The Assembly launched its Play Policy Implementation Plan on the 15^th February 2006. The plan explains how its Play Policy that was published in October 2002 will be implemented and is based on the recommendations of the Play Policy Implementation Group.

The Assembly proposes to do the following to implement its Play Policy:

• Include a duty to cooperate in addressing the play needs of local children and young people in its Children Act planning guidance
• produce guidance on what constitutes play opportunities
• work with children and others to develop standards for a wide variety of play provision
• support development of training resources on play for teaching and non-teaching staff in schools
• highlight opportunity for new play facilities provided by Community Focussed Schools
• support development of new guidance for Local Authorities on community play provision
• define a public benchmark of balancing risk against benefit of play
• produce a handbook for parents on what constitutes quality play
• commission research in Wales on psychological benefits of freely chosen play

The Play Policy Implementation Plan can be downloaded from the Assembly’s website.