We now have our play leader scheme up and running again. The idea of the scheme is to train children how to set up and run a variety of playground games. This not only increases leadership skills, communication and confidence levels in the play leaders but also helps with behaviour in the playground.
We are quite unique with the scheme because it is usually run by older age children but we have found Year 2 children to be very enthusiastic and more than capable of fulfilling the role.
We sent a letter out to all the Year 2 children detailing what the job would entail and invited them to “apply” for the job. The staff then looked through the applicants and chose 6 children who they thought would benefit from the role.
These children then worked with Liz Kendal from the High School. They spoke to some play workers from the High School about the work they did and compiled a list of qualities that a play leader would need. They watched the older children run activities and then had to swap roles so that the Year 2 children became the teachers.
We have also benefited from hiring a play worker called Sue. She works alongside the play leaders 3 days a week and has shown lots of enthusiasm for the job.
The work undertaken by the play leaders also allows them to partake in the Volunteering & Leadership Award Scheme. The children have to log the work they do at dinner times and the more hours they do the higher the award they achieve.
To keep the scheme fresh and exciting we aim to change our play leaders every term or half term enabling as many children as possible to benefit from the role. So far the scheme has proven successful with all the children happy to either lead or partake in the activities.
Our current play leaders: Oliver, Matthew, Thomas, Darian, Olivia and Hannah
