School's out for play 2009

This years School's out for play day will be Friday 19th June.

To find out how to organise a playday in your schools click here

The 3 R’s? A Fourth Is Crucial, Too: Recess

The best way to improve children’s performance in the classroom may be to take them out of it.

Article from New York Times 23/02/09 - click here

News from Playground Partnershps

You may not be aware that Playground Partnerships is a scheme run by Woolworths Kids First, a children's charity associated with Woolworths Plc.

Following the news that Woolworths Plc is now in administration, the Playground Partnerships 2009 scheme has been suspended. We know that the suspension of the scheme may be disappointing but we hope that you understand in the current climate we are unable to continue this provision.

In the next few months we are hoping to re-launch the charity and re-instate the Playground Partnerships Scheme too. Please continue to check in to the Playground Partnerships website for further updates.

Many thanks,
The Kids First Team

School playground design materials

Indicators of a school’s contribution to well-being

An opportunity has arisen to provide evidence on promoting play as part of the well-being of children and young people in all maintained schools: primary, secondary, special, Pupil Referral Units and academies.
The government, in partnership with Ofsted, are looking for evidence from all interested parties. The deadline for responses is 16 January 2009. To join the consultation click here

London school grounds to be improved with John Laing Charitable Trust Awards

The John Laing Charitable Trust - London School Grounds Awards are offering over 50 awards, including a first prize of £3,000, to schools across London to improve their outdoor spaces. The awards - managed in partnership with Learning through Landscapes, the national school grounds charity - are now open to all LEA maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools within the Greater London area.
The awards are designed to support schools in providing opportunities for children to learn and develop in stimulating and innovative school grounds and will fund projects that may be educational, environmental, artistic, health-promoting or will simply enhance play or social development.
Prizes include:
1 x  £3,000 cash award  
4 x  £1,000 cash awards
4 x  £500 cash awards
50  x  Schoolgrounds - UK or Early Years Outdoors memberships (worth £3,000 in total)

Chief Executive of Learning through Landscapes, Catherine Andrews comments, "Experiencing the world outside should be considered an essential aspect of learning and looked upon as a vital element of personal development and education. It is becoming widely understood that a school grounds can significantly contribute towards a child's education as well as improve behaviour, develop social interaction and even reduce bullying."
Last year's winners, Lathom School in Newham, received £3,000 and used their prize to transform a concrete playground into a Green Zone. The new facility will be used to teach pupils more about the environment by growing, harvesting and eating their own produce.
Schools and early year settings in London can apply for the John Laing Charitable Trust - London School Grounds Awards by downloading an application <http://www.ltl.org.uk/johnlaingawards.htm> .

Play teaches children about emotions

Play teaches children how to engage with their emotions and helps them
to adapt to new situations, according to recent research.

The research, carried out for Play England by the University of
Gloucestershire, found that playing affects the areas of the brain that
govern emotion, motivation and reward.

The report looked at a range of scientific studies on childhood. Researchers found
that play enables children to experience and express emotions of joy,
fear, anger, sadness, shock and disgust. These emotions are held in
check by the rules, rituals and play signals of the game.