What is Play Shaper?

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

The benefits of play

Info for local authorities

Play Shaper brings together different sections of the local authority with a full range of partners to develop effective and sustainable approaches to play across the whole public realm.

Who should attend?

Who should attend?

Play Shaper is aimed at senior managers and professionals including

Info for local authorities

The benefits of play

Play is an essential part of children's lives, and their physical and emotional development. By making children's play a priority, we can also create healthier and happier neighbourhoods.

Get resources relating to play

Get resources relating to play

Use this section of the website to access further information on all aspects of children's play.

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 professional people who plan, design, build and manage our communities. The seminars explore the importance of children's play and the role that different professonal groups have in encouraging it.

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

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Our partners

Play Shaper is a national partnership run by Play England with SkillsActive and Playwork Partnerships