Therese’s Blog

Keeping children safe is one of the most important responsibilities we have in schools. But there is an important difference between keeping children safe from serious harm and removing every element of challenge, uncertainty and manageable risk from their play. As...

There are some moments in our professional lives that touch us on a deeply personal level. Assessing New College Worcester for the Wellbeing Award for Schools was one of those moments for me. For the past nine years, I have worked as an advisor and assessor for...

When a school decides to transform its playground, the first instinct is often to focus solely on the children. After all, they are the ones playing! However, after 25 years of developing Positive Playtime Programmes, I’ve learned one fundamental truth: for play to be...

How to Create a Sandpit in Your School Playground 🏖️A sandpit can be one of the most enriching and engaging additions to a school playground. Not only does it provide endless opportunities for imaginative, sensory, and social play, but when set up...

Inclusive Approaches to Positive PlaytimesWhen it comes to creating inclusive, joyful playtimes, special schools face unique challenges and opportunities. We`ve always believed that play is for every child, and that belief came to life recently during two powerful...

At St Mary’s and St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, the journey towards Positive Playtimes has already begun to make a meaningful difference to the children’s daily experience of school life.Like many schools, St Mary’s and St Michael’s were navigating the lasting...

On International Women’s Day, it’s vital to shine a light on the incredible impact women in schools have had—and continue to have—in shaping the lives of children. From the classroom to the playground, female educators and role models are often the unsung heroines,...

We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Juliette Robertson on Saturday 27th December 2025. Juliette’s name has long been synonymous with learning and play outdoors, and her influence has reached schools, educators, and play practitioners across the UK and...