Stay and play project in Merthyr Tydfil

As highlighted in guidance for the Welsh Government’s Community Focused Schools programme, school grounds often represent the largest single outdoor space in many communities.

It notes that opening school grounds for play has a significant role to play in addressing the need to ensure that more children can access outdoor play. It recognises that for many communities, the best space for play are the school grounds, and increased access out of school hours would support local children and families.

As part of its Play Sufficiency Action Plan, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council identified the need for schools to consider making their grounds available for after school play. Funding was allocated from the All Wales Play Opportunities Grant for storage and equipment. The Community Focused Schools Manager helped to identify schools in the county to take part in a pilot project that provided opportunities for children and families to stay and play in the school grounds.

The pilot project ran for one day a week for six weeks in four schools. To support the pilot, the Community Focused Schools Team Officers attended early sessions at Pantyscallog, St. Aloysius and Goetre primary schools. The schools continued staffing the sessions after the pilot ended via family liaison officers, learning support assistants, and early years teachers.

Lisa Bruford, Merthyr’s Community Focused Schools Manager, reports:

‘The Stay and play Pilot at Pantyscallog Primary School was a huge success with 50-90 children and 20-40 adults attending each session. Children enjoyed playing in a safe space and participated fully in activities which were child led. Resources that can be purchased at a minimum cost were used and parents reported that they hadn’t thought of using resources they have at home for their children to play. Items such as tarpaulin, bed sheets, pegs and chalk were some of the resources children enjoyed playing with.’

The feedback from parents and carers who attended the sessions was also positive:

‘Kids are excited to come every week.’ ‘It’s good for bonding with peers.’ ‘Want it to continue.’

One father reported:

‘This is the first time I’ve seen my child playing with others and turn taking, it’s lovely to see.’

Jennifer Evans, Family Engagement Officer, at Ynysowen Community Primary School, also ran some stay and play sessions. She said:

‘These sessions have given me an opportunity to engage with parents and guardians, which has helped build relationships between the school and our families. We look forward to restarting the sessions in Ynysowen and Coed y Dderwen in September.’

The Stay and play pilot aimed to demonstrate that school play spaces might become absorbed into wider community life. Key findings from the pilot include:

• Participating schools were supportive, but benefitted from the support that staff could offer at the beginning.
• Parents valued having time, space and permission to support their children’s play.
• Parents also valued the opportunities for informal networking with peers and supportive professionals.