Play Wales

15/10/2026

We have moved office!

Our new address is: Sbarc | Spark, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ.

12/10/2026

New National Occupational Standards (NOS) for playwork have been published 🎉

NOS are a set of standards outlining the competencies playworkers need in their work. The new NOS will be used to update playwork qualifications and they can be used by playworkers and employers to develop training, job descriptions and assess quality playwork practice.

Alongside the new NOS, the UK Playwork NOS Consortium has published a Functional Map and Glossary.

Find out more at: https://play.wales/playwork/nos/

10/10/2026

Play has many benefits for children – mental, social, emotional and physical.

Find out more about why play matters for children’s wellbeing and happiness at: https://playfulchildhoods.wales/all-about-play/benefits-of-play/why-play-matters/

10/10/2026

Today is World Mental Health Day 💚

Play isn’t just fun – it’s also crucial for children’s mental health. To learn more, read our information sheet, which describes how play makes an essential contribution to children and teenagers’ emotional wellbeing.

Visit our website to download: https://play.wales/publications_category/play-mental-health-and-wellbeing/

09/10/2026

And to round off Play in Healthcare Week we are announcing our new Play Well in Wales project. We are working with Starlight Children's Foundation to support a strategic approach to play in healthcare settings across Wales.

Find out more about the Play Well in Wales prokect at: https://play.wales/news_category/play-well-in-wales-project/

08/10/2026

It's Play in Healthcare Week - this issue of Focus on play gives information on the importance and benefits of play in healthcare settings and makes recommendations for healthcare policy in Wales in relation to play.

Read the Focus on play at: https://play.wales/publications_category/focus-on-play-play-in-healthcare/

07/10/2026

To mark this week's Play in Healthcare Week, we are sharing our info sheet, written by Maggie Fearn. It discusses the therapeutic benefits of play in helping children to cope with stress and anxiety, and improve their emotional wellbeing.

Read our Accessing the therapeutic powers of play: guide for playworkers at: https://play.wales/publications_category/accessing-the-therapeutic-powers-of-play-a-guide-for-playworkers/

05/10/2026

It’s Play in Healthcare Week (5 - 9 October 2026)

Our information sheet explores the positive impact of play on the wellbeing of children and teenagers in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

It describes the various skilled and specialised roles of the health play workforce and explains why it is important to provide children in healthcare settings with different spaces and opportunities for play.

Read Play in healthcare at: https://play.wales/publications_category/healthcare-play/

01/10/2026

Welsh Government publishes final Ministerial Review of Play progress report

The report outlines the progress made between February 2025 and May 2026 and actions to be progressed beyond May 2026.

Children and young people versions also available.

Find out more at: https://play.wales/news_category/ministerial-review-of-play-final-progress-report/

30/09/2026

Closing date fast approaching for Learning through Landscapes My Nature Play programme. Submit your application by Friday 2 October 2026.

Applications for Learning through Landscapes My Nature Play funding programme are now open.

LtL is offering early years settings in England, Scotland and Wales the opportunity to take part in a 12-week programme designed to transform their use of nature and outdoor spaces for playful learning.

Submit your application by 2 October 2026. Find out more at: https://play.wales/news_category/funding-my-nature-play-autumn-2026/