Playwork practioners’ views on play provision in a South Wales local authority

Each local authority in Wales has a statutory duty to undertake a Play Sufficiency Assessment every three years, adhering to the Children and Family (Wales) Measures 2010 (Welsh Government, 2010). The first was undertaken in 2013 and the second is due to be completed by March 2016. The Assessment covers nine areas or 'matters', including individuals and organisations within the statutory sector and outside in the third sector who have both a direct or indirect contribution to support children and young people's play. This study contributed to one local authority's Play Sufficiency Assessment by conducting semi-structured interviews with their play team. The interviews were analysed using a five-phase thematic analysis approach, and identified three main themes: 'diverse and inclusive practice', 'funding concerns' and 'make a difference'. These are discussed in relation to the current state of playwork in Wales.