Awesome Adventure Play Adventure play, your way

(Covid-19) Service Update. 29/3/2021

Dear Parents and Carers and Awesome Children,

We thank you all for your support and understanding during these challenging times.

We are not able to offer our normal play service due to the Covid-19 pandemic but recognise and advocate the importance of play on children and young people’s well being during this Lockdown period.

Following the Government’s Outdoor Playground Guidance we have been able to open the playgrounds for outdoor play sessions for Islington children and young people and will be continuing this during the Easter Holiday period.

Week 1: Tuesday 6th Apr -Friday 9th Apr

Week 2: Monday 12th Apr -Friday 16th Apr

You can see the opening times of playgrounds by visiting their page though the playground tab above.

Implementing the Covid-19 safety measures recommended by the Government means we have to operate in a very different way.

Our play service will be available outside in the playground and not in the building, so please ensure children and young people have the appropriate clothing. This is because outdoors is so much safer; it is much more difficult to catch the virus outdoors.
We are asking that if you need to drop off your child/young person at the playground that only 1 parent/carer attends for drop off or collection. Parents/carers will be asked to bring their children to the gate and not enter the playground.
The Adventure playgrounds are only open to children that live or go to school in Islington.
Signage will be displayed at each site giving the maximum number of children aloud on the playground at any one time.
Outdoor play equipment will also have signs with the maximum number of children able to access at one time.
Regular and thorough cleaning will be carried out daily and at intervals throughout the day.
Staff will keep a 2 meter distance between themselves and children unless the child needs medical attention or help in a dangerous situation (both of these situations are rare).
We cannot guarantee that children will always social distance but adults will frequently remind children about social distancing regulations
Children will be required to wash their hands on arrival at the playground in an outdoor washing area and will be asked to wash their hands regularly throughout the day or when accessing different outdoor play equipment.
We ask that children and parents/carers attend their closest playground by walking or cycling and do not use public transport to get to playgrounds to minimise risk.
Children should bring a water bottle, there will be access to cold water outside in the playground.
Due to the Covid-19 measures for outdoor playgrounds children are not allowed to eat on site.

You can read more about the specific protective measures that will be in place and access our general Covid-19 risk assessment below.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the individual playground managers by phone or email. These details can be found on the individual playground page, navigated through the menu bar above.

Government advice on outdoor playgrounds can be found here,

COVID-19: Guidance for managing playgrounds and outdoor gyms – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We hope you will continue to be understanding and work with us during this pandemic to ensure we can offer a safe play environment for as many children and young people as possible. Support us by following the measures we put in place and respecting our staff, who are following the government guidance to keep everyone safe.

We continue to hope that it will not be too long before we can get back to normal and all Islington children can play freely with no restrictions on the adventure playgrounds together as a whole community – what a celebration that will be!

We truly appreciate all your support, love and patience in these hard and uncertain times that we are all facing.

Most importantly – stay safe, and let’s remember: Hands, Face , Space to play our part in stopping the spread of the virus and protecting our NHS.

The following are specific protective measures that are in place at each playground, due to coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which includes:

Specific protective measures

Monitoring and minimising contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, or who have been advised by NHS Test & Trace to self-isolate do not attend the adventure playground.

We will increase the focus on cleaning, keeping facilities and equipment clean – touch points (e.g. handrails and door handles)
We have introduced signs and posters as regular reminders for children and young people to build awareness of a good hand-washing technique, and the need to increase hand washing frequency, avoid touching your face, and to cough or sneeze into your arm rather than your hand.
We will install signs identifying a limit on the maximum number of users able to access the adventure playground at any one time.
We will be limiting the number of users able to use a particular piece of equipment to minimise the transmission risk of COVID-19. Signs to communicate maximum number of users at one time
We will limit the available number of seats on equipment or numbers of swings available to promote social distancing.
We will be clearly marking a one way system around the playgrounds to help prevent users coming into close contact with each other.
We have provided more waste facilities and more frequent rubbish collection.
We have provided outdoor hand wash stations in multiple locations on the playground with disposable paper towels.
We have set clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets to ensure they are kept clean and social distancing is achieved

Communicating with Parents

We will use technology to communicate with parents and carers digitally where possible.
We will tell children, young people, parents, carers or any visitors, such as suppliers, not to enter the adventure playground if they are displaying any symptoms of coronavirus.
We will encourage children, young people and parents/carers to avoid using public transport to get to the adventure playground. Encouraging children and young people to walk or cycle where possible or only drive if necessary (provided they are only travelling with those from within their household).
We plan to reduce contact between parents and carers when dropping off and picking up their children if necessary, for example by limiting drop off and pick up to one parent or carer per family and staggering timings.
We will be asking all parents/carers who collect their children to stay outside the adventure playground’s main gate and to keep social distancing measures using the physical distancing makings on the ground as a guide.
We will be asking parents/carers who wish to speak to a member of staff to communicate by email and not to enter the site to approach staff.

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Play Service and Facility Management Generic Risk Assessment

_Awesome – Coronavirus (Covid-19)Play Service and Facility Management RiskAssessment 2020