The Positive Playtime Award Programme is a strategic approach, aimed at whole school improvement.
The Award Programme will help you to create happy playtimes and harmonious dining halls, support staff and pupil wellbeing and develop a policy
for active, creative, and positive play at lunchtimes.
This is a Three-Day Programme, initially starting with the Positive Playtime two-day Essentials Programme. You then will have 11 objectives to complete over 6 -18 months. On your final training day your assessor will come into your school to complete the award final verification assessment, giving you the opportunity to gain accreditation and celebrate the impact of Positive Playtimes.
Here’s what you’ll get:
✔ Introductory meeting
✔ Observation and Positive Playtime
Award Audit meeting
✔ This is a Three-Day Programme, initially starting with the Positive Playtime two-day Essentials Programme. You then will have 11 objectives to complete over 6 -18 months
✔ Lunchtime Supervisor Superhero
Training
✔ Coaching Development and Action
Planning Sessions – Schools have
access to 4 x 1 hour zoom coaching
sessions over the 18 months
✔ The Positive Playtime Toolkit provides
you with ready-to-go resources, so
you don’t have to create your own
(worth over £1000.00)
✔ Positive Playtime Academy – As part
of the Award Programme you will
have access to the Positive Playtime
Academy for the first 18 months of
your programme. This will enable
ongoing training and induction of new
staff (valued at £1497.00)
✔ Promoting PALS in your Playground
Online Programme with Pre-recorded
webinar and fill-in-the-gaps
templates you can adapt to your
school for the following resources
(worth £227)
✔ A copy of 101 Playground Games
✔ 30+ years of social, emotional, mental
health and wellbeing, behaviour
management and play expertise
✔ Friday Cuppa with Therese –
A termly catch up for you to celebrate
your successes, ask questions and
gain further support.
✔ Unlimited e-mail and phone support –
we offer unlimited phone/zoom and
e mail support.
✔ On successful completion of the
Positive Playtime Award, you will
receive a certificate, an e mail footer,
a website footer
You will learn how to:
Significantly improve the quality of day-to-day
playtimes and lunchtimes
………………..
Create a safe, secure and playful outdoor
learning environment
………………..
Complete a whole school Positive Playtime
Award Audit with 11 KPI’s
………………..
Develop a strategic plan for moving forward
………………..
Assess risks and manage changes safely
………………..
Gather pupil voice
………………..
Create Zoned Activity Areas
Upskill your Lunchtime Supervisor Superheroes
to understand the benefits of play, create
positive and effective playtimes, enhance
morale and team spirit and develop a
repertoire of games that develop social,
emotional and relationship skills
………………..
Develop a whole school relational approach,
and effective positive behaviour systems,
including restorative practices, at lunchtimes
………………..
Introduce playground games training from our
book 101 Playground Games
………………..
Establish or re–energise the Playground Activity
Leaders (PALS) System.
Improve wet playtimes
………………..
Create harmonious dining halls
………………..
Support children to develop peaceful problem
solving skills
………………..
Deliver Positive Playtime Staff Training
………………..
Embed outstanding outdoor play and learning
practice
………………..
Support staff with developing good practice
………………..
Develop a positive and effective lunchtime and
playtime policy.
………………..
Celebrate and validate the quality of your day-
to-day playtimes.
Benefits of taking part in our programme:
Improved relationships
and behaviour
Improved pupil
wellbeing
Reduced
accidents
More time for teaching
and learning
Improved staff
engagement in the
playground
More active playtimes
❝After six months of taking part in our Positive Playtime Award Programme Oasis
Academy Ryelands, in Croydon, has seen a 70% decrease in aggressive behaviour
at playtimes with arguments and fights now rare❞
Jill Lula Oasis Academy Ryelands, Croydon
FAQ’S
How does it work?
You will have 11 objectives to complete over 12-18 months and your assessor will come into your school to complete the award final verification assessment.
Your final verification assessment is your opportunity to showcase your achievements and show us how you have significantly improved lunchtimes and playtimes.
How long does the award take to complete?
Most schools can complete the award within 12-18 months.
How do we sign up for the award?
Contact us here
Do we get a certificate and logo for our website?
You will receive:
- A certificate
- An e mail footer
- A website footer.
How long does the Award last?
You will have the award for 3 years. We then ask you to reapply for re accreditation three
months prior to expiry. We will also support you with any additional training you may need.
How much is the Positive Playtime Award Programme?
The cost of the Positive Playtime Award programme for 2026-2027 is £5,000.00 Plus VAT and travel for your consultant. This can be split into two payments. This also includes
access to the Positive Playtime Online Academy for 3 years (valued at £4,491.00 + VAT)
Can we use our Sport and PE Premium to pay for this?
