Play matters in the Highlands

For people where play is an important part of their work or local community, a seminar organised by Play Highland takes place today (Monday 4 March) in Inverness.

Over 60 teachers and practitioners will be attending the seminar which is being held in Highland Council’s headquarters at Glenurquhart Road.

Councillor Linda Munro, Highland Council’s Children's Champion said: “Every child is entitled to play. This conference supports the Council Administration’s commitment to uphold the values of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.”

She added: “There will be various play-based workshops and we will also hear from keynote speaker Dr John McKendrick of Glasgow University who has been a Play Scotland Director since 1997.”

Participants will take part in a choice of workshops including:

1. Outdoor learning: Ideas for teachers and practitioners interested in outdoor learning.
2. Access for All: Ideas for including children with a range of diverse needs in accessing play opportunities.
3. Early Years Early Action: A workshop about this exciting project where Play Practitioners are able to help families enjoy and value play.
4. Community Treasure Mapping: Ideas for Community Councils & others about how to involve children, young people and others in the community in mapping the space for play and other ‘treasures’ in the community.
5. Health and Safety, Truth and Myth: Current messages from the Scottish Government and Health and Safety Executive about risk assessment and risk benefit analysis.
6. Space for play: A workshop that moves beyond the idea of a set ‘play space’ and looks instead at our communities and natural environment for ‘space to play’.

Play Highland is a partnership of organisations which formed to take on the role of evaluating the All to Play For Highland Play Strategy 2006-2010 and the drafting of the next Highland play strategy. The partnership consists of Care and Learning Alliance; Youth Highland; Highland Children's Forum; Dornoch Allsorts After School Club; and Highland Mobile Toy Library

Further information on Play Highland and the Play Matters Seminar is on the http://www.playhighland.co.uk/ website.

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