The importance of school playground safety
Playgrounds play a great part in the development of a child, the memories in a play park are often ones that are remembered. They’re the place where we play and explore risk, socialise with others and create memories that we will treasure long into adult life — but what happens when the risk becomes all too much? Retailers of lawn top dressing and play bark, Compost Direct have provided us with some research on playground safety and some suggestions on how to improve the levels of safety in a play area. We look specifically at the accident rates before offering tips to prevent injury and safeguard children without limiting their play potential. The current accident rate in British playgrounds It is hard to judge the overall playground safety levels in Britain as there is little research surrounding this. However, some studies have taken place that do shine some light on the safety of our playgrounds. One notable study is that done by Play England. They suggest that when you compare the risks involved of playing in a playground to partaking in a sport, the sport poses more harm to a child. For example, rugby has the highest non-fatal accident rate per 100,000 hours of exposure, with roughly 280 incidents. Football and hockey are the next most dangerous, with approximately 130 and 90 incidents respectively. In comparison, public playgrounds have one of the lowest non-fatal accident rates at around 5 incidents per 100,000 hours of exposure. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Health and Safety Advisory Group suggest that many playground accidents are due to incorrect design and layout, poor inspection and maintenance, unsuitable clothing and lack of adult supervision – amongst other reasons. Playground safety hazards There are some actions that can be taken by schools to reduce harmful incidents. Of course, children love exploring and being mischievous and often accidents are inevitable. Playground designers cannot be overly safety conscious when deciding how a playground should look or else the adventures and challenges that children enjoy in a play area will be eliminated. However, a well-designed playground will not raise any additional hazards for children and will encourage safe play. When considering the layout of a park, a key thing should be that it is easily accessible by those who need it. Large groups must be able to navigate around the park, disabled children need access and emergency services must be able to reach the play zone in the case of an accident. The materials that are used to create surfaces in the park should have been carefully evaluated and tested for safety hazards. Hard surfaces should be non-slip, especially in rain and adverse weather conditions as this is a common cause of accidents. Impact absorbing surfacing should be fitted around all apparatus to reduce injury level in the case of a fall. This could be in the form of play bark (bark chippings) or sand. Surfaces should be level too, with adequate opportunity for drainage to reduce risk of corrosion on any of the equipment. In a park, there should be plenty of seats around the play areas so that children can socialise. What can teachers do? The key thing that staff can do is keep a watchful eye over what is happening in the playground to ensure effective safeguarding. Keep an eye out for older and younger children playing together. Although we don’t like to think so, this can lead to bullying or your child feeling uncomfortable when they are playing. In this situation, encourage children to play on another piece of equipment. Age-segregated areas can be beneficial for this reason – as well as accessibility reasons. Keep an eye out for any litter too which may be harmful. Take on board suggestions for improvement around playground safety too – ask your pupils about their experiences; they might have come across something that you did not notice.
Former teacher writes books to help children with self-confidence issues
Eleanor Baggaley is using her life experiences to help children and their parents to deal with maths, self-confidence and goal-setting When Eleanor Baggaley received inspiration from two special people in her life, she didn’t realise that her journey was about to take her away from mainstream maths education to a life of self-employment, book writing and empowering children through her experiences. But now Eleanor has one children’s book published and has two more in the pipeline, all three named after her own children, Maya, Oscar and Ava. Originally from Warrington, Eleanor originally moved to the North East to attend university at Newcastle. Following a move to Scotland, Eleanor was involved in a motor accident which shook her confidence very badly. She suffered from months of anxiety as a result of the crash, which affected her life in every aspect. Eleanor moved back to the region settling in the Tyne Valley. She became a maths teacher at a small comprehensive school where she worked with several children who struggled both academically and with their confidence. One child, who sadly died from a brain tumour, provided Eleanor with the motivation and inspiration to leave mainstream education and focus on helping children with their self-belief, positive mindset and confidence. Eleanor said: “The car accident shook me up really badly and I struggled with anxiety for a long time afterwards. It was a tough time, but I didn’t give up. I just kept persevering because that’s what I’ve always done. I think that strength, combined with my later experiences of finding out my youngest