Meaning & use
play schemes
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Meanings
nounpluralBritish
Organized activities for children, usually held during school holidays, often free and run by a local council or charity.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun; the singular 'play scheme' refers to one such program.
Patterns
- run a play scheme
- a holiday play scheme
- children at a play scheme
The council runs play schemes every summer for kids in the area.
She got a summer job helping at one of the local play schemes.
Play schemes give working parents affordable childcare during the holidays.
nounpluralBritish
The organized programs and activities themselves, considered as a service provided by a town or organization.
Grammar: Refers to the service in general; takes a plural verb: 'Play schemes are popular.'
Patterns
- fund play schemes
- play schemes for children
- cut funding for play schemes
The charity wants to expand play schemes into rural villages.
Budget cuts have hit play schemes and youth clubs hardest.
Common combinations
- holiday play scheme
- The holiday play scheme keeps children busy for two weeks in August.
- run a play scheme
- Volunteers run a play scheme at the community center each Easter.
- summer play scheme
- He signed his daughter up for the summer play scheme.
- play scheme worker
- As a play scheme worker, she plans games and outings all day.
Synonyms and how they differ
- summer camp
- The American term; it usually suggests a residential or fee-paying program, while a play scheme is typically a local, low-cost day activity in Britain.
- after-school club
- Similar supervised care, but it runs during term time after school rather than in the holidays.
Word family
- play scheme noun
- The singular form: one organized holiday activity program for children.
Commonly confused: play schemes or playground?
play schemes vs playground
A playground is the physical place with swings and slides; a play scheme is the organized program of activities.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'play schemes' most naturally?
Choose one answer.
'Play schemes' is a plural noun for organized children's holiday activities, so it fits as the subject of 'offer'. The others treat it as a countable object you build or buy, or as a verb, which it is not.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “play schemes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.