enhancing understanding of the critical developmental role of play, the impact of play in terms of building cross-community understanding and the need for dedicated support for play-based School Age Childcare providers.

PlayBoard NI and the School Age Childcare and Playwork Forum meet with Northern Ireland Children’s Commissioner

Building on its political advocacy work, PlayBoard NI recently facilitated a joint meeting between the School Age Childcare and Playwork Forum and Chris Quinn, the Children’s Commissioner for Northern Ireland.

The session provided an opportunity for play-based, school age childcare providers to highlight the many challenges they continue to face in maintaining the delivery of essential after-school childcare support. In particular, attendees highlighted the vulnerable position many providers find themselves in due to rising costs and the growing use of unregulated childcare. The session further provided an opportunity to highlight the failure of NI Executive childcare investment programmes to impact on after-school care due to its focus on pre-school and early years provision.

The commissioner listened intently to the challenges facing the sector, giving a commitment to continue engagement with a view to securing the sustainability of the sector.