Birmingham PlayCare Network is working with local schools in Birmingham to promote the positive effects of its ‘Let’s Play’ programme in a bid to encourage children in Birmingham to “explore limits, venture into new experiences and develop their capacities” during school playtimes.
The programme
As part of the programme, BPCN provides a large selection of innovative recycled materials for playtimes from The Scrapstore Birmingham, these are carefully selected for schools based on observations of the children’s play, the time of year and the playground environment. The resources are restocked three times per year to fit in with school term times.
The second strand of the project includes providing a thorough mentoring and training package including four training sessions to lunchtime supervisors and teaching assistants developing their confidence, skills and abilities to facilitate play opportunities using the equipment.
The organisation also includes five playground-mentoring sessions for pastoral and support staff at each school. Josh Mitchell, Project Worker at Birmingham PlayCare Network and Manager of The Scrapstore Birmingham said:
“Providing a vast range of recycled materials and combining them with the training and mentoring from our team of experts really does equip the students with the resources they need for stimulating play experiences, but also provides staff with the skills needed to facilitate the programme.
“‘Lets Play’ really helps children take their classroom learning experiences into imaginative play outdoors in an environmentally friendly way. It’s all about providing and encouraging creative, outdoor play opportunities and getting hands on with materials like plastics, large reels, huge tubes, pipes, large boxes, old tires, tarpaulin and much more.”
Playing with loose parts
The importance of playing with loose parts on the creativity of the children within the sessions help staff to recognise the importance of play and encourages a variety of play opportunities for children and their learning. Emma Payne, Business Development Manager said:
“Using loose parts can help to support staff in their work, and ensure that each school meets the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and Ofsted.
“The role of the worker is crucial of course, but workers need resources as well as skills. The ‘Lets Play’ programme can support this.”
The initiative has however already seen success throughout Birmingham, with one of the more recent partnerships being with Catholic Primary School Our Lady of Lourdes in Yardley Wood. Mike Doyle, Deputy Head spoke about the yearlong support received from BPCN:
“Our Lady of Lourdes children and staff have directly benefited from our ongoing partnership with Birmingham PlayCare Network. The children in our Class Councils highlighted dinnertime play opportunities as an area they wished to develop.
“Following our initial conversations we were convinced that the staff and philosophy of BPCN would link most suitably with our own values and ethos. The programme of detailed training for our dinner supervisory staff developed their understanding of non-specific, open-ended play with resources whilst also having hands on sessions examining the resources themselves.
“The training improved dinner staff confidence levels and the open relationship with the BPCN team ensured that areas of concern regarding the use of equipment were encouraged and addressed.”
Encouraging stimulating play experiences for children
Although training members of staff is of extremely high priority within the programme, ultimately the main focus is on encouraging and enhancing stimulating play experiences for the children. Mr. Doyle added:
“The children have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to play with the new resources, creating their own play scenarios for imaginative play, a key aspect of a child’s development.
“The training and resources has also developed the relationships between our children and the dinner supervisory staff, strengthening our adult to child interaction. A further key benefit of our partnership with BPCN has been a noted increase in the play participation levels of our children. This approach has ensured that all children have the opportunity to play in either structured or unstructured play, thereby providing something for everyone and the opportunity for learning, fun and friendship at this key time of a child’s day.”
To book a session please contact Birmingham PlayCare Network on 0121 236 2917.