We’re delighted that Play Out was the winner in the #EarlyYears category for the Campaign For Learning Family Learning Awards. The awards celebrate imaginative, innovative and inclusive ways of delivering learning opportunities to families. Between October 2020 and December 2021, Learning Unlimited ran 4 x 10-week courses of outdoor play sessions for parents and young children called Play Out!, funded by BBC Children in Need. The aim was to provide opportunities for families with under-5s who were stuck indoors due to lockdown and nervous of venturing out.
“I never took my child to any groups before but now I understand why it’s important”
We worked with the Clapham/Brixton Better Start Area to engage families who needed the service most. Sessions were entirely outdoors in all weather and gave children opportunities to engage with the natural world through play and exploration.
Activities included digging a vegetable garden, exploring the senses through natural objects, physical play, and holding a weekly teddy-bears’ picnic which was extremely popular with the children.
Every session had a song time which built children’s confidence and developed their speech and language, and bubbles which created a lot of excitement!
“I didn’t know all the things the children’s centre can do, now my child is happier, and I can help him better”
42 children and 37 adults were supported across 4 courses
100% rated sessions “excellent”
92% played outside more often as a result
97% said children were more confident playing outside
100% made new friends
95% said their child’s speech and language improved
100% said children were happier because of attending
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