Children taking part in a project to find out if a series of structured lunchtime play sessions can help to improve their social skills have had the opportunity to take what they’ve learnt outdoors for the first time, with positive results.
The initiative by Chuckle Productions and sponsored by Sovereign, has been running for two terms. Until now, the activities have taken place in an indoor environment – but now, they’ve had the opportunity to apply the skills they’ve learnt inside the classroom in the playground.
The children have been learning and engaging in regular solo, pair and group activities with the aim of boosting aspects such as confidence and friendships. Speaking about the half term’s activities, Jennie explains: “The focus of the summer half term has been on generalising the skills that the pupils have developed inside as part of the group, and transferring these onto the playground.
During this term, pupils gathered indoors for a catch up before heading outdoors into the busier playground environment. Each week, selected pupils were asked if they would like to explain a large group game in which others could take part in.
Jennie explains: “Games included a range of group and pair activities, which proved popular with over 40 pupils participating in some weeks! Games included obstacle courses, water skittles, scavenger hunts and more. Chuckle children were always given the option to play their own games on the playground if they didn’t want to join in with the activity.
“Over the 7 weeks of this half term, we gradually extended the period of time that pupils spent playing on the playground during the Chuckle lunchtimes. In addition, we slowly decreased the level of structure and equipment provided to the pupils, but remained as satellites for pupils who may require support.”
The results: A growth in confidence?
- The majority of the children took up the task of introducing an outdoor group game to the other pupils – with some of the children taking great pride in bringing in the other children to the sessions and teaching them the games.
- Some of the pupils chose to go and play elsewhere on the playground when given the choice, particularly on days that the field was open and playground equipment was available.
Jennie concludes: “It has been lovely to see the children confident and proud when explaining the rules to other pupils in the school – and it was good to see that they felt keen and able to join in with other pupil’s games and start their own.”
Please stay tuned to find out how the project progresses.
For more information on the Chuckle Productions, please visit www.chuckleproductions.org.
