Oxfordshire Play Services

Children can play anywhere - in fields, streets, gardens, houses, schools, parks, play areas and playgrounds, and so on. But opportunities to play have been dwindling in the past few decades, with the increase in traffic, television-watching, computers, and parental safety fears.

There are many services which provide opportunities to play for all ages across Oxfordshire.

For pre-5s, there are toddler groups, and many pre-schools and nurseries have a good focus on the value of free play.

School-aged children also need the chance to play freely, in their own way and for their own reasons, with no adult agenda. After school clubs and holiday playschemes, as well as providing childcare, can also provide good quality play opportunities for young people of school age. To find out about clubs and playschemes in your area, call the Oxfordshire Family Information Service (Oxfordshire FIS) on 08452 26 26 36, or visit their website at www.oxoncis.org.uk or click here:

Outdoor Play Areas - for advice and information about creating or improving outdoor play spaces and play areas across Oxfordshire, contact Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association (OPFA) on 01865 883488, or click here for their website.

Many other services in Oxfordshire provide high quality free-play opportunities for school-aged children and young people (including teenagers). Here is a list of those that provide free (freely chosen) play opportunities.

Bringing play opportities and sporty fun to local communities across Oxfordshire

Play clubs in Banbury. Also parents groups, training, events and lots more.

(Oxfordshire County Council list of clubs and centres)

Inclusive play opportunities for disabled children in the Banbury area

Support disabled children into mainstraem playscemes in Oxford city.

If you would like OPA to add you play project here,

just give us a ring on 01865 779474,
or email Jane Gallagher, Play Development Officer on jane.gallagher@oxonplay.org.uk