Children at Chilton Primary in Ramsgate are enjoying a wider range play opportunities in their lunch breaks this year.

It is part of the school’s Thrive Time ethos – an approach that supports children's mental health and behaviour by building positive relationships through playfulness, accepting each other’s thoughts and feelings, being curious without judgement, and displaying mutual empathy.

Play is a vital part of child development and supports communication, well-being, social skills and emotional regulation.

Head of School Alex McCauley explained: “Children spend around 15% of their day at playtime and it is therefore vital we ensure this is a positive experience for all our children, maximising all the developmental opportunities available. Additionally we had also had feedback from our pupils’ leadership group that they would like more things to play with at lunch time.”

Chilton’s senior staff team held information gathering visits to local schools to add ‘best practice’ to their ideas and formulated a site-specific creative action plan.

Mr McCauley added: “We wanted to make more use of our outside space to enable children to explore more of the school site, rather than restricting where they can play based on their age. This also gives them the chance to play with all the children within the school.

“We have developed and opened up our forest area during lunchtime, with all children bringing in wellies to wear. In this area, they build dens, play in the mud kitchen, have a go on the obstacle course or sketch.”

For those children that enjoy sports, there are four square and tennis courts, table tennis and table football, as well as skipping, stompers and hoops. The sand pit and climbing frame are very popular, while the tree-lined field offers open spaces for a variety of imaginary games.

The school is ‘overjoyed at the response of the children’ to the thrive drive. Deputy Head of School Hannah Cheshire said: “They are showing respect to new equipment and proving they are responsible enough to manage their new opportunities. It has been wonderful to see their excitement and engagement with the wide range of latest outdoor activities.”

Chilton Primary is part of the Viking Academy Trust with partner schools Ramsgate Arts Primary and Upton Junior.

*For more information contact Head of School Alex McCauley on 01843 597695.