child had Down’s Syndrome shortly after birth, has given me the push I need to make my new business venture really work. “My business name, The Snowdrop Story, came about because my other great inspiration in life was my Grandma – Snowdrops were her favourite flower and we planted them in our garden where we scattered some of her ashes to always have her near by.” As well as providing focused mathematics tuition, Eleanor specialises in intervention and self-belief coaching for children of school age. She provides a number of workshops for children who suffer from low self-confidence and are struggling in mainstream education. Her first book, called Maya the Unicorn, is named after her nine-year-old daughter. The book focuses on self-belief and how children can set goals, identify their dreams and focus on their strengths. “Maya is an incredible human being – she has her own business already and donates a percentage of her profits to two children’s charities because she shares my desire to help other people. We both donate money to CHUF and Down’s Syndrome NE on a regular basis because, after the birth of Ava, my youngest daughter, just four months ago, we have been on a journey to understand her diagnosis of Down’s and now we want to help other familiies in similar situations. “For the book, which aims to help children bolster their self-confidence, I chose a unicorn because they’re mythical creatures and no-one really believes in them – it’s the perfect creature to feature in this book. “The second book in the series in called Oscar the Dragon and is named after my six-year-old son. The third book is already in the pipeline and will be written for and about Ava, my baby.” For more information about Eleanor’s books, visit www.thesnowdropstory.co.uk
Children’s Meditations In My Heart: review
Review: Children’s Meditations In My Heart, by Gitte Winter Graugaard (£14.95, Room For Reflection Publishing) With test season in full swing, the importance of pupils getting a good night’s sleep is paramount. But worries about school, friends, arguments and all the other stresses which feature in everyday life can prevent children from nodding off. The Danish – who coined the term ‘hygge’ for homely, cosy feelings and moments with loved ones – have found that children can be lulled to sleep in minutes thanks to meditation-style ‘stories’ and author Gitte Winter Graugaard has let us in with their secret in her new book, Children’s Meditations In My Heart. Gitte says, “Children today sleep one hour less than we did 25 years ago. It might be the same in your country? We need to teach our children to handle their thoughts and get enough sleep. “This is a collection of meditations originally published in Danish, which focus on the love you already share in your family. They give you a language full of symbols of love, and strengthen your child’s sense of belonging and self-love. “The book contains four short stories for sharing together. After a brief introduction, you will guide your child into their heart and teach your child to fill their heart with love. In the later meditations, your child will learn to send and receive love from a distance, to pick up love from the little cloud of love, and to send love out into the universe. “You will also enjoy your own beautiful journey into your heartland with your child. If it’s been a long time since you’ve been there, you can feel confident that your child will show you the way.” Our editor Victoria Galligan’s review of the book, which she read with her children – aged six and two. Victoria said, “Children’s Meditations in My Heart is a beautiful book, inside and out. The cover shows a heart being projected out of a door on a mountain: and all becomes clear when you settle down at bedtime. “The message in the stories is direct and soothing: you are loved, and when you love others it makes you happy. “The stories feature mental pictures of nature scenes and encourage deep breathing and quiet reflection, telling children to ‘think about your heart’ and ‘choose what colour your flower is’ but not to talk, just to reflect. “My six-year-old took part wholeheartedly and was pretty much instantly relaxed. I’m not going to lie: bedtimes in our house can get quite frantic so I didn’t hold high expectations of the book’s magic. But she lay down and closed her eyes straight away, breathing deeply and smiling as I read the mediation. She loved the part where the love spreads through each part of the body, before beaming out onto all she meets! “The book recommends reading to children separately and our two-year-old is perhaps a little too young to stop and listen for eight to ten minutes, which is how long the stories take (allowing for some quiet reflection periods). Maybe when she is four or five, she will appreciate the meditation and partake better! “I would recommend to parents who are finding it hard to settle children at night, particularly after a stressful day at school or at other anxious times. I am sure older children will react well too: who doesn’t love some quiet reflection at night, and some precious, relaxing time with a loved one? “Our six-year-old now looks forward to the meditation and loves putting on an eye mask while she listens. She is left feeling calm, content and loving and we always finish with a goodnight cuddle before she drifts off completely. As for our toddler – well I’m still working on it! The Children’s Meditations In My Heart is available from amazon.co.uk priced £14.95 for a hard copy, £4.97 for a Kindle copy, and £5.09 for a pdf download from roomforreflection.com.
