The London Borough of Enfield's Play Development Team provides a variety of play and childcare opportunities throughout the borough for young people aged 4 to 14 years of age. The Play Development Team currently provides the following services to the community:
After School Clubs
Closed Access Holiday Playschemes
Open Access Holiday Play Days
"Reach Out and Play" - Activity Sessions in Various Parks in Enfield
We believe in providing friendly, safe, stimulating and quality play opportunities for children. Our aim is to offer a quality service that meets all legal requirements for childcare and follows good practice standards as set down in conjunction with OFSTED and the London Borough of Enfield.
Click here for more information about playwork, the importance and value of play and playworker information.
After School Clubs
At present the Play Development Team provides 6 After School Clubs around the borough, all of which cater daily for between 24 and 32 children. These clubs are available during term time, Monday to Friday and are open from the end of the school day until 5.30/6.00pm (times vary at each site). These clubs are situated on school sites and there is a daily charge for this service.
Places at these clubs are very popular with some clubs holding a waiting list.
After School Clubs provide children with play opportunities and quality care in a safe and supervised setting. A variety of stimulating and fun activities are on offer to the children. These include:
Arts and Crafts
Games and Sports
Musical Activities
Reading and Storytelling
Imaginative, Free Play and Quiet Play
Click here for more information about After School Clubs
Holiday Playschemes
The Play Development Team provide Closed Access Playschemes and Open Access Play Days during the school holidays. They provide children with a happy, caring and safe environment in which to play.
Closed Access Playschemes cater for children between the ages of 4 (if attending full time school) and 11 years. The schemes are run during the Half Terms, Easter and Summer holidays.
Closed Access Playschemes are mainly based on school sites utilising both the indoor and outdoor areas.
These schemes run from 9.00am until 5.00pm and children are required to remain on the premises until signed out by a parent or carer. There is a daily charge for Closed Access Playschemes and places are pre-booked.
Open Access Play Days
Open Access Play Days cater for children between the ages of 5 and 14 years of age. The schemes are provided during the Easter, Whitsun Half Term and Summer holiday periods. Play Days are based in settings such as parks and community centres which have both indoor and outdoor facilities.
Open Access Play Days are provided free of charge for children. They are run on a first come, first served basis and children are allowed to sign themselves in and out. These schemes are run between the hours of 10.30am and 4.30pm.
The "Read Out and Play" sessions cater for children aged between 5 and 14 and are run during various school holidays and term time (summer months only). Sessions last for approximately 2 hours at a time and take place in parks around the borough. These sessions are funded by the Children's Fund and reach out to children who might not be able to access other play opportunities.
National Play Day
National Play Day is held annually on the first Wednesday in August. Themed activities such as art & craft, sports and games are organised in a park setting to celebrate National Play Day and are open to the whole community. Information about summer's Play Day will appear here closer to the date.
Inclusion of Children with Special Needs
Children with special needs are integrated into Closed Access Playschemes wherever possible. It is essential that the child's individual needs can be met and that the provision is suitable for the child. The sites that cater for children with specific needs have experienced staff who are responsible for making sure that the childrens' individual needs are being met.
Staff Allocation
Staff are allocated to each site to maintain the correct staff to children ratios as determined by the Children's Act and the OFSTED Registration and Inspection Team. These requirements are:
1 staff: 8 children for children under 8 years
1 staff: 15 children aged 8 years or over.
Registration and Inspection
All of the services that the Play Development Team provide (with the exception of "Reach Out and Play" and "National Play Day") are registered by the OFSTED Registration & Inspection Team and therefore meet the requirements of the Childrens Act 1989.
For Training and Development Opportunities. click here.
Some useful telephone numbers:
Enfield Play Development Team: 020 8350 1126/6749 or 020 8364 3081
National Children's Bureau 020 7843 6000
Children's Play Council 020 7843 6016
SPRITO 020 7388 7755
OFSTED 020 7560 7047 (local) or 0845 6014771(national)
For further information on play opportunities within the borough visit the Informed Families website.
