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Leisure Development Services
EA POSITIVE PLAY
The Play Development team has recently changed their
name to EA Positive Play following their success in securing funding
from The Big Lottery.
The EA Positive Play team is dedicated to providing high quality
play provision in East Ayrshire and does this through providing
a wide range of services to statutory and community organisations.
These include: |
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Fun 4 Hire – Play Equipment Hire Service
Playday
School Grounds Initiatives
Developing afterschool activity clubs
Seasonal Activities
Pre-5 activity sessions
EA Play Forum
Providing play related advice
Providing play related training
Primary Positive Play Training events
 School
Grounds Week
EA Positive Play – The new lottery funded project managed by East
Ayrshire Council’s Leisure Development Service carried on the success
of previous years by encouraging 36 schools to participate in National
School Grounds Week. EA Positive Play worked closely with Grounds for
Learning – the school grounds charity, to develop ideas and activities
which promote better use of school grounds for positive play, learning
and growth.
East Ayrshire’s School Grounds Week 2007 took place on 1 –
5 October with the theme of Small Steps to a sustainable future!
This year was a great success and fun was had by all children and staff
when EA Positive Play Motivators took the playground by storm introducing
exciting playground games. 1689 children from P4/5 classes participated
in the event. Each school participated in 2 practical outdoor activity
sessions, were provided with a sustainability information booklet and
games ideas.
Pupils were encouraged to take part in a school grounds competition,
which involved them in designing their own playground game. Each class
then chose their favourite to enter in the East Ayrshire wide competition.
2007’s winner is Beverly Jordan from Silverwood Primary, who has
won a new playground design for her school playground.
Playday
Playday is the annual celebration of children's right to play.
The Positive Play team are re-launching Playday in East Ayrshire with
this year's theme of 'Give us a go!' focussing on addressing the 'cotton
wool' culture by promoting activities that have an element of risk attached
to them.
Playday 2008 is on Wednesday 6 August at the Kay Park, Kilmarnock from
11am to 3pm. The park will be divided into the following zones:-
Fun Zone - Bouncy Castles/Gladiator Duel/ Inflatable Assault Course/Inflatable
Beat the Goalie
Physical Zone - Duathlon/EA Olympics/Street Football/Street Basketball/
Jump2theBeat/Dancing & Skipping
Messy Zone - Water Slides/Sand Pits/Beach Games/Hay Bales
Adventure Zone - Canoeing/Climbing Wall/Ranger Service/Scouts
Creative Zone - Drama Workshops/Storytelling/Arts & Crafts/Balloon Modelling/Face
Painting/Badge making
There is plenty of scope for little ones to get soaked and dirty, so parents are advised to bring a change of clothes with them!
Let's make Playday 2008 the biggest and best yet so if you have ideas
on what you would like to see at Playday or any comments please contact
the The Play & Activity
Motivator (Communities).
Developing afterschool
activity clubs
In 2006 the Childcare Partnership undertook audits of need for out of
school care provision in the Irvine Valley area to establish demand.
The results of the audit indicated a level of demand which was insufficient
for the development of a standalone out of school care service. There
were however a number of families who were not able to access local childcare
to support their employment, training or education.
The Childcare Partnership thought that a solution could be developed
if after school activities could be planned and delivered in a way that
could also meet parents need for after school care.
A multi agency group comprising representatives from Early Education
and Childcare, Leisure Development Services, Newmilns Head Teacher, Working
for Families and Active Schools was established to explore this possibility
and as a result a funding package from Leisure Development, Childcare
Strategy and Working for Families funds was drawn together. The package
provides for a three year East Ayrshire wide pilot post of After School
Activity Motivator with the Newmilns service being the priority area of
work in the first year.
The Newmilns Afterschool Activity Club offers places for up to 20 children
at the club which is held from 3pm – 4.50pm, Monday to Thursday
each week and has the overall vision of ‘Promoting positive play
opportunities for children’
Seasonal Activities
It’s Time for Play!
The EA Positive Play project skipped into action during the October school
holidays with EA Positive “Play–Times” being held in
Cumnock town hall and Riccarton community centre. These larger scale play
events were aimed at encouraging families to play together.
115 children under the age of 8 years and 62 adults were left exhausted
after participating in a huge array of activities which developed physical,
creative, imaginative and social skills – and all in one afternoon!
Keep a look out for Play sessions
which will be provided during Easter, Summer and October school holiday
periods for children aged birth – 12 years!
Pre-5 Activity Sessions
Activity Motivation Initiative (Early Years)
This extremely successful intitiative, which is linked to the Fit Ayrshire
Babies Project (FAB), started in May 2006 and has received Big Lottery
Funding to continue until 2010 following a positive external evaluation.
The initiative aims to promote the importance of physical activity and
play to young children and their parents or carers. In sessions, children
and their parents or carers have the opportunity to improve their skills
and competencies as well as increasing their understanding of the long
term benefits of exercise, play and social interaction.
During term time the Play & Activity Motivators provide regular activities
for parent and toddler groups based on the themes of Messy Arts, Fun Fitness,
Active Play, Music & Rhyming and Road Safety in the following areas:
• Drongan
• Logan
• Onthank
• Netherthird
• Patna
• Catrine
• Auchinleck
• New Cumnock
• Galston
• Shortlees
• Riccarton
• Barshare |
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For active play sessions
for children under 5 please check here.
For more information please contact the Play
and Activity Motivator (Early Years)
EA Play Forum
As part of the new lottery funded EA Positive Play Project The Play &
Activity Motivator (Communities) will work with groups and individuals
with an interest in play to set up Ayrshire’s first Local Play Forum.
The Play & Activity Motivator (Communities) will assist community
groups to access external funding and resources to develop sustainable
play opportunities. This will be achieved through the provision of training
and resources, which will hopefully influence the attitude of children,
parents and carers by promoting the benefits and importance of play.
If you are interested in being added to the database which will enable
you to receive information about the Play Forum please contact The
Play & Activity Motivator (Communities).
Providing play related advice
The EA Positive Play Team is always available to offer professional advice
to individuals or groups on the following:
• Information on latest issues in play
• Existing Activities/Clubs in your Area
• Funding for Play
• Support & training for play organisations
• Education/Careers in Play
For more information please contact the Play
Development Manager.
Providing play related training
This calendar offers a range of courses which are both innovative and
practical and will assist in the delivery of play related sessions to
organisations who work with children and young people alike. All courses
last no longer than 3 hours and can be tailored to the needs of individual
groups.
Play Related Training
For more information or to book a place please contact the Play
and Recreation Officer.
Primary Positive Play training
events
This initiative provides primary schools on a Learning Partnership basis
with the opportunity to select up to 100 P6 pupils plus playground support
staff to attend Positive Play training. The training day will include
the practical element of activity based provision such as drama, no equipment
games, team games, skipping and sporting activities whilst the school
staff are provided with a DVD and manual which gives a more theoretical
approach. They include a step by step guide as well as necessary documentation
for implementation of the initiative. Pupils are taught skills and techniques
which will enable them to teach the other pupils in their school to play
positively within their playground environment.
For more information on how your school and group can organise a Positive
Play training day contact the Play
& Recreation Officer
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