Community Play Sessions

Our play rangers take play resources to children in their local communities after school and during school holidays.

We run term times 3.30 – 5.30pm*:

Monday - Oldbury Court Children’s Centre

Tuesday – BMX track by Henacre Flats, Lawrence Weston

Wednesday – The Ardagh, Horfield

Thursday - Beverston Gardens, Lawrence Weston

*In school holidays the times will change.

 Please check out our Facebook page for up-to-date information and for regular updates to sessions.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

  • We are not a childcare provider, so children are responsible for themselves.

  • Children aged 8 and over can come alone if they are allowed by their parent/carer to play out without their supervision. Under 8’s need to have an adult with them.

  • This is an open access session, so children are free to come and go as they please.

  • We don’t sign children in or out because we are in an open public space. This is different from other services where children remain until someone collects them.

Some children will stay and play for the whole time, others will dip in and out of the things on offer whilst they are out and about with their friends. We have water, fruit & savoury snacks on offer.

Every child and family is different, so it’s up to parents/carers to decide whether their over 8s are ready to play out unsupervised by them. If you are not comfortable, with your child (over 8s) freely coming and going then you’re welcome to join us.

Play rangers - “experienced facilitators of play in a park or other outdoor space”.

When play ranger services first started, consultation told us that fear rather than a lack of suitable places is often the reason children don’t play outside. Children can have concerns about being bullied or intimidated so they want safe spaces to play and someone to talk to if they are feeling worried or sad about anything.

Parents/carers are often worried about their children’s safety too, so they don’t always let their children play out. The play ranger service was started to help with both children’s wishes and parents/carers worries.

Playing alongside the play rangers increases children’s confidence to play out and make connections with other children, as well as increasing the range of play opportunities within an otherwise empty and unused space.