Why Involving Everyone Matters for Successful Positive Playtimes
When a school decides to transform its playground, the first instinct is often to focus solely on the children. After all, they are the ones playing! However, after 25 years of developing Positive Playtime Programmes, I’ve learned one fundamental truth: for play to be...
How to Create a Sandpit in Your School Playground
How to Create a Sandpit in Your School Playground 🏖️A sandpit can be one of the most enriching and engaging additions to a school playground. Not only does it provide endless opportunities for imaginative, sensory, and social play, but when set up...
How to Develop Positive Playtimes in Your Special Needs School
Inclusive Approaches to Positive PlaytimesWhen it comes to creating inclusive, joyful playtimes, special schools face unique challenges and opportunities. We`ve always believed that play is for every child, and that belief came to life recently during two powerful...
Positive Playtimes at St Mary’s and St Michael’s: Boosted Play, Wellbeing, and Happiness
At St Mary’s and St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, the journey towards Positive Playtimes has already begun to make a meaningful difference to the children’s daily experience of school life.Like many schools, St Mary’s and St Michael’s were navigating the lasting...
Celebrating the Women at the Heart of Education and Play – International Women’s Day
On International Women’s Day, it’s vital to shine a light on the incredible impact women in schools have had—and continue to have—in shaping the lives of children. From the classroom to the playground, female educators and role models are often the unsung heroines,...
Positive Playtimes at Westminster: Bringing Children’s Right to Play into the House of Commons
On Wednesday 21st January, I had the immense privilege of stepping into the House of Commons to share the work of Positive Playtimes at the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Play meeting at Westminster.The APPG on Play is the cross-party group working in...
Positive Playtimes at International School of Monaco: Celebrating Play, Wellbeing, and Learning at ISM
What an inspiring few days it was at the International School Monaco Conference on 9th and 10th January. Full of learning ,connection, and a celebration of what truly matters in education I was so grateful to Abigail Furey and Vipula Sharma for their exceptional...
In Memoriam of Juliette Robertson by Therese Hoyle
We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Juliette Robertson on Saturday 27th December 2025. Juliette’s name has long been synonymous with learning and play outdoors, and her influence has reached schools, educators, and play practitioners across the UK and...
The State of Outdoor Play in Primary Schools
“API – The State of Outdoor Play in Primary Schools: A Summary for Educators.” A significant new report has just been released: “API – The State of Outdoor Play in Primary Schools: A Summary for Educators.”This publication provides one of the clearest pictures we’ve...
Why Play Matters: The Hidden Cost of Screens and a Play-Poor Childhood
In recent years, schools and families have been voicing growing concerns about children’s behaviour, wellbeing, learning readiness and social skills. Alongside this, we’ve seen a significant rise in screen use and a sharp drop in unstructured, active and imaginative...
