Investment in school play being ignored

The research, which surveyed 207 maintained schools and 186 academies across the country, reported that spending on, and the consequential standard of, play equipment was unlikely to change.

Figures showed that only 24 per cent of schools from the survey intended to make play equipment a spending prioritisation this year, while only 29 per cent would be aiming to increase investment in play equipment in the foreseeable future. Additionally, 39 per cent of primary schools maintained that no spending would be made on outdoor play facilities.

Caroline Wright, BESA director, said: "Our research shows a lot of future funding uncertainty, with 42 per cent of schools attributing this to the forthcoming election. Add to this the increasing pressure on schools to raise standards in the core subjects, and it appears schools are placing play equipment well down their spending list."

Overall, the report indicated a 1.4 per cent decline in school spending on the area this year compared with spending on play equipment last year.

Wright continued: "Despite the pressure for schools to achieve in core subjects, schools must be encouraged to maintain their investment in curriculum areas such as physical education, which certainly in the early years, requires well designed play equipment."

http://www.besa.org.uk/