Sandra Welsh is misunderstood, and so are most of her colleagues. "People talk about childcare, but a lot of the time play work doesn't get recognised," she says. "It isn't childcare, and it isn't just after school care either."

After more than two decades in play work, she knows how important it is, but it is still only partially recognised, and like much work with young children almost criminally undervalued.

"Play isn't just about having fun, it is educational as well. We are very knowledgeable in all areas of play, and how it can meet children's needs, whether they are educational, physical or to do with health and wellbeing," Welsh says of herself and her colleagues.

Now a play development worker with Castlemilk's Jeely Piece club, she began with the long-established play scheme 23 years ago as a young mum and volunteer. The organisation, in one of Glasgow's once notorious, now considerably regenerated, schemes has grown from modest roots to its current incarnation which includes a well-equipped and spacious playzone.

Children from across the city come to make use of the facilities and engage in structured play opportunities. The centre also counts its own nursery, cafe and a learning and training centre among its assets.

The play is the thing for Welsh, though. Increasing evidence suggests that in the early years of primary school it remains the best way for children to learn, and remains important even as education becomes more formal.

Thankfully there are signs that the message is also now getting through at Government level. This week the Scottish Government announced a £4m investment in play work across Scotland, an initiative revealed at a visit by Minister for Children Adam Ingram to The Jeely.

The Go Play scheme will run over two years to provide or improve play opportunities for five to 13-year-olds, particularly in areas which are under-served with such facilities. Ingram said play was an important part of the Government's early years framework. "Over the years many of us have lost sight of the importance of play, yet evidence shows that it contributes significantly to how children learn and develop, as well as their overall health and wellbeing."

The money, managed by Inspiring Scotland, will be given to support free play in the voluntary sector aimed at five to 13-year-olds. The Government defines this as behaviour which is freely chosen, personally directed and "intrinsically motivated".

Perhaps in recognition that the fund is not huge - outdoor play equipment at the Jeely Piece alone cost £200,000 - Inspiring Scotland will also work with play organisations to help them bring in additional resources, to build their long-term sustainability.

The Jeely Piece is a good example of some of the ways play can have an impact on the lives of children. Externally, it provides a way for families in the area to overcome isolation and territorialism. The south Glasgow scheme still has major pockets of deprivation. "Castlemilk is also still quite territorial and split into two areas," Welsh says. "But while they are in the Jeely, children will play together. We have the Jeely bus for those who live far away further up the hill and that goes to a different corner of Castlemilk every day, to bring people who are isolated in those areas to the Play Zone."

In the centre, following a summer or winter timetable (equating to school termtime and the summer break), pre-school and primary age children can take part in a host of pursuits in a games hall, soft play, outdoor play area and a number of other rooms which can be set up in many ways, including activities such as tennis, playing with cars on floor mats, karaoke, arts and crafts and computer games. There is even an indoor bouncy castle.

But most play is defiantly low-tech, Welsh points out.

"What we've tried to promote in here is getting children back to basics," she says. "When you and I maybe played, it was about going up to the woods, jumping in rivers, that is what we are trying to do in here - we are trying to do to a lot of play without any fancy equipment.

"It is about children getting to know themselves and take risks. It won't bother me if I see a child climbing a tree. That is part of their development: how far you can let a child go to take a risk."

The job of a play worker involves supervising play and planning activities, ensuring they are age-appropriate and that children such as those with physical or learning disabilities can also take part. Leaving children alone can be part of the art.

"Sometimes we just go in and sit and watch them," she explains. "We don't necessarily go and play. Sometimes they are involved, pretending to be the daddy in a family or the driver of a bus. If they come to us, fine, but if one child is interrupting another, you might leave them to see how they handle it."

As a career, play work is quite democratic - with many workers following Welsh's path of starting out as service users themselves.

The Jeely Piece is increasingly in the market for specialist staff and living in the local community is less of a qualification than it used to be. Recent recruits have included workers from Bothwell and East Kilbride.

"We've had volunteers with degrees who want to be school teachers and psychologists," Welsh says. "It used to be very much a community resource but now we are city-wide. But there is still scope for people to come in here and work and get a qualification while their children are being looked after. Even our depute director started with me, years ago in the mothers and toddlers."