PART 1CHILD POVERTY, PLAY AND PARTICIPATION

CHAPTER 2PLAY AND PARTICIPATION

Play opportunities

11Local authority duties in respect of play opportunities for children

I21

A local authority must assess the sufficiency of play opportunities in its area for children in accordance with regulations.

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Regulations may include provision about—

a

the matters to be taken into account in assessing sufficiency;

b

the date by which a first assessment is to be carried out;

c

frequency of assessments;

d

review of assessments;

e

publication of assessments.

3

A local authority must secure sufficient play opportunities in its area for children, so far as reasonably practicable, having regard to its assessment under subsection (1).

4

A local authority must—

a

publish information about play opportunities in the authority's area for children, and

b

keep the information published up to date.

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In performing its duties under this section, a local authority must have regard (among other things)—

a

to the needs of children who are disabled persons (within the meaning of section 1 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c. 50);

b

to the needs of children of different ages.

I26

In this section—

  • play” includes any recreational activity;

  • sufficient”, in relation to play opportunities, means sufficient having regard to quantity and quality.

Participation

I112Participation of children in local authority decision making

1

A local authority must make such arrangements as it considers suitable to promote and facilitate participation by children in decisions of the authority which might affect them.

2

A local authority must—

a

publish information about its arrangements under subsection (1), and

b

keep the information published up to date.

3

Section 176 of the Education Act 2002 (c. 32) is repealed by this subsection.