The benefits of having canopies in schools
Opting to install a canopy in a school would bring with it a number of benefits. The children would be able to play and learn outside in an environment that would not be affected by the wind or the rain. This makes it possible to spend time outdoors all year round but it also means that the children are protected from the sun during the summer as it blocks up to 99% of harmful UV rays. From a safety perspective, the children will know that they have to remain within the canopy and this makes life easier for teachers. The following reasons will show exactly why canopies are a great addition to any school. Improved learning Having the ability to learn outdoors means that lessons can take a different approach. Children have more space and can take part in messier activities. They can exercise and also interact with their surroundings while exploring nature. Protection from the sun Spending time outside without a canopy means that the children and the teachers have to be aware of the sun and the damage it can cause. A canopy will offer protection from the sun which means children can spend more time outside during the summer months. Increased space A canopy will instantly offer more space and is a cheaper alternative to extending the building. The children can use the outside space any time of year and they won’t have to worry about furniture cluttering up their space. Better play The weather in the UK means that children spend a lot of time stuck indoors. Even if it is raining the children can still go outside and play and this offers them even more freedom. Safer temperatures and less energy used Having a canopy fitted over a window will provide shade and this will lower the temperature in the classroom. This will mean that air conditioning will not have to be used and this will reduce the energy used as well as lower costs. Extra storage If you chose to add roller shutters to your canopy you can instantly create extra storage space that is secured. This is ideal for storing outdoor equipment which in turn will mean time saved as there is no longer a requirement to return the equipment indoors Waterproof waiting areas Often parents have to spend time waiting for their child in the rain but a canopy will offer them a place to wait in all weather. It also gives the children somewhere to stand while they wait for their transport giving providing safety. Protected Walkways Sometimes pupils and teachers have to move between buildings and this means that they can get wet. A walkway or canopy will stop all people within the school but it will also mean that pupils no longer have to run to get out of the rain which will mean that there are fewer accidents. They look good A canopy can really lift the way in which the school looks. Bespoke designs and a vast array of colours means that canopies can fit in with the colour of the school and the design of the building. Author Bio Andy Swain is the Managing Director of SAS Shelters, who are a family run business with over 50 years of experience in the design, manufacture and installation of school building products such as school canopies, sail shades and shelters.
The Importance of First Aid Training for Children
When we think of first aid training, we normally think about first aid training for adults. This isn’t necessarily a bad assumption. However, it does show that we often don’t bother investing in teaching first aid skills to children, and this shouldn’t be the case. Investing in first aid training for the children at your school not only gives the students in your care vital skills but also encourages communication and leadership abilities. First Aid Training: Giving (Literally) Life Saving Skills First aid skills are essential at all stages of life. Think about the video that went viral in February of the nine-year-old girl who successfully called 999after her mother passed out in a moving car on the motorway. She managed to stay on the phone with emergency services for seven minutes while she explained what her mother’s condition was like (“alive but very poorly”). She successfully explained to the call operator where they were and she remained on the line until the police and ambulance services came to the scene. As much as we’d like to, we’re not able to watch our children all the time. The older they get, the more they’re going to be going off on their own adventures. One of the best ways to calm your nerves about this is to ensure that they’ve got all of the skills necessary to be able to handle themselves in an accident. And I’m not talking about Liam-Neeson-in-Taken levels of “handling themselves” — just basic first aid! Encouraging Communication and Building Leadership Basic first aid training covers a range of fundamental but essential skills. This includes how to get ahold of emergency services, what to ask for, and how to describe someone’s condition. All of this can mean the difference between life and death. Running a first aid training for the children in your school means making sure they have a thorough understanding of how the different emergency services work and what to do in different kinds of accidents and emergencies. As any paramedic will tell you, some of the most important first aid skills are also the simplest. For example, when someone has a bad fall, our first instinct is often to move them. But if they’ve fallen on their back, then moving them can be extremely dangerous. In fact, it could even result in further injury or death. First aid training covers how to respond to a range of different accidents and emergencies — such as burns, broken and fractured bones, and CPR. Instilling first aid skills in children is essential for a number of reasons. It not only gives them invaluable life skills, but it helps to build confidence, communication skills, and the ability to work well in a team. First aid requires teamwork, leadership, and the patience to listen to those around you. Training helps build these skills, which are incredibly versatile and will continue to serve children well throughout their lives. Want to invest in a first aid training course for children? Get in touch and we’ll sort you out!