Development of a Playscheme Funding Strategy
2008-2011
Reasons for developing a strategy
Over the past few years there have been various minor changes to administration of playscheme funding, but it is still dependent on an annual round of applications from providers and funding being allocated to one set formula. This approach inevitably leads to different levels of provision between communities and different age groups, and fails to meet the level of demand from children, parents, and young people.
On the one hand year by year funding creates problems for play providers because of the length of time taken by the application process and, for example, having to wait to recruit and train staff until funding is approved. At the same time from the authority’s viewpoint the volume of administration for small annual grants for short playschemes is out of proportion to the impact of the funding.
Benefits
This is a good time for this work to be carried out because councillors are very concerned about and committed to improving the level of summer play activities in the city.
Having a Playscheme Funding Strategy will mean:
* It can be measured for effectiveness
* All stakeholders can influence the strategy
* Decision making will be more open and transparent
* Parents will have clarity and greater choice
* Fairer distribution of playscheme provision
* Greater consistency across the city, and equity between age groups
Opportunities
There is a great deal of work involved in putting together a robust strategy but it does create a number of opportunities. It will enable an assessment of the actual funding required to meet councillors’ expectations. It would make it possible for better long term planning for all stakeholders.
Play providers will have the security:
· To invest in the development of summer staff
· Be better placed to retain staff
· Be able funding to attract matched funding from other sources,
· Be able to promote their services earlier, and
· Have opportunities to extend and consolidate their services to other areas
of the city
At the same time the authority will be able to identify gaps in provision and develop services to fill them. We can also take this opportunity to consider moving to a system of three year commissioning. Overall it will create a different working relationship between the Local Authority and play providers and encourage partnership working which makes a greater impact on outcomes for children and young people.
Purpose of the Project
To deliver a pro-active citywide strategy that will maximise access to summer playschemes for children aged 3 – 13 years, particularly for those in the most deprived areas of the city and those with additional needs
This strategy would establish the Local Authority’s priorities for funding, ensure an equitable distribution of provision for children, ensure sufficient resources to meet strategic aims, and improve the administration of the grant aid process.
Project Team
A team of people have been drawn together from playscheme providers and various services within the local authority. They are:
Stephen Ashley St. Andrews Play Association
Dolly Butler Northfields Playbarn
Rebecca Ball Out of School Quality Development Officer
Anita Clarke Area Childcare Development Officer
Jo Dilkes Northfields Playbarn
Badral Islam Bangladeshi Youth and Community Somiti
Deepak Jhanji Children’s Information Service
Rehana Karim Area Childcare Development Officer
Tara Maxamed Leicester YMCA
Dee Murphy CYPS Finance
Sue North Disabled Children’s Service Manager
Jevon Payne S.T.A.R.S.
Julia Pilsbury Beaumont Leys Children’s Centre Manager
Kim Sutherley Children’s Information Service
Ray Tunks Learning Services
Tony Williams/ Early Years Team Leader
Helen de Carle
How can you be involved?
The more you are involved the better this strategy will be. All points of view and suggestions will be welcome – concerns and opposing views can be the most helpful because they avoid problems later when putting plans into action. Here’s how you can be involved:
o Talk to your colleagues on the project team and give them feedback
o Fill in and return the survey about costs of delivering playschemes
o Keep up to date by regularly logging on to this website
o Use the Question and Answers page to find out more and have your say
