RPII The RPII is the official global body for examining, accrediting and certificating play inspectors.

10/10/2024

On this World Mental Health Day 2024, we at the RPII are shining a spotlight on a powerful, yet often overlooked, mental health tool: Play.

Play boosts emotional resilience

It's a natural stress-buster for kids

Play enhances social skills and connections

Because when children play, they're not just having fun – they're building the foundations for lifelong mental health.

It's our mission to improve play safety for children all across the UK and beyond.

If your playground has not been inspected by a qualified inspector your insurance may be invalid, leaving you open to fi...
07/10/2024

If your playground has not been inspected by a qualified inspector your insurance may be invalid, leaving you open to fines and a potential court case.

Make sure your inspections are up-to-date and your inspector has the required RPII seal of authenticity.

Visit www.playinspectors.com for more information on how to find the right inspector for your needs.

04/10/2024

As we transition into Autumn, the changing weather means extra attention is needed to keep our play areas safe.

Play equipment owners should regularly check for slippery surfaces, loose equipment, and extra fallen leaves that might cause hazards.

Make sure your play equipment is ready for the Autumn.

Visit www.playinspectors.com for an up-to-date list of RPII-certified Annual Inspectors.

30/09/2024

The 2024 Paris Olympics showcased skateboarding on the global stage, igniting more interest across the United Kingdom. The RPII's outdoor operational inspector qualification encompasses skate park assessments.

Skate parks represent more than recreational facilities; they are vibrant centers of creativity, personal growth, and community interaction. At RPII, we recognise the importance of balancing innovation with safety. Our goal is to ensure these spaces are not only physically secure but also provide an environment conducive to skill progression.

As skateboarding continues to gain momentum, RPII remains committed to supporting the development of safe, engaging skate parks across the UK. Our expertise ensures that as more and more communities embrace this trend, they do so with the assurance of professional oversight and industry-leading safety standards.

13/09/2024

Our PlaySafetyWeek campaign has been supported this week by a number of schools across the UK.

Schools play a vital role in promoting playground safety by implementing policies, procedures, and maintenance protocols to uphold high safety standards. Regular inspections and maintenance of playground equipment are essential to identify and address any potential hazards promptly. This includes checking for worn-out or damaged equipment, ensuring proper surfacing material to cushion falls, and removing any obstacles or hazards from the play area. By conducting routine safety checks and addressing maintenance issues promptly, schools can create safer playgrounds for children to enjoy.

For more information, check out our campaign website: www.playsafetyweek.org

For this week's Play Safety Week campaign, we have created 'top tips for adults' on play safety. These are:1. Keep an ey...
12/09/2024

For this week's Play Safety Week campaign, we have created 'top tips for adults' on play safety. These are:

1. Keep an eye out - Young children should be supervised by a responsible adult while playing outdoors, indoors and on inflatables.

2. Report any faults - If you notice any obvious hazards that may have arisen, please contact the owner operator.

3. Nicely does it - Teach children to play respectfully and cooperatively with others. Encourage sharing, letting other children use the equipment on their own, taking turns, and peaceful conflict resolution for positive social interactions. Follow the rules for capacity on inflatables and don’t let lots of children on at one time.

4. Are they comfortable on the equipment? - Make sure children stick to play equipment that is age appropriate and that they are comfortable with.

5. Let children explore their own boundaries - Many accidents happen when parents intervene and assist children in reaching areas or parts of equipment that they wouldn’t otherwise have got to.

6. Clean and Clear - Check the play equipment is debris free and has been well maintained.

7. Dress and rest for success - Children should be dressed in the most appropriate way for a play session on the play equipment they are playing on. Make sure children wear sunscreen if its sunny outside and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and rest at intervals during play time, especially on hot days.

8. Call it out - If you see unsafe behaviour, overcrowding, pushing or children playing on equipment that isn’t right for their age, call it out and speak to the child or children involved.

9. If you have concerns, contact the playground owner - If you spot any obvious hazards then let the playground operator know. Their contact details will be on the signage in the play area.

10. Spread the safe play word - Share the guidelines with other parents, your local school, your local council and other people who are responsible for equipment that children play on and help raise awareness.

Share our tips with others today and help drive our campaign message this week.

It's Play Safety Week.The RPII developed this year's first ever Play Safety Week campaign because there's a need to educ...
11/09/2024

It's Play Safety Week.

The RPII developed this year's first ever Play Safety Week campaign because there's a need to educate the public about play safety.

