Play Service

Play is an important part of children's development, and in Westminster, we support this through our play service, which includes:

• After school and holiday play services at play centres throughout the city (there is a charge for these services) 
• FREE supervised play sessions at playgrounds and parks throughout the city

FREE Supervised play

Free supervised play for 8 to 13-year-olds is provided on Saturdays during term-time and at least three days per week during the school holidays. Most sessions are sport and physical activity-based and arts and crafts activities are usually available. The sessions happen at a number of locations across the City which may include:

• Lisson Green Estate
• Elmfield Way
• Queen’s Park Gardens
• Lydford Estate
• Paddington Recreation Ground
• Westbourne Green
• Vincent Street
• Causton Street
• Abbey Orchard Street 
• Peabody Avenue

Other sites are available in the summer holidays and parents are welcome to attend most sessions with younger children, please contact the Play Service on 020 7641 1107 for further information.

After school and holiday play

The Westminster Play Service provides supervised play and care for children at the end of the school day and during the school holidays.

All sites cater for children from primary school years 1 to 6 and some additionally provide Early Years care for reception age children under 5.

We offer children stimulating, creative and fun activities in a welcoming and safe environment.

Each centre offers a broad and diverse programme with planned activities such as sports & games, arts & crafts, music and drama. We also encourage the children to engage in imaginative and fantasy play.  All our centres provide a quiet space where children can read, do their homework, listen to stories and generally participate in quieter activities.  Children are supervised at all times by appropriately experienced and trained staff, all of whom are fully Criminal Records Bureau (enhanced) and reference checked in accordance with the Welfare Requirements.

We work closely with the children, parents/carers and schools to provide a high quality service, thus ensuring that the programme we offer is relevant and reflects the children’s needs, abilities and culture.

• The current Play Service model was designed to sustain services for as many families as possible across all areas of Westminster in response to increasingly tight financial restraints on the public sector and the need to reduce costs. During 2010/11 we consulted with both schools and parents to make sure that we had a full picture of what parents need, what schools can offer, and the best way to maintain the play service. A summary report of the consultation can be found here.