Play, leisure and recreation - Your child's rights

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Updated 13/12/06

The Children Act (1989) recognises that 'children's need for good quality play opportunities change as they grow up but they need such opportunities throughout childhood to reach and maintain their optimum development and well being.' The Act says that local authorities should provide services to minimise the effect of disabilities on the lives of disabled children and give them opportunities to lead as normal a life as possible. Local authorities must treat disabled children as children first and promote access for all children to the same range of services.

The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) makes it unlawful to discriminate against disabled people. It requires service providers to 'make reasonable adjustments' to policies, practices and procedures which discriminate. Part III of the Act has recently come into force and covers indoor and outdoor adventure playgrounds, leisure centres, play areas in public parks and playgrounds. This means service providers may have to consider making permanent physical adjustments to their premises.

Special Needs Education and Disability Act (2001) places a duty on all education providers to ensure that they have made reasonable adjustments to include a child with a disability or special educational need within a mainstream setting. This means that the focus is on schools to include disabled children in all aspects of school life. Schools have to provide justification for not including disabled children on school trips, holidays and when accessing leisure opportunities.

From December 2006 the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 makes it unlawful for a private club to fail to make reasonable adjustments to make it possible for a disabled member (or prospective member) or guest to make use of the club.

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