Playground Friends
At St. Edmund's there are two teams of at least six trained Playground Friends.The Playground Friends are children from Years 5 and 6. Selection is a tough process and children have, in the first instance, to be recommended by their teachers. They then undergo training led by the Headteacher, before having to complete a written test. Reward programmes for hardworking, successful and proactive Playground Friends are currently being drawn up and are likely to include …Trips to McDonald’s or the Cinema or Bowling Alley!
Playground Friends should try TO MAKE THE SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS SAFER, HAPPIER AND MORE ENJOYABLE PLACES TO BE.
Playground Friends will attempt to comfort children who are upset or engage with children who for some reason have nobody to play with. They are also responsible for taking out a wide range of equipment each day (weather permitting) for other children to enjoy. They are also responsible for its safe return! The equipment may include:
- Football and cones – football can only be played in a designated area.
- Large and small catching balls for circle games.
- Hula-hoops.
- Beanbags and rubber quoits.
- Bats and balls.
There are also quiet zones that offer:
- Dry-wipe boards and pens.
- Reading books.
- Crayons and colouring sheets.
When the weather doesn’t allow the children to play outside, the Playground Friends work just as hard to occupy the children in their classrooms or in the school hall with a wide range of appropriate activities.