Welcome to Play in the Wraparound Sector, another course in our Wraparound Platform training suite. Thank you for taking the time to work through this course – your role in supporting children’s play is vital, and we’re really glad you’re here.
This course was developed in direct response to honest and thoughtful questions from people working in the sector, including:
- Do older children still need to play?
- What is my role in play – and how active should I be?
- How can we offer great play opportunities when budgets are tight?
- How do I manage risk in play?
These are important questions, and throughout the course we will consider them carefully — drawing on research, real-life examples from wraparound settings, and practical strategies that you can apply confidently in your own provision.
A Course Shaped by the Sector
This course has been co-produced with wraparound providers. Staff and volunteers from across the sector were directly involved in shaping the content, sharing real-life experiences, and offering practical ideas that genuinely work in busy wraparound settings.
This course aims to raise awareness of the importance of high-quality play experiences for school-aged children. You’ll explore practical ways to facilitate meaningful play, even in settings with limited space, time, or resources.
We will look at how good play – including managed risk – supports children’s development by helping them to:
- Learn boundaries
- Develop self-regulation
- Build cooperation and teamwork skills
- Express creativity
- Strengthen problem-solving abilities
For those who have done other Families First courses, you will notice that we have done something slightly different in Module 6…you’ll be invited to add your own insights and experiences, helping to grow a shared knowledge bank that reflects the strength and creativity of the sector.
Our thanks go to everyone who contributed to the development of this course, and to Slough Borough Council, who provided funding support.
What Do we Mean by ‘Wraparound Settings’?
We begin all our courses with a shared understanding of what we mean by wraparound settings. This definition underpins everything that follows, so please click the link provided to read it carefully before continuing.
Course Structure and Format
This course will take approximately 2–3 hours to complete and is divided into six modules. You can complete the course at your own pace – stop and start whenever you need to. Your progress will be saved automatically, and the progress bar will show how far you’ve come.
Throughout the course, you’ll take part in a range of interactive, hands-on activities designed to keep learning engaging and practical. All examples are based on real-life scenarios shared by organisations we work with, ensuring the learning is authentic, relevant, and directly applicable to your role.
To get the most out of the activities, you may find it helpful to have a pen and paper nearby, or to use the notes function on your phone or tablet to capture key ideas and reflections.
Course Modules
This course is made up of the following six modules:
- Module 1: What is Play and Why is it Important?
- Module 2: The Role of Staff and Volunteers in a High-Quality Play Environment
- Module 3: Balancing Safety and Risk in Play
- Module 4: Play in the Wraparound Sector – Challenges and Solutions
- Module 5: Ideas for Resourcing Amazing Play Opportunities
- Module 6: Bringing It All Together
Inclusive Play
Inclusive play is woven throughout this course.
We recognise that terms such as special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), additional needs, and children with disabilities are used differently across settings. In this course, these terms may be used interchangeably, and we encourage you to use the language that feels most appropriate and familiar within your own context.
When we use the term children, we are referring to all individuals up to the age of 18, including young people. We use this age range in line with the Children Act 1989, and to reflect that – as you will discover as you go through the course – play is important for all ages.
Why Play Matters
Play is not an ‘extra’ – it is essential. We hope this course leaves you feeling more confident, inspired, and supported in your role.
Let’s get started
You can work through this training at your own pace. Your progress will save as you go along, so you can dip in and out whenever it suits you. We know that working in wraparound provision often means juggling busy sessions, changing routines, and time pressures — this course is designed to fit around that reality.
There’s no expectation to complete everything in one sitting. You might choose to pause, reflect, and come back later — that’s absolutely fine and encouraged.
Throughout this course , you’ll be invited to reflect on your own experiences, watch short videos, and take part in interactive activities. There are no right or wrong answers — the aim is to help you think, notice, and connect ideas to your own setting. When you’re ready, let’s get started and take a look at the first module: What is Play and Why is it Important?