At Kidgate Academy, we believe that play is an essential part of school life. Break and lunchtime provide valuable opportunities for children to be active, spend time with friends, develop independence and enjoy being outdoors. Our Active Play approach is about making the most of these times so that children have a positive, enjoyable and purposeful experience.
Our outdoor spaces provide opportunities for children of all ages to play, explore and interact with one another. Children are encouraged to choose how they spend their playtime, whether that is through physical activity, imaginative games, creative activities, using equipment, spending time with friends or simply enjoying the outdoor environment.
Bringing different year groups together creates a strong sense of belonging across our school. Younger children can play alongside older pupils, while older children have opportunities to develop responsibility, leadership and consideration for others. These shared experiences help children to build friendships beyond their own classes and strengthen our school community.
We want our children to become confident and independent in their play. They are encouraged to try new activities, overcome challenges, make decisions and find solutions when things do not go as planned. Playing together also gives children important opportunities to practise sharing, turn-taking, communication, teamwork and resolving disagreements respectfully.
Active Play supports our wider commitment to developing the whole child. It contributes to children's physical health and well-being while also developing their confidence, creativity, resilience and social skills. These experiences complement the learning that takes place in the classroom and help children develop skills that they can use throughout their lives.
Our approach reflects the values that are important to us at Kidgate Academy: Kindness, Respect and Resilience. We encourage children to look after one another, include others, respect our shared spaces and equipment, and persevere when faced with a challenge.
Above all, we want our playground to be a place where children feel happy, safe, included and excited to play. By providing a wide range of opportunities and allowing children greater ownership of their play, we are helping them to develop kind hearts, curious minds and the confidence to thrive.
At Kidgate Academy, active play is an important part of growing, learning and belonging.