1. Further information contact: claire.lawrence@aberlour.org.uk
Improving children’s choice to access free play opportunities outdoors in after school clubs
Claire Lawrence, Play Development Worker, Aberdeen Play Forum/Aberlour Futures
Aim: To support the provision of free play opportunities in after school clubs.
The benefits of loose parts play outdoors has been well researched.
‘When children interact with loose parts, they enter a world of ‘what if’ that promotes the type of thinking that leads to problem solving and theoretical reasoning. Loose parts enhance children’s ability to think imaginatively and see solutions, and they bring a sense of adventure and excitement to children’s play.’ (Daly and Beloglovsky, 2015).
Loose Parts Play, A Toolkit. T. Casey and J. Robertson
Initial Project Aim: To support the staff team of 1 after school club (Club A) to allow children who attend the ASC, the choice to access quality free play provision
outdoors daily 80% of the time, increasing the number of days they play outdoors per week. (e.g. 4 out of 5 days) by 30 September
Aim 2: To support 4 after school clubs to implement loose parts free play provision outdoors daily 80% of the time by 31 March 2017.
Aim 3: To support and encourage staff in after school clubs to enable children to access outdoor play provision, during the winter months and dark
nights by 31 March 2017.
Method
Achievements
At Aberdeen Play Forum we tested and developed a Loose Parts Play Programme to support staff teams in after school clubs to enable children to access daily outdoor play opportunities.
Staff felt that the children learned a lot throughout the programme.
It had resulted in the children asking to go out every day – and the
club staff have ensured that they have given them the opportunity
to go out every day since our play rangers moved on. “The children
are using everything they find as a loose part in their play.”
Coordinator, Club A
The children’s feedback was positive too:
“I like that we go outside.” Child B.
“That we get to decide what we want to do with them[the loose parts].” Child S
The staff in Club A have also implemented free flow between the indoors and outdoors giving the children choice of where they want to play.
Staff said that this programme has allowed them to learn and improve their practice.
By the end of the programme children were now accessing outdoor play provision 80% of sessions; daily play was not always possible due to bad weather and children making the choice to stay indoors to play.
Since the Play Rangers left Clubs A and B, they have been meeting their goal of providing outdoor free play provision for at least 4 out of 5 days per week.
Club C were already going out 3 days per week
before the implementation of Loose Parts play,
however they identified that they are now spending
longer outdoors playing since the implementation
of the programme.
Loose parts play has resulted in:
developed social skills;
better relationships – 2 schools attending
Club A now mix and play together;
fewer disputes during play;
more freedom in the large outdoors environment;
children lead their own play;
more focused play observed for long periods of time;
children assessing risk for themselves;
staff were more relaxed;
increased imagination and creativity in their play.
Aberdeen Play Forum has trained up another staff member in order to deliver the programme to more after school clubs at one time.
Aberdeen Play Forum created a Loose Parts Programme to follow with each club. APF:
provided training to all of the club staff in loose parts play;
collected baseline data;
provided Play Ranger Sessions twice weekly to implement loose parts play;
supported staff and children with risk benefit assessments.
“That loose parts play is both fun and important. How to get children involved to develop their own risk awareness and making the conscious transition between structured games and free imaginative play.”
“I have learned how to introduce new equipment and complete risk benefit assessments. That loose parts and outdoor play is really important.”
Aberdeen Play Forum created a ‘Play in the Dark’ information booklet and purchased some ‘Play in the Dark’ resources to use in the after school clubs. Play Ranger sessions were provided, where APF went along with their resources, allowing children and the staff to explore play with these items.
PDSA ramp
Aim: to support the provision of free play opportunities in after school clubs
Cycle 3: Will providing Play Rangers to support the implementation of Play in the Dark Resources outdoors increase play opportunities in darker months?”
Test with 1 club.
Prediction: Staff will become more confident allowing children to play in the dark.
Study:
Act:
Cycle 2: “Will providing Play Rangers to support the implementation of Loose Parts Play outdoors increase the number of days after school clubs provide outdoor free play provision?”
Test with 4 clubs.
Prediction: Staff will develop more ideas of how to provide quality outdoor free play provision.
Study: Staff struggling to get children outdoors in darker weather when Play Rangers not on site.
Act: Test under different conditions – winter/dark nights.
Cycle 1: “Will providing Play Rangers to support the implementation of Loose Parts Play outdoors increase the number of days the club provides outdoor free play provision?”
Test with 1 club.
Prediction: Staff will develop more ideas of how to provide quality outdoor free play provision.
Study: staff developed confidence and skills in benefit risk assessing. Ready to test with more clubs.
Act: Test with more than one club.
Results
Conclusions
Children are now asking to go outdoors every day and staff are ensuring that they give the children the opportunity to access outdoor play provision daily. Staff have gained more knowledge about the importance of allowing children free play opportunities and have started to build up their own loose parts play kit of resources to have at their own after school clubs.
” I thought the programme went very well. The staff were very friendly, enthusiastic and worked well with the children, which was evident from the way the children talked about them and how excited they were to see the staff each day. There was a good variety of resources which the children took full advantage of making dens, maze runs and pretending to cook using mud, plants and the cooking equipment provided.
Although the children have always been enthusiastic about outdoor play this experience has broadened their understanding of it and helped give staff more ideas to keep them entertained and ensure the activities are varied.
Regarding improvements, we found the experience very positive and can’t think of anything that could make it better.” Co-ordinator Club B
By the end of the programme children were now accessing outdoor play provision 80% of sessions; daily play was not always possible due to bad weather and children making the choice to stay indoors to play.
APF have worked with 4 After School Clubs to implement Loose Parts Play Outdoors in 2016.
“This programme has encouraged staff to examine their practice and opinions and has had a positive impact on their ability to offer appropriate outdoor experiences for the children. Children are now accessing outdoor play regularly (at least 80% of sessions) and are enjoying the freedom to explore. Staff are continuing to develop and are now having conversations about such barriers as rainy days, fear of negative parental reactions etc and how to overcome these.” Club A Manager
Staff said, “Children are spending more time
outside and this is the most important thing.
They are learning how to socialise and play
together, share and invent new games.
They are evaluating risk in practice, and they are
building better relationships with each other.”
“We have 2 schools attending the club and they
are now playing together rather than with people
from their own school.” Support Worker, Club A
Key Learning Points
Each after school club is different – some take on the outdoor free play ethos quicker than others, and we have learned to adapt the length of time to run the Loose Parts Play Programme depending on the needs of each club.
Next steps
Continue to test ‘Play after Dark’ as the weather gets colder and
darker to support staff with play in such weather.
Continue to Implement Loose Parts Programme in other clubs.
Further information contact: