We had a fantastic summer in the playground. Thanks everyone for making it so much fun.

Here’s a small selection of pictures showing some of the things we got up to…

Did you come to our playday event last Saturday? We had a great time and raised almost £200 in refreshment sales and donations. Here are a few pictures taken on the day – there are more on our Facebook page – as well as some information on why play is so important.

“Freely-chosen play is an essential part of every child’s life and is vital to emotional and physical development. Children need a place where they can explore risk and adventure and where no-one expects a piece of work to be produced at the end of an activity.”
Nikki Anderson, New Ark playworker

Playday is the UK’s national day for play, traditionally held on the first Wednesday in August. It is a celebration of children’s right to play, and a campaign that highlights the importance of play in children’s lives.

What is play?

Play is a wide range of activities and behaviours that a child freely chooses to take part in. Play may or may not involve equipment. Children may play alone or with others. Play may or may not have an end product. It may be boisterous and energetic or quiet and completive; light-hearted or very serious.

Why is play important?

• Playing is fun: it is how children enjoy themselves, each other and families.
• Play can promote development, learning, imagination, creativity and independence.
• Play can help to keep children healthy and active.
• Play allows children to experience and encounter boundaries, learning to assess and manage risk in their lives; both physical and social.
• Play helps children to understand the people and places in their lives, learn about their environment and develop a sense of community.
• Play allows children to find out about themselves, their abilities, their interests and the contribution they can make.
• Play can be therapeutic. It helps children to deal with difficult or painful circumstances such as emotional stress or medical treatment.
• Play can be a way of building and maintaining important relationships with friends, carers and family members.Source: Charter for Children’s Play, Play England, 2007

The UK government is signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that all children and young people have the right to relax and play, and join in a wide range of activities.

Finally, you may also be interested in this BBC news item about a newly published report, which reviews a wide range of research into the importance of play in supporting children develop essential skills and knowledge as they grow up.

Registrations are now due for the summer holiday playground sessions. To avoid lengthy queues at the start of the summer holidays please pay by Friday 18th July.

You will require the following documents…

1. Playground registration form 2014-15 (if you have 4+ children please use a continuation form)
2. Summary of playground fees 2014-15. We have kept most of our fees the same but increased registrations slightly to keep pace with rising costs.
3. List of opening dates 2014-15
4. Playground information sheet 2014-15
5. If you wish to book additional childcare, please complete a playground additional childcare form – places are limited and must be booked/paid for in advance.

Please do read the Playground Information Sheet as there have been some changes – we would like to draw your attention to the following items in particular:

• Write your full contact details including up to date email address on the registration form – our phone bill is high and we can save money by emailing you about non-urgent matters.
• Please arrive to collect your children 15 minutes before we are due to close, especially if you need to make a payment, speak to a manager, etc. Our late charge is £10 per 15 minutes or part thereof, and your registration will be reviewed if you are late 3 times in any term. Please put our number into your mobile now so that you have it handy in case you are unavoidably delayed – it is 01733 340605.
• To avoid lengthy queues please pay fees by the following dates. Unfortunately we are unable to accept payments during our repairs and maintenance weeks in September and April.
  – Holiday registration fees pay by Friday 18 July 2014
  – Afterschool autumn term registration fees pay by Friday 29 August 2014
  – Afterschool spring term registration fees pay by Monday 5 January 2015
  – Afterschool summer term registration fees pay by Friday 10 April 2015

We are grateful for your continued support. If our fees prevent your family from accessing New Ark please do talk to a manager in confidence.

***UPDATE*** We raised £114 from donations and refreshment sales during this event – thank you everyone who donated cakes etc to sell

We are throwing our doors open from 11am-3pm on Saturday 19 July 2014, to give parents and children a taster of our holiday playground sessions. Come to try out the fun of New Ark before deciding to register for our 2014-15 holiday sessions.

Entry is £2 per child aged over 5, which will be refunded if you register for our 2014-15 holiday sessions within 7 days. If you have already registered for our 2014-15 holiday sessions then entry is free!

All children must be accompanied by a parent on this taster day.

We also welcome under 5s with their parents, and encourage you to make a donation on entry which will help us to keep running all our services 🙂

Activities will include:

• Adventure Playground
• Cooking dampers on an open fire
• City farm open
• Tuck shop
• Puppet making craft
• Construction toys
• Refreshments for sale including cuppas and cakes

Come join the fun, and help us to spread the word by displaying up this poster advertising the session or by inviting your Facebook friends to the event 🙂

We are grateful to The Wakeham Trust for providing funding towards help us open on this weekend