Report re Activity Sheffield

Proposal to change the opening/closing days for Pitsmoor Adventure Playground

Report to:	Burngreave Area Panel
Report from:	Di Hardiman
Date of report	16/05/07
Open/confidential	Open

Purpose of the report

. To provide information relating to the consultation that has been undertaken with children and parents from around the area

. To make recommendations regarding the change to Pitsmoor Adventure Playgrounds current opening days

Background

Since the playground opened, the opening days/times have always been:

. Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri Term-time: 3pm – 8pm School Holidays: 10am – 6pm

. Saturdays Term-time & School Holidays: 10am – 6pm

. Wed & Sun Closed

Recent events at the playground have asked us to question whether or not Wed & Sun closure is suitable, both for the local community and the existing staff team at the playground

The imminent recruitment of a third worker gives the opportunity to make changes if needed before that person starts in post

Main item of the report

For the adults we distributed a very simple questionnaire that informed the reader of the possible plans for the changing of opening days and asked him/her to write their thoughts and any affects it may have on their family life or routine on the form and return it to a member of staff at Pitsmoor Adventure Playground. In addition we devised a simple table on the wall for the children using the playground to write up their own thoughts and feelings in regard to the possible change of opening days.

During the three weeks beginning March 26th 2007 the consultation was undertaken with the children and parents that attend our setting, members of the playground’s local community including Police Community Support Officers and Burngreave New Deal Wardens.

All of the consultation with children was undertaken on the playground.

Comments

1. Consultation undertaken with a group of 7 and 8 year olds from Byron Wood Primary School on the 20th April 2007 indicated that:

30 children in total were canvassed	19 Male 11 Female
	26 - 8year olds 4 - 7year olds
	43% thought Monday was a better day to be closed
	47% didn’t mind whether a Monday or Wednesday was closed
	10% wanted to keep it as it is

2. The results gained consulting with a selection of the children that attended the playground prior to and during the Easter Holidays (26th March – 14th April 2007) were:

34 Children were canvassed in total	21 Male 13 Female
	3 – 5-7year olds 25 – 8-12year olds 6 – 13+ year olds
	71% thought Monday was a better day to close
	18% didn’t mind whether a Monday or Wednesday was closed
	11% wanted to keep it as it is

These children were spoken to individually about their thoughts about a possible change in opening days and were asked to write their thoughts and feelings on a children’s notice wall.

Some of the children’s individual comments were:

Open everyday of the week.

It’s better!!

Close Wednesday like normal.

Close on a Monday so that we get five days in a row.

It is good. Thank you.

5 days in a row.

All the days are in a row.

So that not all of the days are in a row.

So that we still get a day off in middle of the week.

I think it is a good idea because when you get a pile of homework on a Monday and you could do it then instead of putting it off until a Wednesday.

I think we should open on a Wednesday instead because then the staff get 2 days off in a row and we get 5 days on in a row.

I think adventure should be open on a Wednesday – for a change.

We received completed forms from 24 adults. Of the 24 forms all of them were either in favour of the change or had no real preference. There were no negative comments or thoughts on the change over.

Conclusions

We consulted 63 children and 24 adults of whom:

. 8% would prefer to keep Wednesday as our second day of closure.

. 23% had no preference which day was closed.

. 69% would prefer the playground to be open on a Wednesday and closed on Mondays.

The playground staff have a face-to-face job, working with children from the minute they open to the minute they close. Although statutory breaks are taken, this is a tiring, sometimes stressful working environment. To close two consecutive days would enable staff to ‘recharge’ batteries over a longer period of time making them more able to deal with everyday issues at the playground. This year the playground has seen staff sickness absence more than treble with more than 200 days being lost through staff sickness.

In addition staff would benefit from better quality time with their own families by being able to spend two consecutive days at home participating in family activity or being able to undertake short breaks away. The current working pattern does not allow for this although most other City Council employees get two consecutive days off per week.

Recommendations

1. That the playground be supported in changing the days closed to Sunday and Monday. The opening hours would therefore be:

. Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri Term-time: 3pm – 8pm School Holidays: 10am – 6pm

. Saturdays Term-time & School Holidays: 10am – 6pm

. Sun & Mon Closed

2. That the opening hours change from 01st June 2007

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