St Stephens

Owen by himself, bouncing a ball and complaining about being left out of a game. He has not been chosen because the others think that he is too clumsy to play.

Owen: It’s not fair, just because I’m a little bit clumsy, they say that I can’t play.

Azaan: (addresses the audiences)
“It’s not very nice is it, when you’re left by yourself? It happens to all of us at one point or another in our lives. This is why we have decided as a class to think about Inclusive Play”.

Owen:“Inclusive Play? What’s that Owen? And how does it affect me?

Azaan:“Well , Inclusive Play, is play where everyone can join in.
It’s important because of the feelings associated with being excluded. So how do you feel at the moment Azaan when you’re not allowed to join in the games?

Owen:“I really feel upset, excluded and very lonely”.

Azaan: “Yes, from our class survey, we have discovered that these are very common feelings that children who have been excluded from taking part in games feel”.
“As a class we have visited the Urban Studies Centre in Hammersmith and interviewed a number of people who work and campaign for Inclusive Play”.

Owen: “Very interesting, who did you speak to and what did they have to say?”

Azaan: “Well the list of people is quite varied, from a campaigning parent, who has a child with a disability to two Inclusive Play Workers. The main thing is that they all agreed that it feels horrible to be excluded.

Owen: “That sounds interesting, tell me more”.

Azaan: “As well as talking to some very interesting people at the Urban Study Centre, we were also taught a little bit of sign language which we will quickly demonstrate for you.”

Owen: “Are there any projects in place in the community which support and advocate Inclusive Play?”

Azaan: “There is, in fact we did visit one place called Kidsactive, in Bishop’s Park. We participated in some great activities with some children from Queen’s Manor Special Unit. Some of the activities included soft play, the sensory room, treasure hunt and t-shirt designing.”

Owen: “What, so nobody was left out?”

Azaan: “No, that’s the great thing about Inclusive Play it’s for everyone. We all had great fun!”

Owen: “Well, sounds like something every school should be striving for, but surely we should think about reasons which prevent children from playing in our playground?”

Azaan: “Yes we surveyed children throughout the school at playtime and found some common reasons that prevent play”.
1. 60% of children didn’t know the rules of the games being played.
2. 30% said that we didn’t have enough play equipment.
3. 10% of younger children felt excluded by older children taking over the ball.”

Owen: “Those are some very interesting reasons that prevent play, so what can schools do to make sure that everyone feels included?”

Azaan: “Well at St. Stephen’s, we went to the School Council and Lunchtime Supervisors and asked them to look at the ways football games are organised. We found that putting older children at one end of the playground meant that we had room for the younger children to play ball games also”.

Owen: “What a simple solution!”

Azaan: “Yes, and since September a Quiet Area has been introduced. We are now looking at fundraising ideas to raise money for purchasing toys, books and board games for children in this area”.

Owen: “What, like a sponsored silent read or sponsored spell?”

Azaan: “Exactly, at St. Stephen’s we have just finish helping the PTA with a sponsored ‘How many items can you get in a matchbox’ all the money raised will go toward purchasing play equipment for our playground”.

Owen: “That’s such a good idea, what else have you been doing?”

Azaan: “As a class we have been trying to support other children in the playground by explaining the rules and teaching them new games. We’ve also introduced a Friendship Stop in the playground, children use it to tell us when they are feeling excluded from games and we have made sure that we can include them in a game”.

“So even though we haven’t got masses of resources, Inclusive Play is still possible in our school and if so it’s possible everywhere”.

“We’ve produced a leaflet on Inclusive Play, which we intend to send around to every primary school in Hammersmith & Fulham. We hope that you read it and maybe think about Inclusive Play in your school as we believe that access to play is every child’s right”.

Owen and Azaan: “Every child has a right to play.”

Azaan: “Come on Owen, let’s play”.

		Owen by himself, bouncing a ball and complaining about being left out of a game. He has not been chosen because the others think that he is too clumsy to play. Owen: It’s not fair, just because I’m a little bit clumsy, they say that I can’t play. Azaan: (addresses the audiences) “It’s not very nice is it, when you’re left by yourself? It happens to all of us at one point or another in our lives. This is why we have decided as a class to think about Inclusive Play”. Owen:“Inclusive Play? What’s that Owen? And how does it affect me? Azaan:“Well , Inclusive Play, is play where everyone can join in. It’s important because of the feelings associated with being excluded. So how do you feel at the moment Azaan when you’re not allowed to join in the games? Owen:“I really feel upset, excluded and very lonely”. Azaan: “Yes, from our class survey, we have discovered that these are very common feelings that children who have been excluded from taking part in games feel”. “As a class we have visited the Urban Studies Centre in Hammersmith and interviewed a number of people who work and campaign for Inclusive Play”. Owen: “Very interesting, who did you speak to and what did they have to say?” Azaan: “Well the list of people is quite varied, from a campaigning parent, who has a child with a disability to two Inclusive Play Workers. The main thing is that they all agreed that it feels horrible to be excluded. Owen: “That sounds interesting, tell me more”. Azaan: “As well as talking to some very interesting people at the Urban Study Centre, we were also taught a little bit of sign language which we will quickly demonstrate for you.” Owen: “Are there any projects in place in the community which support and advocate Inclusive Play?” Azaan: “There is, in fact we did visit one place called Kidsactive, in Bishop’s Park. We participated in some great activities with some children from Queen’s Manor Special Unit. Some of the activities included soft play, the sensory room, treasure hunt and t-shirt designing.” Owen: “What, so nobody was left out?” Azaan: “No, that’s the great thing about Inclusive Play it’s for everyone. We all had great fun!” Owen: “Well, sounds like something every school should be striving for, but surely we should think about reasons which prevent children from playing in our playground?” Azaan: “Yes we surveyed children throughout the school at playtime and found some common reasons that prevent play”. 1. 60% of children didn’t know the rules of the games being played. 2. 30% said that we didn’t have enough play equipment. 3. 10% of younger children felt excluded by older children taking over the ball.” Owen: “Those are some very interesting reasons that prevent play, so what can schools do to make sure that everyone feels included?” Azaan: “Well at St. Stephen’s, we went to the School Council and Lunchtime Supervisors and asked them to look at the ways football games are organised. We found that putting older children at one end of the playground meant that we had room for the younger children to play ball games also”. Owen: “What a simple solution!” Azaan: “Yes, and since September a Quiet Area has been introduced. We are now looking at fundraising ideas to raise money for purchasing toys, books and board games for children in this area”. Owen: “What, like a sponsored silent read or sponsored spell?” Azaan: “Exactly, at St. Stephen’s we have just finish helping the PTA with a sponsored ‘How many items can you get in a matchbox’ all the money raised will go toward purchasing play equipment for our playground”. Owen: “That’s such a good idea, what else have you been doing?” Azaan: “As a class we have been trying to support other children in the playground by explaining the rules and teaching them new games. We’ve also introduced a Friendship Stop in the playground, children use it to tell us when they are feeling excluded from games and we have made sure that we can include them in a game”. “So even though we haven’t got masses of resources, Inclusive Play is still possible in our school and if so it’s possible everywhere”. “We’ve produced a leaflet on Inclusive Play, which we intend to send around to every primary school in Hammersmith & Fulham. We hope that you read it and maybe think about Inclusive Play in your school as we believe that access to play is every child’s right”. Owen and Azaan: “Every child has a right to play.” Azaan: “Come on Owen, let’s play”.

St. Stephen's Share a session at Kidsactive with students from Queen Mary's.
St. Stephen's research playground behaviour for their project on inclusive play.