Category: News

Hello and welcome to your Moths to a Flame teacher’s pack!

The Moths to a Flame project helps children and young people engage in the call for urgent action on the Climate Emergency into a magnificent mass-participation art installation at COP26, Glasgow 2021.

EVERYONE is invited to join this NATIONWIDE creative response to the Climate Emergency to help us make 20,000 moths and record messages for the Moths to a Flame installation at COP26.

Through these activities children will:

• Think about energy and its possibilities
• Explore the natural world and observe real moths near you
• Create simple hand-crafted moths to join the exhibition
• Record your climate hopes for the future and
• Send a message to World Leaders at COP26.

We would love for you to do any and all of the activities below, but we are most interested in receiving your moths and your recorded messages.

Once you have made your moths and recorded your messages, please email jenny.lester@playscotland.org. We will pay for the postage to ensure your moths are part of the exhibition!

Please ensure to get your moths made and get in touch by Monday 18 October so we can make sure your moths arrive in time!

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Come and work with us! Play Scotland are recruiting a Digital Membership and Services Officer. They will take responsibility for the membership journey and implement an engagement plan and comprehensive membership growth strategy online.

They will be a key member of a small team, organising events and providing digital support to ensure consistent messaging and branding.

We are looking for someone creative, enthusiastic and skilled in communications. Applications should be emailed to info@playscotland.org by 12 noon on Thursday 16th September 2021.

More information can be found here

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Newtongrange ASC based in Newtongrange Primary school has the following vacancies for enthusiastic and experienced :

Playworker/Practitioner
Hours: ASC 2-5.45pm, Monday to Thursday and 12-5.45pm on a Friday
Breakfast Club 7am-9am Term Time Hours may vary during holiday provision.
Ideally applicants will have a relevant Level 2 NVQ (or equivalent) or above, preferably in Playwork, and have some experience of working with 4 –11 year olds in a play environment.

Successful applicants will join us in providing high-quality, safe and stimulating after school care for the children attending Newtongrange After School Club

All posts are covered by the Childcare Act 2006 and are subject to receipt of a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure check.

If you are interested in either of these positions, please contact Heather Dunn on 01315619330 or newtongrangeasc1@yahoo.co.uk for an application form and full job description.

Newtongrange After School Club aims to be an equal opportunities employer.

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Today, thousands of children and their families will be out playing in communities and local events across Scotland, celebrating Playday – the national day for play.

There was even more to celebrate today with the launch of the Play Well Outdoors pack, a universal offer to all primary school children in Scotland, packed full of play ideas, activities and ideas of places to visit this summer and beyond. It was developed by Play Scotland in partnership with Save the Children, STV Appeal and the Beano.

The pack was launched at a Stay, Play and Learn session at Glasgow’s Queen’s Park by Clare Haughey, MSP and Minister for Children and Young People.

The sessions, run by Early Years Scotland, focus on the benefits of outdoor play through planned activities that support family health and wellbeing. Parents who attend receive a Play Well Outdoors pack and a food package with recipes to encourage families to prepare meals at home. Around 400 packs are distributed each week.

On launching the pack, Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said:

“Play is vitally important for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, especially as we emerge from the pandemic. I am delighted to join Play Scotland, Save the Children, Early Years Scotland and the Beano in celebrating National Play Day and the Scottish Government’s Get into Summer programme.

“We have committed funding of £20 million to support a wide range of activities for children and young people and their families over the summer, ensuring they are provided with opportunities to socialise, play and reconnect within their local communities and environments as well as having fun after a most challenging year.”

Whilst Playday is the national day for play, this year we are encouraging families, carers, and communities to help children enjoy a Summer of Play. 

• Playing is essential for children’s mental health and well-being.
• Playing helps children cope with stress and anxiety and fosters resilience, enabling children to better deal with challenges.
• Playing gives children the opportunity to have fun, laugh, take time out, relax, and build friendships.
• Playing outside allows children to appreciate nature, the environment, and feel part of their community.
• Playing is fundamental to children’s happiness, and happy children lead to happier communities.

We are calling on families, carers, and communities across Scotland to give children plenty of opportunities to play and have fun outdoors with their friends today and throughout the summer.

Marguerite Hunter Blair, Chief Executive, Play Scotland said:

“Play Scotland is thrilled to support Playday to launch our Play Well Outdoors pack with our partners Save the Children and the Beano. The focus in Scotland is encouraging families to Get into Summer and to enjoy a #summerofplay.
“This year more than ever we need to encourage children and families to have a summer full of outdoor play and fun, it’s so good for everyone!” #getintosummer #play2021

Jane Brumpton, Chief Executive, Early Years Scotland said:

“We were delighted that the Minister launched the pack at one of the outdoor play and learning sessions we are running as part of Parent Club’s Get Into Summer campaign.

“The campaign has really put the focus on the importance of play and on playing and learning outdoors, and the Play Well Outdoors pack is a fantastic complementary resource to inspire and support children and families to get out and about.”

