Inclusive Play - Disability

"Enabling all children to play, and to play together, is about a benefit to the whole community.  It is not about overcoming legal hurdles or making expensive provision for a small section of the community.  If any child is prevented from playing then it diminishes the play experience of all" (John and Wheway, 2004)*.

We know from research, experience and history that all children benefit from playing.  All children are morally and legally entitled to play within their own community whatever their culture, impairment, gender, language, background, behaviour or need.

Inclusive play means all children and young people have equal access to good quality local play provision.  This means that they can play with others or alone as they wish in a rich play environment that supports their play needs and gives them access to a wide range of play opportunities.

Play is defined in the Welsh Assembly Government Play Policy as freely chosen and personally directed.  The vast majority of children play in this way, a very few may need our support to be able to make choices and access play opportunities.

A staffed inclusive play setting - anything from a holiday playscheme in a local park, to an all week, all year round adventure playground - provides a far richer experience for both disabled and non-disabled children than does a fixed equipment playground or segregated provision.

Download our briefing on Inclusive Play 

Download The health benefits of play and physical activity for disabled children and young people (2010) published by KIDS - working with disabled children, young people and their families

* John, A and Wheway, R (2004) Can Play, Will Play: disabled children and access to outdoor playgrounds (London, National Playing Fields Association)