Congratulations to our new PALs team 2024-2025

Ariana, Zemyma, Lauren, Edith, Millie and Ella

This term will see annual launch of our weekly playground initiative P.A.L.S (Playground Activities Leaders) at lunchtime. This is an introduction into leadership, giving children knowledge of how to organise and lead small games and activities for their peers.

Aims

There are opportunities for the young playground leaders to:

• Develop leadership skills such as - organisation, communication and teamwork
• Build confidence and self-esteem
• Be responsible for leading their peers and groups of younger children
• Increase the variety of play experiences available for the children promoting physical, social and creative opportunities
• Improve children's choices and positive behaviours on the playground
• Reflect and evaluate on what is working and areas for further development

The initiative will continue to build upon and develop the playzones that were established a few years ago. Resources have been purchased and members of staff identified to target play outside to include arts and crafts, games and puzzles, reading zone as well as the more traditional active play involving our trim trail. We continue to review and reflect upon how successful playtimes are outside and the positive experiences that they bring for all children.

The PALs will organise weekly activities that will target the interests of all of our children from Years One to Six. The children will keep a record book that will include information on such things as: a log of the games they have played; identify the games that certain classes enjoyed; how many children took part in the games; how active the games were; names of children or classes who played well together; list of equipment that was lost or needs replacing and more in order to evaluate the success of their support.

Please look out for termly updates regarding the various activities that will be on offer for the children to enjoy.