YES. You can pay for the Positive Playtime Essentials programme entirely from the School
Sports and PE Premium – PE and Sport Premium for Primary SchoolsThe revised 2019 DFE guidance now states that spending money on play is not only allowed
but strongly encouraged.
The primary sports premium says schools should embed physical activity into the school day
by encouraging active break times. The government recommends 30 minutes of physical
activity per day.
Schools should use the PE premium to secure improvements in these key indicators:
Engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity by:
- providing targeted activities or support to involve and encourage the least active
children – - encouraging active play during break times and lunchtimes
We have plenty of evidence from the schools we work with that shows the impact of
the programme and how it increases the physical activity of all children. Our
research also shows that those benefits are sustained over many years.
Do we need to pay an annual fee to keep this award?
No, you don’t. Your fee covers the 3 years of accreditation.
What additional support do we have?
- Positive Playtime Academy – As part of the Award Programme you will have
access to the Positive Playtime Academy (mn.co) for the first 18 months of your
programme. This will enable ongoing training and induction of new staff. - Friday Cuppa with Therese – A termly catch up for you to celebrate your
successes, ask questions and gain further support. - Coaching and unlimited e mail and phone support – Schools have access to 4 x 1
hour Coaching calls over the 18 months and we offer unlimited phone/zoom and e
mail support.
Can you offer a more bespoke package?
You can choose from our Positive Playtime Essentials Programme or Positive Playtime Award Programme, or if you require a more personalised package, we can create bespoke programme that is more suitable to your requirements and/or budget.
Kudos and Raves for the Positive Playtime Award Programme
Our results show that when you get it right you have happier children, teachers, midday
supervisors, lunchtime supervisors and parents!
With thanks to Louise Peacock from Harrowgate Hill Primary School
“The children are more settled and are busy and more cooperative. The playground is a positive place with Playground PALS, Games, Craze of the Week, Positive Play and a Friendship Stop. We have a happier, more settled playground and as a result, happier more settled children, with a significant decrease in detentions from poor behaviour at playtimes. We highly recommend the Positive Playtime Award Programme.”
‘My experience of the Positive Playtime Award Programme and working with Therese has been transformational. Therese’s intuitive approach to positive play focuses on providing, support and skill development for children who are still learning how to behave and interact socially with others. All children make mistakes and poor choices, and using her positive playtime strategies supports them as they develop an understanding of positive and negative behaviours.’
“Therese Hoyle delivered high quality, structured sessions tailor-made to the needs of our school. She worked with teachers, support staff, midday supervisors and pupils to create a shared emphasis on positive playtime experiences for all children. The training has energised staff who are now more actively engaged in developing creative and harmonious playtimes and utilising equipment and skills. The children responded very positively and with the introduction of our playtime council to foster and lead inclusive, active games, are working hard at playing well.”
“Therese you are truly inspirational. I was stunned by your skills and so was every single person who attended. It was the best Professional Development we have ever done – with full buy in from all staff. I cannot thank you enough.”
Before the Positive Playtime Award Programme our playtimes and lunchtimes were in fact quite boring for our children as they didn’t have a lot to play with or know how to play outside nicely. With the help of Thérèse and the Positive Playground Programme we have been able to implement lots of different playground games that the children really enjoy, and we now have a plethora of equipment and activities for the children to do. We divided our playground into different zones so that each child will be able to find something they like to do. Whether that is playing in the quiet area or having a go at the craze of the week. By changing our playground and the way it runs, it has created far happier more positive playtimes and our children are more motivated to play with each other and enjoy their time in the playground.
“Before we started working with Therese Hoyle and the Positive Playtime Programme our playtimes and lunchtimes were problematic. The two years of COVID had change the dynamics of peer relationships and children were finding it difficult to work as a community. More unstructured moments during the day (playtime & lunchtime) needed heavily staffing, with even the most innocuous of games needing scaffolding. Behaviour monitoring showed a sharp rise in arguments and fights. With the support of Therese and The Positive Playtime Award Programme we coached and mentored staff from lunchtime supervisors to TA’s and teachers. The Positive Playtime CPD brought a positivity back amongst staff that had been eroded. The focus on fun activities, community, relationships, positive behaviour strategies and zoning our playground, etc. have meant that behaviour monitoring has registered a stark drop in misdemeanours. Pupil voice, with weekly Circle Times has also evidenced much happier children. All of this has meant teachers are able to teach after playtime and lunchtime instead of resolving issues. The Positive Playtime Award Programme has been a hugely helpful experience and one that I would recommend whole heartedly. We are delighted to have received the Award “
