Creating safe adventure play areas for youngsters in Sheffield

Pitsmoor Adventure Playground, Highfields Adventure Playground , Sycamore Adventure Playgrounds and their partner Adventure Playground in Knottingley in West Yorkshire are showing the rest how it should be done.

Adventure playgrounds provide an opportunity for stimulating, open access and inclusive play. Offering accessible play spaces within an urban environment, where children can freely choose their play in a setting which supports their interests and requirements.

Supported by qualified and trained staff, providing children and young people using the playgrounds with equal access to all activities. Sheffield’s Adventure Playgrounds are long established and child led and child-centred, this means play is personally directed by the children and young people so they choose when, how and what they play with. This means they have a sense of ownership which enables them to make choices, develop friendships, learn, develop, take challenges, solve problems and have fun.

A specially customised suite of training on promoting health and safety on the Sheffield and Knottingley Adventure Playgrounds has been devised and delivered by the Children’s Play Advisory Service, who are leading experts in the field.

Rob Wheway of the Children's Play Advisory Service said: “It is great to see adventure playgrounds getting together to ensure good health and safety practice. The training course we have devised and customised is very practical and will assist the playgrounds to continue having exciting and challenging opportunities at an acceptable level of risk. I am grateful to PitsmoorAdventure Playground for arranging the day and for involving Highfield and Knottingley Adventure Playgrounds." Patrick Meleady of Pitsmoor Adventure Playground said safety was a priority for Sheffield play areas and added: “Here in the Sheffield Adventure Playground movement we prioritise giving children chances to attend to high quality, stimulating, safe and health promoting open access play opportunities.”