The Times Educational Supplement ran a story with photo of the SNUG launch at Keys Meadow school...
to read article go to:
http://www.tes.co.uk/search/story/?story_id=2463258
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
8/11/07 Launch of Snug kit
Thanks to Woodmansterne Primary School, in Lambeth, south east London who hosted the much anticipated launch of the colourful Snug kit. Guests were met by some of the children who had had their first playtime on the kit a few days before and were bursting with excitement and things to say about it (“my favourite is the blue cone- I can climb to the top of it!") as they led guests to the main hall for reception and speeches.
Robin Sutcliffe (Managing Director of Sutcliffe Play, the manufacturer of the kit) spoke about the sheer quality and cutting edge design of the kit manufactured in a small Yorkshire village. After, Sandra Melville, NCB Ambassador for Play, gave her thoughts on the snug kit and the importance of allowing children the freedom to move about and change the outdoor environment in which they play.
Hattie Coppard, Snug and Outdoor Director, explained how the skill and generosity of so many people had culminated in this special moment. The Snug kit grew from a “simple but profound” discovery whilst working on an experimental project with children using common objects in the playground (such as traffic cones, wooden pallets, foam blocks) to change the space.
“We discovered that this had a profound effect on the behaviour of the children and on the culture and psychology of the school playground….what had been a bleak and aggressive environment became a social and creative space in which…children of different ages played and co-operated with each other.” (Hattie Coppard)
Next we watched a DVD about the kit in action, showing the many elements of the kit and how it has been used –from an outside storytelling space to indoor PE class- and how thrilled the school staff had been with it. Teachers parents and guests were then led by the children out to the playground- and without a chance to ask the children about it they were on it, under it… “they’re all over it…they love it...!” said a teacher.
In fact, teachers have already been threatened:- “the children told us that if we don’t buy snug they’ll stop talking to us!”
Another teacher exclaimed “ooh look there’s someone breakdancing on it!” According to school staff, the kit had already got teachers discussing ideas about how to use it for cross curricular work, including dance, maths and PE.
Deputy head teacher, Zoe Bryant, explained what the snug kit is doing for her and the teachers; “…the real beauty of it for us is that it enables the childrens’ learning, creativity and imaginations to carry on being stimulated through lunchtime."
Adults reported overhearing children playing on what looks from the outside to be just a large complicated structure made up of the kit but which for the children playing it's “a reconstruction of the Blitz” …or even..... ”a drive through Mcdonald’s!”
Teachers and Teaching Assistants said “it’s all about the colours for the children…they remember the colour first then the name [of each component of the kit]. Purple’s the in colour for now!”
Thanks to Woodmansterne Primary School, in Lambeth, south east London who hosted the much anticipated launch of the colourful Snug kit. Guests were met by some of the children who had had their first playtime on the kit a few days before and were bursting with excitement and things to say about it (“my favourite is the blue cone- I can climb to the top of it!") as they led guests to the main hall for reception and speeches.
Robin Sutcliffe (Managing Director of Sutcliffe Play, the manufacturer of the kit) spoke about the sheer quality and cutting edge design of the kit manufactured in a small Yorkshire village. After, Sandra Melville, NCB Ambassador for Play, gave her thoughts on the snug kit and the importance of allowing children the freedom to move about and change the outdoor environment in which they play.
Hattie Coppard, Snug and Outdoor Director, explained how the skill and generosity of so many people had culminated in this special moment. The Snug kit grew from a “simple but profound” discovery whilst working on an experimental project with children using common objects in the playground (such as traffic cones, wooden pallets, foam blocks) to change the space.
“We discovered that this had a profound effect on the behaviour of the children and on the culture and psychology of the school playground….what had been a bleak and aggressive environment became a social and creative space in which…children of different ages played and co-operated with each other.” (Hattie Coppard)
Next we watched a DVD about the kit in action, showing the many elements of the kit and how it has been used –from an outside storytelling space to indoor PE class- and how thrilled the school staff had been with it. Teachers parents and guests were then led by the children out to the playground- and without a chance to ask the children about it they were on it, under it… “they’re all over it…they love it...!” said a teacher.
In fact, teachers have already been threatened:- “the children told us that if we don’t buy snug they’ll stop talking to us!”
Another teacher exclaimed “ooh look there’s someone breakdancing on it!” According to school staff, the kit had already got teachers discussing ideas about how to use it for cross curricular work, including dance, maths and PE.
Deputy head teacher, Zoe Bryant, explained what the snug kit is doing for her and the teachers; “…the real beauty of it for us is that it enables the childrens’ learning, creativity and imaginations to carry on being stimulated through lunchtime."
Adults reported overhearing children playing on what looks from the outside to be just a large complicated structure made up of the kit but which for the children playing it's “a reconstruction of the Blitz” …or even..... ”a drive through Mcdonald’s!”
Teachers and Teaching Assistants said “it’s all about the colours for the children…they remember the colour first then the name [of each component of the kit]. Purple’s the in colour for now!”
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