Activity PODS
The Activity Pod is a play programme designed for foundation phase and KS 1 pupils. The ethos of the Activity Pod is based on the belief that play is critically important to children and has a key role in the development of physical, social, emotional and creative skills.
Schools are provided with a shipping container full of recyclable resources (loose parts) and ‘poddely’, teachers and staff from each school receive training on how to utilise the Activity Pod programme for play.
It is hoped that the Activity Pod will become a sustainable, embedded project that supports schools to provide quality play, sport, and physical activity opportunities for pupils during curriculum and extra curriculum.
We know the outcomes of providing loose parts play are highly beneficial to the children and the school community.
So, raising awareness for the whole school community is essential to the success of installing loose parts play. This requires senior management to consider various aspects such as; making amendments to day to day logistics, writing risk benefit assessments and play policies through to engaging all stakeholders in the school community.
Open and shared communication is critically important at every level of the school from governors to parents to create this cultural shift successfully.
Installing loose parts involves everyone in the school community. The process is designed to be adaptable to each individual school but does require a certain amount of input from the different stakeholders to make it successful and sustainable.
I noticed that the pupils were happier and playing with children that they wouldn’t normally play with. They were taking turns and it was lovely to see them communicating with each other and demonstrating.
Primary School Teacher
What are loose parts?
Loose parts are simply a collection of materials in the play setting. They can be pieces of wood, containers, toys or items that can be moved around, carried, rolling or repositioned to create new and interesting structures and experiences. Loose parts can be man-made or natural, as in sticks, stones and leaves. Loose parts can also be specifically manufactured, for example, ‘The Poddely’.
Children and young people enjoy loose parts play because they can play with them in different ways for short periods or days at a time. They can choose what they do with the items, what we call open ended resources. Some loose parts have more play value than others and a variety of items that work well together can offer a huge amount of play opportunities.
The introduction of loose parts in school playgrounds can enable children to be creative in their play, simply because they are non-prescriptive and encourage a range of different play types.
The skills they’ve gained from using the pod are tremendous and I think have the activity pod has opened our eyes to the fact that it wasn’t just something that was needed at playtime, but that it was something that we could use in curriculum lessons.
Primary School Teacher
Benefits of having loose parts
- Learning through Play - Loose parts can enhance the physical and human environment within schools; creating stimulating and interactive spaces where children can learn through play.
- Critical Skills - Playing with loose parts encourages varied types of play which can involve sustained concentration, creative experiences, team building, co-operation, effective communication, increased sharing and negotiation, problem solving, and experiential learning.
- Risk and Self-Management - Loose parts encourage children to manage their own level of risk and learn how to develop the ability to assess risks for themselves.
- Inclusion - Loose parts provide an environment that enables children to play in a way that they choose. This may be by themselves, in large or small groups, or with children who perhaps they would not normally play with.
Often children who are socially isolated, or children who may have been excluded from other children’s play, find themselves able to join in and play in a way that is far more appropriate for them.
The support from AYPD has been outstanding. As a playgroup owner, keeping costs affordable for the families but also trying my very best to give the highest quality of care and education. I really cannot put into words how lucky we are to have this privilege of worthwhile equipment. Thank you
Standing To Grow nursery
For further information on the programme please contact the AYPD team: play@bridgend.gov.uk
Play Wales have lots of information on their website for everyone, schools, practitioners, parents and guardians to support and develop play for young people