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49403000 INCLUDEPICTURE "" \* MERGEFORMATINET 00 INCLUDEPICTURE "" \* MERGEFORMATINET Learning through play at Duddingston Primary School“Play gives children a chance to practice what they’re learning.” At Duddingston Primary School we recognise the value of play and believe that all children require opportunities which enable them to explore, experiment and work as a team. Through play, children can learn to follow rules, set goals, negotiate and make decisions. What is play?379925566198300 Play is “an activity which is positively valued by the player, self-motivated, freely chosen and engaging.” (Garvey). When children play they have the “freedom to engage with and learn from the world that surrounds them. By mentally and physically connecting children to the world, play empowers them to create and grow.” (World Economic Forum).Why learn through play? Play is essential for children’s development. It allows children to learn through real-life experiences in activities that they have chosen. As well as promoting brain development, play also develops children’s understanding of the world and their place within it. Play offers opportunities to make mistakes, develop confidence and have fun with peers and adults. Here at Duddingston Primary School, pupils’ curiosity is encouraged and fostered through a range of spontaneous and planned activities, both in the classroom and outdoors. Your child’s day will contain a balance of free play, planned play and teacher led activities.Benefits of play At Duddingston Primary School we promote free-flow play which can benefit children’s development in many ways including:Greater independence –children learn independent thinking when they use their imagination to create something new. Play supports a child’s development to let them play alone, encouraging curiosity, confidence and initiative. Decision making – play involves making hundreds of decisions, one after another. When a decision works out, children feel proud. When things don’t go well, children learn what they could do differently next time.Problem solving – play helps children to learn new concepts and promotes problem solving skills in a natural, fun munication skills – through play, children learn to recognise facial expressions and body language. They learn to express their thoughts and feelings in an appropriate way.A typical Primary 1 day As soon as our pupils arrive at school, at 8.45, they are invited to play. This is traditionally called ‘soft start’. This time allows parents to pass on any important information to the class teacher and gives children the opportunity to settle into their classroom in a relaxed manner. We then gather together to take the register and look at the daily timetable and calendar. From October onwards, we begin to listen to reading groups in the morning. Half the class work with the teacher/pupil support assistant whilst the other half complete a quiet, independent task. We rotate this so that every child will read with an adult twice a week. We then gather on the carpet for our literacy lesson. This is when children are introduced to their new letters and sounds. After a short teacher-led introduction, children are then free to play. The classroom is set up for opportunities for spontaneous play as well as planned, purposeful play related to that day’s literacy learning. As the children play, both indoors and outdoors, they will then be called for focussed learning and teaching time with the teacher. This may be individually or as part of a small group to ensure that the learning is at the correct level and pace for each learner. After working with the teacher, the pupils will then complete an activity with the pupil support assistant, allowing them to develop and apply the skills they have been learning with the teacher. Morning break is from 10.30 until 10.45. Children play in the infant playground that is shared with the primary 2s and are welcome to enjoy a small snack (sent from home). After break, the children are read a story whilst they can enjoy milk (ordered through school) or water (sent from home). We then begin numeracy. Very similarly to literacy, we start with a whole class introduction. This usually involves songs and games. The children are then free to play, both in the classroom and outside, which are both set up for spontaneous and planned play. The teacher will call out children individually or in small groups for focussed learning and teaching and they will then complete a follow up task/activity with a pupil support assistant. At 12, the children are all sent to the toilets to wash their hands. The children who have ordered a school dinner will be handed their lunch token and children with packed lunches will collect their lunch boxes. We all go to the lunch hall together where the teacher remains until all the children are settled and happy. There are many adults supervising the dinner hall at all times. From 12.20, if the children are ready, they are escorted to the infant playground. If your child has not finished their lunch by this point they are more than welcome to stay in the dinner hall until they have finished. There are many opportunities for play in the playground at lunchtime including:Loose parts playGiant gamesFootball/ball gamesQuiet zone. Our afternoons are filled with PE lessons (3x 40 minutes), writing and topic work, all approached through play. A highlight of our week is when we visit our primary 6 ‘reading buddies’. Pupils are dismissed through their classroom door at 2.55. This year we have introduced ‘Filthy Fridays’. No matter what the weather, every Friday, children spend all day learning through outdoor education. We spend most Fridays exploring the school grounds, however, we sometimes plan trips within the local area e.g. the Figgate Park or Portobello Beach. Outdoor play encourages children to think of learning as an ongoing process – not something that is only done in the classroom. Outdoor play is also great for encouraging children’s creativity and there are numerous health benefits to playing outside. ................
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