Our Lady and St Francis Primary and Nursery Classes

Newarthill Road

Carfin

Motherwell

ML1 5Al

COVID Information

1. Letter for the new term – schools – August 2021

2. Letter for the new term – nursery – August 2021

 

 

Our Playground Statement

Research clearly and consistently identifies outdoor play as…

vital to emotional, physical and mental health and well-being and critical to all aspects of childhood learning and development.

InspiringScotland.org

 

Our Lady and St Francis Primary recognises the importance of all children having sufficient time and space to play freely as part of their day.  To children, playing is one of the most important aspects of their lives.  For some, school offers their only regular opportunity to play with friends.  We encourage our children to go outdoors and use our quality natural space to aid their development and enhance their learning.  Unfortunately, due to Scottish weather, our playground can get very dirty.  We do our best to risk assess our playground, but from time to time they will get dirty. 

Playing contributes to children’s learning and we will offer opportunities for children’s play that support children’s wellbeing indicators – safe, healthy, achieving, nurture, active, respected, responsible and included.  There is a growing body of evidence of the benefits of Loose Parts Play (scrap materials, pallets, piping, crates, tyres) that promotes problem solving and theoretical reasoning.

Children will naturally create and/or seek out challenging situations; while making the most of their play some children may have accidents, get dirty or wet or upset.  In Our Lady and St Francis we recognise that children need a degree of risk, challenge and adventure to grow and develop.  We also recognise that any potential risk of harm to children, needs to be balanced with the benefits that may come from playing. We will do our best to avoid children coming to serious physical or emotional harm by carefully managing the play opportunities we provide.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter and should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Miss Lewis