6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the provision of play facilities in local schools? OAQ52581

Thank you, Janet. All children and young people should be able to access a wide choice of play provision in their local environment and community. The Welsh Government is working with local authorities to encourage schools to make their facilities available for wider community use and benefit.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. A number of constituents have approached me recently about a recently announced withdrawal of playground facilities at their own school, without any explanation from the local authority. Now, set this against a background of a 35 per cent real-terms cut in local government expenditure for play and recreational facilities, the £15,000—that's all—repair bill required to actually repair this play facility before autumn half term is unaffordable. Now, the Welsh Government's play policy 2002 states that

'Play is the elemental learning process'.

So, can you explain why school play facilities across Wales are being so lamentably underfunded? And how are you working with your partners in the Welsh Government, in their Cabinet positions, to ensure that money is provided to schools so that our children can literally go out and play?

If the Member was to write to me about the specifics of that particular school facility, then I will make some enquiries. It is a matter for the governing body to make decisions about access to those facilities outside of the school day, and to maintain the upkeep of those facilities, and rather than—. The Member paints a picture of these facilities being lost. I would remind her: in her own constituency, I opened the new Ysgol Awel y Mynydd school, which included landscaped school grounds, with a sports area and space for pupils to explore and learn in their natural habitat. I opened the refurbishment projects of Ysgol Sŵn y Don and Ysgol Nant y Groes, and that has meant that pupils of both schools have benefited from third generation multi-use games areas and improved areas. So, in her own constituency, she can see the effect of Welsh Government investment on the ground providing those important facilities, but I will make some enquiries about that specific case if the Member were to write to me.

I know the Cabinet Secretary for Education will agree that it's essential that we allow children of all abilities to enjoy the pleasure of play facilities, and we also know that disabled children have fewer opportunities certainly to take part in physical education and sports activities. So, what plans are there for play equipment in schools, or indeed any play equipment, to ensure that it is accessible for children with disabilities?

Thank you, Julie. Whilst I don't have responsibility for play equipment in general, obviously we would want our schools to be inclusive schools and to have facilities that allowed all of their pupils to have full access to the opportunity for play and recreation, and indeed to be able to deliver the statutory part of the curriculum that means that physical education should be delivered to all pupils aged seven to 16. We want all pupils, regardless of their ability, to be able to access those opportunities, as it's a statutory part. But if the Member has concerns about any specifics, I would make the same offer as I have made to Janet Finch-Saunders: I'm happy to look into any instances where the Member feels that that is not actually happening.