We are exploring in school how we can improve the overall experience of play at break and lunch.
This initially started as merging KS1 and KS2 together for break and some investment into specific activities (e.g. table tennis table and large-scale Connect 4) as well as providing a Y6-led activity at morning break for KS1 and a competitive activity during lunch for KS2.
This year, we are looking at how we can further enhance this experience. Following the heads of school council visiting a school (that have begun implementing a more ambitious approach to play), we are currently investigating some changes. One of this has been the addition of music to a section of the playground. Our sports leaders have also begun getting some of the scooters/go karts out so that KS1 pupils can play with these at breaktime.
This week, we are going to try out another idea from the school council – which is to lengthen break time (from 15 minutes to 30 minutes) and shorten lunch break (from 60 minutes to 45 minutes). This will mean that the children will still get the same amount of “break” but spread differently. KS1 will still get their usual afternoon break.
We will be soon exploring way in which we can improve the school grounds/space to enable a broader range of activities at break and lunch (potentially including nature area, quiet reading area, construction area, creative area – along with other ideas). If anyone has any particular skill sets / resources that could help us with any of these, it would be massively appreciated.
FOBCS will soon be planning a playground tidy up. Again, any volunteers for this would be really appreciated.