Claire Telfer, Head of Scotland, Save the Children said:

“We have been so proud to work with some incredible partners to develop this resource for Scotland’s children. Play is a great leveller and we know it has a huge impact on a child’s wellbeing. We hope the pack has gone some way to encouraging children to develop their confidence and social skills and more importantly, to have fun”.

Follow #Playday2021 #SummerOfPlay #GetIntoSummer

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Play Scotland calls for a strategic approach to planning accessible and inclusive spaces with children and families with an open letter to Ms Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Ms Haughey MSP, Minister for Children and Young People and Councillor Stephen McCabe COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People.

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Young Scot Rewards is part of Young Scot’s national online Membership programme. Through rewarding participation in positive activities, Rewards connects young people to exciting opportunities, removes barriers to participation and recognises the contributions made in their communities.

Young people are able to gain Rewards Points by taking part in Get into Summer local and/or national activities which can then be exchanged for rewards. Rewards include vouchers for cafés and clothes as well as local experiences such as Safari Parks, Escape Rooms and much more!

Young Scot have created a points code, worth 200 points, for each week of Get into Summer which can be found in the posters attached.

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The multi-Oscar nominated Magic Light Pictures today announced that Pip and Posy, its new preschool series about a mouse and a rabbit whose lives revolve around a wonderful world of play, has joined forces with Play England, Play Scotland, Play Wales and PlayBoard Northern Ireland to sponsor this year’s Playday event.

Play is fundamental for children’s enjoyment of childhood, and vital for their health, well-being and development. Playday, the national day for play in the UK, is an annual celebration which highlights the importance of play in children’s lives and will be held on Wednesday, 4th August.

The partnership between Magic Light and Playday will see characters Pip and Posy, from the hit Milkshake! and Sky Kids series, feature in a fun resource pack designed with Playday and available online at www.playday.org.uk. Filled with inspiring Pip and Posy themed ideas, tips and downloadable activities, the pack will help families, carers and communities create their own fun-filled Playday event.

Michael Rose, Executive Producer and co-founder, Magic Light Pictures said: “Play is central to the world of Pip and Posy so we are delighted to team up with Playday, a fantastic initiative that promotes the importance of play. Both our series and this wonderful event celebrate the joy of play and Pip and Posy are looking forward to helping many more friends have fun throughout the summer.”

Anita Grant, Chair of Trustees Play England said: “With their love of play and understanding of how it can help to forge friendships and solve problems as well as being huge fun, Pip and Posy are the perfect Playday partners! The past year has been very challenging and play can greatly help children and young people cope with stress and anxiety. We are proud that not only is Playday continuing across all four nations of the UK but we are also encouraging a whole Summer of Play. We can’t wait to see the creative ways that families and carers will be celebrating on Playday and beyond with the help of a little Pip and Posy magic!”

Marguerite Hunter Blair, CEO of Play Scotland is really excited about this year’s Playday: “Play Scotland is thrilled that our delightful, playful partners Pip and Posy are promoting the importance of children’s play. With a Pip and Posy bumper- edition pack full of ideas and tips to help families and communities create their own Playday event, it’s time to get planning for play!  This year more than ever we need to encourage children and families to have a summer full of outdoor play and fun, it’s so good for everyone!”.

Jacqueline O’Loughlin, Chief Executive Officer, PlayBoard NI said: “Children and young people have faced significant challenges due to the pandemic so this year, more than ever, they need to enjoy time to play, to relax and to spend time with their friends having fun. We are encouraging families, communities and organisations across the UK to get involved in the Summer of Play and especially on Playday when we celebrate every child’s right to play . We’re delighted to have the support of Magic Light Pictures and Pip and Posy to help share the fun, joy and benefits of play.”

Pip and Posy has been a hit with young audiences since its UK premiere on Channel 5’s Milkshake! in March. Every episode of this joyful new animated series features play-filled stories, showing how play can help children build lasting friendships with kindness, resilience, and flexibility. Even when things go awry, the pair use play to problem solve and overcome their differences so they can get back to what they love doing best – having fun!

Playday is the annual national day for play in the UK, coordinated by Play England, Play Wales, Play Scotland and PlayBoard Northern Ireland. This year’s theme, Summer of Play, recognises the challenges children and young people have faced over the past year and the need to enjoy time for play with their friends, having fun.

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‘…Marguerite Hunter Blair, chief executive of Play Scotland, fears the move may discourage children from playing in parks.

She said: “Parks should be managed primarily for public access and recreation. Some wilder spaces in public parks may be good for biodiversity, but they must be no less accessible and safe for children’s play. For example, the presence of dog faeces and evidence of anti-social behaviour is no more acceptable in wild spaces in parks than it is in intensively managed spaces.

“While making places wilder and increasing access to natural spaces is welcome, it must not be at the expense of children’s outdoor play opportunities. Play Sufficiency Assessments (PSAs) should be carried out to determine local needs.”

Play Scotland successfully campaigned for amendments to the planning act which forced councils to consult children on changes to their local area. The group is working with local authorities to develop guidance for PSAs as part of the implementation of the duty.’

Full article here

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