What is Play Shaper?

Play Shaper is a one-day professional development seminar that helps the people who plan, design ,build and manage our communities understand their role in creating child-friendly communities.

The benefits of play

Role of the local authority and VCS

Play Shaper brings together the local authority with a full range of partners in the voluntary and community sector, and other strategic organisations.

Who should attend?

Who should attend?

Play Shaper is aimed at senior managers and community leaders including

Info for local authorities

Play Shaper is a one-day professional development seminar that helps the people who plan, design ,build and manage our communities understand their role in creating child-friendly communities.

Get resources relating to play

Role of the local authority and VCS

Play Shaper brings together the local authority with a full range of partners in the voluntary and community sector, and other strategic organisations.

Play Shaper in action

The Play Shaper seminar is designed to be a catalyst for change.

Pledges:

  • We're looking at budget pooling to increase the amount of money available for commissioning and refurbishing play areas
    Play Shaper at Solihull Council
  • We've seen a commitment to embed the principles of play in the development of a variety of our strategic plans.
    Play Shaper at York City Council

Do you know the value of play?

Play is an important part of children's lives and by encouraging it, we can create healthier and happier communities.

But child-friendly communities don't come about by accident; they require a concerted effort by a range of professional people.

Play Shaper seminars bring together the wide range of people who plan, design, build and manage our communities. The seminars explore the importance of children's play and the role that different people have in encouraging it. Play Shaper is part of Play England's Engaging Communities in Play programme.

Find out more

Play Shaper online learning

Use the online learning environment after you have participated in a Play Shaper seminar. You can access learning materials, online discussions and an assessment quiz that accredits your continuing professional development.

Start learning now

Get updates

Sign up for Play Shaper email updates

Sign up

Our partners

Play Shaper is being delivered by Play England drawing on expert support from Playwork Partnerships and SkillsActive.