In The Zone
Case Study
Willowbrook Primary School
Cardiff
Kerry Ann Sheppard – PESS Coordinator
Challenges Prior to Training
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Football dominating the playground
Older children dominating the playground
Children don’t know how to use playground markings
No shaded area for chill
Classroom windows in danger from balls
Engaging children during wet play
MDS being pulled in different directions
Not enough equipment
Children do not know how to use some of the
equipment
Strategies
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Linking in with the already established peer mentoring system within the
school
Application forms from the CD used to select Buddies
Student council used to select children to become buddies
Buddies trained by Year 6 teacher
Buddy trolley and bibs purchased
Buddy board placed in corridor leading to playground
Zoning the playground
Buddies trained on how to use school equipment
Skipping zone run for children to practice skipping before completing
Jump Rope for Heart and raising money for more playground equipment
and markings
Chill activities used in wet play times to occupy children
In wet play - competition using blank templates, every month/term a child
who has designed the best game gets it laminated and included in the In
The Zone pack
Zone the playground so that balls are not aiming towards windows
Parasols and benches bought for chill out area
Chill out area fenced off
The Difference
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More structured games
More children active during playtimes
Football not dominating as children have other things
to do
Children are developing fundamental movement skills
Children are working towards Jump Rope for Heart
MDS are now able to supervise the playground
Buddy’s are responsible for equipment and games run
in the zones
Buddy’s will be training up Year 5 children to take their
place next year
The New Playground
Skipping Zone
Chill Out
Buddy’s & Their Trolley
Tennis
Basketball