Recent studies show a concerning trend:
- 68% of parents report being overly cautious about letting their children play outdoors due to safety concerns (Children's Play Council, 2023).
- There's been a 35% decline in children's outdoor play over the last decade (National Trust, 2022).
- 72% of school administrators report reducing playtime due to safety worries (Department for Education, 2023).

Our campaign website contains guidance and protocols for families, schools and play equipment owners on play safety - from inspections to maintenance to help provide the facts about play safety.

Visit the website at www.PlaySafetyWeek.org

09/09/2024

Welcome to the UK's inaugural Play Safety Week.

The RPII is proud to lead this vital initiative, designed to educate and raise awareness about what play safety is all about. Over the coming days, we will be debunking common play safety myths, and providing practical resources to help create play spaces that are both safe and developmentally beneficial.

Play Safety Week has been created for schools, organisations, and families to come together to educate, celebrate, discuss and raise awareness of what play safety really means. This includes attitudes to risk, supervision, and accidents. It aims to increase fulfilling play opportunities for children by dispelling the most common myths about play safety. It also aims to educate play equipment owners and schools on the importance of the right equipment, inspection and maintenance protocols for play equipment.

Visit www.playsafetyweek.org to access our comprehensive toolkit and join the conversation about the future of play safety.

Our first ever Play Safety Week campaign kicks off tomorrow and we are an official awareness week on the UK calendar. Wh...
08/09/2024

Our first ever Play Safety Week campaign kicks off tomorrow and we are an official awareness week on the UK calendar.

Why are we launching a Play Safety Week campaign?

Recent studies show a concerning trend:
- 68% of parents report being overly cautious about letting their children play outdoors due to safety concerns (Children's Play Council, 2023).
- There's been a 35% decline in children's outdoor play over the last decade (National Trust, 2022).
- 72% of school administrators report reducing playtime due to safety worries (Department for Education, 2023).

These statistics highlight a growing misconception about play safety that's limiting children's crucial developmental opportunities. Our campaign aims to address these issues by providing accurate information and practical guidelines to adults, schools and play equipment owners.

Will you be joining us tomorrow?

You can support by sharing info or our campaign safety tips on your own website or social media by downloading them from this link:

https://lnkd.in/dzgyyrDh

Show your support, talk to your friends and colleagues about the campaign and sign up on our campaign website www.playsafety.org.

06/09/2024

Many schools in England have returned this week and children have been enjoying playing on the play equipment at their school or education provider.

We are encouraging all UK schools to join our Play Safety Week campaign next week to find out more about how to manage and maintain play equipment and what constitutes ‘safe play' at school.

Schools can download our guidance created especially for schools with advice on managing their play equipment on the resources section of our campaign website www.playsafetyweek.org.

Our top 10 Play Safety Week tips for adults are below.

Make sure you join us next week and share the campaign message with your network and use our campaign hashtag to join the conversation.

We're pleased to share a feature by RPII Chair, David Yearley, in The Clerk magazine on keeping the UK's playgrounds saf...
04/09/2024

We're pleased to share a feature by RPII Chair, David Yearley, in The Clerk magazine on keeping the UK's playgrounds safe.

You can read the full feature on page 20 - 21 below:

David covers the following in the article:
- The crucial role of playgrounds in children's development
- The importance of regular, professional inspections
- Different types of inspectors and their roles
- Legal responsibilities and compliance for local councils

The article outlines the RPII's role in training and accrediting inspectors, the frequency of required inspections, and the procedures for maintaining safe play spaces.

Read the full article to learn how we can all contribute to creating safer play environments for our children.

In 1 week, the RPII will be unveiling our first ever Play Safety Week campaign - an awareness week to drive knowledge an...
02/09/2024

In 1 week, the RPII will be unveiling our first ever Play Safety Week campaign - an awareness week to drive knowledge and education in play safety at a time when many children will be returning back to school and using school equipment and also utilising play equipment on their walk and return from school.

Liz Cheshire, Operations Director, at the Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: "At RoSPA, we fully support the Play Safety Week campaign. Play is essential for children’s holistic development, and ensuring their safety while encouraging natural risk-taking is a delicate balance. This campaign offers vital resources and education that can help schools, parents, and communities create environments where children can play, learn, and grow safely. Together, we can foster a culture of play that prioritises safety without stifling the adventurous spirit of childhood."

Make sure you join us next week.

You can download campaign assets on our website www.playsafetyweek.org

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