Fun, Clean, Safe, Local

Accessing Play for under 4’s in East Peckham

A Consultation with Families and Children

June 2003

Background

• A lack of outdoor play provision for under 5’s, regardless of quality is an issue highlighted in both Sure Start East Peckham parent evaluation surveys– October 200 – Engaging Local Parents/Carers Survey

• 66% of respondents asked for more outdoor play areas with security

– 2003 – Parent Satisfaction Survey• Participants generally not satisfied with local play areas and

playgrounds• Over two thirds said that areas are not good at all or only a little good.

• In addition to this a feasibility study was commissioned in 2002 by East Peckham Consortium, but a few families with children under 5 were consulted

Background

• It is due to these factors that the development of an under 5’s playground within Brimmington Park (the largest open space in East Peckham) was raised with the Sure Start executive by an number of Sure Start East Peckham families

• It was agreed to support the proposal at the Quarterly Partnership meeting in March 2003. It was agreed that the exact funding would be agreed at a future meeting

Background to Evaluation

• From the outset of this evaluation we have endeavoured to ensure that the opinions if a diverse range of families and children in East Peckham are represented

• Should the Brimmington Park under 5’splayground be taken forward, it is essential that for it to be a successful provision, the stakeholders feel involved across the life of the project to its completion

• A successful outcome for all will be a park and playground which local people feel they have had a part in creating– Resulting hopefully in a sense of ownership and pride in

the end result

Methodology

• The evaluation was carried out in two stage

– Stage 1 – East Peckham Festival – Collection of questionnaires from members of the public attending established community festival on Brimmington Park

• Supplemented by face to face interviews and picture board activity for children

– Stage 2 – Accompanied group visits to playgrounds in central London

• Supplemented by pre-visit questionnaire and post visit playground evaluation questionnaire and picture board activity

Methodology

• The sample for stage 2 chosen from regular attendees of existing Sure Start East Peckham playgroups– The greater majority being families within East Peckham

• Within groups a representation of the diverse population of East Peckham

– West African, Afro-Caribbean, White, Vietnamese, Columbian, Slovakian etc

• Also initial input sought from Sure Start East Peckham practitioners, especially those working with children and families with special needs– KIDS– Contact a Family

Sample – Stage 1

• 17 questionnaires completed by attendees of the East Peckham festival on 31st May 2003– Majority were residents of East Peckham

• Photographic record made of adults and children's participation in picture board activity

Sample – Stage 2

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Group 5

Parents and under 4’s of Pilgrims’ Way Parent & Toddler Group

Parents and under 4’s of Peckham PulseMonday session

Parents and under 4’s of Bird in BushSure Tots group

Year 3 pupils ofPilgrims’ Way School

4 year old pupils of Nell GwynnNursery School

Corams FieldsChildren's Playground

Bloomsbury

Brockwell Park Children'sPlayground, Herne Hill, Lambeth

Greenwich ParkChildren's Playground

Princess Dianna PlaygroundKensington Gardens

Warwick GardensChildren's Playground

Peckham

Sample – Stage 2

• Overall sample– 16 parents/carers– 52 children

• Completed Pre-visit questionnaires– 25 children– 19 adults

• Completed post-visit questionnaires– 19 children– 4 adults

Background - Current Provision

• In 2002 Sure Start East Peckham parents conducted a mapping exercise in which they identified play areas within the East Peckham area.

• While there are playgrounds on estates e.g Friary, Woodene, Goldsmiths etc, open to all, there are barriers for many parents– Territory - am I allowed in?/will I be welcome?– Not a ‘public’ space - can I meet my friends there?

• Only Bird in Bush park was identified as a truly public space– This has 2 swings– Some parents reluctant to use park due to secluded areas and

undergrowth

• We can assume therefore that families and children are travelling beyond East Peckham to access outdoor play

Findings - Stage 1

• Clear that parents/carers had to travel a considerable distance to access the type of play areas they wanted for their children.

• While they are aware of playgrounds nearer home, for many reasons they chose not to use them– Poor equipment– Safety– Levels of cleanliness which prevented ‘free’ play for their children

Findings Which Playgrounds do they go

to?

East Peckham

Greenwich ParkHatcham Gardens

(Lewisham)

Telegraph Hill Park(Lewisham)

1 mile?

Burgess Park

Goose Green

Dulwich Park

Leyton Square(West Peckham)

In all 16 different locations mentioned

Findings - Stage 1

• Overall the response to the proposal to build a new under 4’s playground was well received– Most positively by those with younger children

• However, for those with older children, concerns with regard to maintaining the playground– Fatalistic views due to past experiences

• Vandalism/hangout for youths• Noise and ‘bringing trouble’ to the area

• However, when framed in the context of the overall regeneration of the park, to include facilities for all ages, this concern lessened

What fo families look for in a park/playground

• Close to home• Safety• Variety and range of equipment catering to all ages of

children• Cleanliness• Space• Well maintained• Location• Safety flooring• Amenities

– Toilets/baby change– Café

Issue of Safety

• Safety was mentioned most (unsurprisingly) by parents of under 5’s

• Concerns about their childs’ safety while using the playground equipment– Dislike of certain play equipment due to perceived high risk

• N.b roundabouts

• Personal safety– Aware of behaviour of other adults and children!

