Early this year, I had the pleasure of returning to work with Basildon Lower Academy, who have been working with us over the last 3 years. I’m extremely proud of the students and staff who have worked hard to transform their outdoor spaces for Year 7 students and create positive and active playtimes!
Basildon Lower Academy’s vison has been to significantly improve the quality of day-to-day playtimes and lunchtimes and to create a safe, secure, and playful outdoor learning environment for their year 7 students.
In secondary schools there can be little for children to do at playtime and the transition from primary to secondary can be very daunting with a large playground, new friends and different expectations from primary school. When I originally started working with the students 3 years ago, they would be standing around chatting at breaktimes, looking at their phones and the only activities were basketball and football. In our voice pupil consultations, many children told us they were bored and that they’d like more activities at breaktimes!
Over the years we’ve developed more zones, including a quiet area, a social area with picnic benches and a performance zone. This year during the Positive Playtimes training sessions, we established their Playground Activity Leaders (PALS) System and I worked with a group of students who will have a leadership role at playtimes.
The students designed a Playground PAL Identikit and thought about the skills and talents they will need.
“Members of Student Ambassadors had the opportunity to become Playground Leaders, embracing the responsibility to teach active games to their peers at break and lunchtimes. Our newly designated Playground Leaders also created their own shopping list of items they think will support social interaction and promote positive play.” – Extract from Basildon Lower Academy’s Positive Playtime Blog.
“Therese Hoyle, bestselling author of 101 Playground Games, recently visited the Lower Academy to support our Year 7 students during social times, introducing lots of new games.” – Extract from Basildon Lower Academy’s Positive Playtime Blog.
They are aiming to create a more active and inclusive playground, meet the needs of all students, encourage active games, reduce bullying incidents and give the PALS a sense of responsibility.
Congratulations to Basildon Lower Academy for your hard work and dedication to creating Positive Playtimes for your students and I look forward to working with you again during the Summer and Autumn term!
To read Basildon’s full blog on their website, please click the link below, and if you are interested in learning about any of our training programmes, please don’t hesitate to reach out – Contact us.
Visit out Positive Playtime Courses page: https://www.positiveplaytimes.com/positive-playtimes/
The Basildon Lower Academy – Student Voice Promote Positive Playtime
Did you know…
You can now pay for our Positive Playtime Essentials and Award Programme, Lunchtime Superhero Training, Positive Playtime Academy and our online workshops, entirely from your Sports and P.E premium for primary schools.
The Sports and P.E Premium presents a golden opportunity for schools to transform playtimes into positive, active, and enriching experiences for their children. By embracing this initiative, schools can contribute not only to the physical health of their children but also to their social and emotional well-being. The benefits extend beyond the playground, shaping individuals who are not only physically fit but also equipped with essential life skills.
As a school you can unlock the full potential of your Sports and P.E Premium by investing in training to create Positive Playtimes which will pave the way for a healthier, happier, and more active future for your children!
