Explore Play Wales
The Welsh Government has published standalone National Minimum Standards (NMS) for regulated open access play for children aged five to twelve. Updated NMS for regulated childcare for children up to twelve years of age have also been published.
The NMS statutory guidance for regulated open access play are intended to allow a flexible approach, allowing providers to develop quality provision tailored to the needs of children, parents and local communities. The standalone NMS are intended to reflect the needs of children from five to twelve years and to be proportional in the way in which they are applied.
For open access play settings, this NMS replaces the document entitled National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare, published in November 2023.
In the introduction to the new NMS for open access play, the Welsh Government said:
‘The National Minimum Standards support you and your staff to make many positive impacts upon children and their families … Through nurturing relationships and emotionally responsive care and giving children opportunities to play your role can support resilience-building and provide stability that promotes both immediate wellbeing and long-term development.’
Play Wales says:
‘Play Wales welcomes the development of bespoke NMS for open access playwork settings. We have called for this over many years and it directly responds to recommendations in the Ministerial Review of Play. We are hopeful that these changes enable a more proportionate approach to registration and inspection and supports more open access playwork settings to become registered.’