• Also mentioned was the perimeter security of the play space– Can children get out of the playground without being seen?

Issue of Safety

• The geography of a playground– Layout of the equipment sometimes problematic for those with

small children at different developmental stages• Not physically possible to monitor each child as much as would like

• Where a playground is located within a park is also a source of concern– Large amounts of trees and planting obscuring view of playground

from general park area created a feeling of isolation and vulnerability

• Year 3 pupils also discussed their concerns about safety– Bigger kids dominating their space– Violence

Stage 2 - The Playground Visits

• A range of playgrounds chosen for the accompanied visits

• Wanted to help parents/carers and children think about the different types of playgrounds available– Design– Choice of equipment– Provision for under 4’s– Location– Amenities

• To enable them to think differently about the possibilities available when creating a playground

• Unintentionally, all but one of the playgrounds visited had large sandpits

Stage 2 - The Playground Visits

• During all visits parents and children were encouraged to think about and discuss provision of play equipment suitable and accessible to children with different abilities and needs.

• The visit to the Dianna playground with Year 3 pupils provided a great opportunity to explore different needs– Sensory garden– Accessibility for younger children and those with different levels of

mobility– Children worked hard at thinking how others would use the play

equipment, and why the playground had been designed in a particular way

• Corams Fields playgrounds also contained equipment of designs found less often public playgrounds, and which offered more opportunities for inclusive, shared play.

Stage 2 - Findings

• Design of Playground– Where the equipment is sited in relation to each other– The shape of the play area

• Linear vs circular– Safety surfaces

• Granular rubber vs bark chippings

• Safety /Security– Potential to ‘contain’ the children while allowing them to play feely– Ability to maintain visual contact with child– The safety of play equipment

• Design as well as maintenance– Feeling safe from other people

Stage 2 - Findings

• The Play Equipment– Old favourites were always a hit

• Swing• Slide• Roundabout• See-saw/rocker

• The most pleasure however appeared to be derived from versions of these which allowed shared play, appealing to a range of ages/abilities– Multi-seat rocker– Rope dish swing– Ladder/bridge/slide combinations

Playground Visit - Findings

• Sandpits– An overwhelming hit with kids and the majority of parents (albeit

reluctantly!)• Most time of the visits spent in them

– Adults joining their children at play• Best enjoyed when surrounding a piece of multi use equipment

– Slide/bridge/house• And for the kids just add water!

Recommendations

• During discussions with parents/carers, the need for good quality play space close to home is a very clear need– A low density of playground space– Majority of families who have little or no outside plat space at

home

• Travelling out of ones area to access play is managed by many and a change of scenery is often welcome

• However, there are many for whom public transport is the only option and a difficult one to manage with a buggy and more than one child

• We therefore recommend that the need for a new playground in East Peckham is a real one and should be taken forward by the programme

Recommendations

• A third stage of consultation will need to be carried out to ensure that families and children have further involvement in the design of the space and choice of equipment.

• Initial feedback from respondents at this stage ask for– Provision for babies and toddlers

• In protected space from older high energy pre-school and school kids– The play area must be accessible to wheelchair users– That all or the majority of play equipment is as inclusive as

possible• Sensory play (activity walls, planting, sound)

– Perhaps a project for siblings of special needs children?

Recommendations

• Equipment which– Encourages shred play and interaction

• Between children• And children and their parents

– Provides interest and challenges to children of different ages• Enabling siblings to play together

– Stimulates creative and imaginary play

• Comfort for parents– Benches near to equipment– Shaded areas

Recommendations

• A play area that is well maintained, free from litter and dog mess!

• Water play– Paddling pool– Fountains

• Educational features– Information boards and signage to encourage interest and

curiosity in nature and local environment

Blue Sky

• For the overwhelming majority of the children, the inclusion of sand play in their ideal playground was of greatest importance– 7-8 year olds were most vociferous of this– Parents also able to see and experience the benefits of this type of

play for their children– This ranged from a simple large sand pit to a grander, more

imaginative, and grander scale as in the Dianna playground

• Water play was also a big hit

• A warden, clean toilets and baby care along with a café are also an ideal inclusion for parents/carers

Finally

• A really big thank you to all those who participated in the consultation

• Our parents, carers and children– Tracey & Ellie, Vanessa & Kyeva, Sophie & D’Jai, Jane, Nathan & Ruth,

Russell & Maya, Gillian, Janeiro & Kadeno, Barbara & Alex at Pilgrims’ Way.Patsy & Emily, Desha & Junior, Jeanette & Emily, Julie & Margaret and their children at Bird in BushCharlotte, Matilda & Beatrice, Kelly, Estella & Alissa, Rachel & Letty, Euphrasie & Ryan.

– Pauline Doidge, Eilzabeth Maxted, Michelle Arthur and Pauline of Pilgrims’ Way school, Beverley, Trish & Jeanne ad children at Nell Gwynn for their support and enthusiasm

– Reinhild and Louisa at KIDS– Camilla Ford at Contact a Family– And of course all of the Sure Start Team, especially those who helped

with teas and the enthusiastic crowd at East Peckham Festival.