Wednesday 4 December 2013
Proposed Playground Extension
If you would like to hear more about this then come along to next meeting on Thursday 7th from 6-7pm.
Monday 2 September 2013
Next Meeting
Next meeting of Playground Improvement Group is September 26th at 6.30pm. THe issue of lack of play space will be on the agenda and a number of our Local Councillors have agreed to attend. All parents are welcome to attend.
Summer Holiday Improvements to Playground
We hope you like our playground improvements. No more muddy mess behind the amphitheatre. The tree trunks are surround by pourous material which does them no harm but helps contain loose stones and mud.
The wooden seating around the large tree was due to be replaced during the summer holidays, however, the contractor was unable to carry out the work as planned. This has now been rescheduled for the October break.
Thursday 11 April 2013
Sciennes Playground Improvement Group Survey Responses
QUESTION 1
What concerns do you have about the current Playground
environment?
“Crossing wall” is really a
climbing wall without adequate safety at bottom (concrete). Too much concrete
area.
It’s all hard ground, no soft
play. No areas designated for age groups or ball games.
Could do with more “greenery” and
more things for kids to climb all over.
Busy bikes/scooters/balls all
playing around from 2.50pm onwards – unsafe especially for little ones.
Separation of ball games
(football) from others.
Too small.
Children playing football have
been hit quite a few times in the face.
There are so many children
running around and too many potential hazards.
Smaller children getting knocked
over by bigger children.
There seems to be too little
supervision as children can get bullied outside.
A bit too small and busy. Too hard concrete.
Space!!! Playground surface.
No serious concerns, have heard
of a few instances where children have been hurt.
High volumes of children in a
small space with hard surfaces and the amphitheatre taking up space whilst
creating blank spots.
Luca – Too much play fighting
(P2)
Jess – not much space on a Friday
(P5)
Size, not long enough at lunch
time to eat and play.
Obviously space is an issue but
there isn’t much that can be done about that! No real comments other than removing
the amphitheatre.
Concrete under a climbing wall.
Too small for number of kids.
Results in too many accidents.
Too many children in at
once. Difficult to avoid bumping into
people and it’s a very unforgiving surface.
Too many trips to sick kids.
Lots of accidents near big tree.
I think playground is OK
Too crowded leads to a fairly
high number of accidents.
The amphitheatre needs a soft
landing ground. The gravel/paving does not allow for a safe play.
It’s too small, no grassy/soft
areas. Nature trail. No entry system on
the front door. Why? No security on access to toilets from the playground.
Too small physically, too many
children. My child starting in August 2014 and is tiny and I am concerned about
injuries in playground as she is so little.
I think there should be less
litter. More litter pickers.
Everything.
QUESTION 2
What Improvements would you like to see made to the playground?
Both gates being open at arrival and departure
times. Better supervision at playtimes.
Allocate ball games to specific place/time.
Football goal? Netted off ball
area
More climbing equipment. Please fix
area behind amphitheatre.
A small area for P1 – P3 to play in.
Put grass in and plant more
trees.
Remove car parking for staff and
extend play area to the north side. Look into extending school into hospital
when latter vacate. Discuss with Edinburgh Council.
Safety. Grass and greenery.
Clear area for ball games. Clear area for under 6’s.
Get a big old tree trunk or two
brought in for kids to clamber over. Big hut in other places.
More marked ‘play areas’ e.g.
hopscotch more colour.
Small size is hard to overcome. Playground wardens
from 8.40 – 9.00am.
Space for football. Close Sciennes
Road and incorporate that into playground. Climbing frames, wild space.
Soft surface.
More varieties in different age
groups to play with. Get more things in.
Grass added expansion, may be some
swings.
Soft surface, to allow more
running.
My kids seem happy enough. A softer
surface would be great.
More staggered playtimes. More
activity areas.
More adults to stop fighting. A
mini obstacle course.
Older children allowed over to
Meadows longer lunch hour.
Maybe some printed activities on the
ground.
Change surfaces. All weather ‘Pitch
area’ Fake grass. Trim trail. (like Craiglockhart Primary) More greenery.
More facilities.
Softer surface, more cover
options.
More green space and wildlife.
Staggered playtimes/lunches.
More equipment during
lunchtimes.
More space and softer surfaces.
Children able to use rear playground
instead of it being used as a car park.
Grass mat type layer over the
tarmac.
Multi sensory area, soft flooring
bark/wood chips/grass interactive area.
Split in half, one half huge big
climbing frame with a sail/cover over it.
Not enough space. Can back
playground be used.
Less litter.
QUESTION 3
What skills/potential resource might you be willing to offer
to help improve the playground.
Help make the fence for area above.
Planting do digging.
I will be able to provide some time, some project management
advice and help with fund raising.
Perhaps set up a committee to implement changes and ask for
parent volunteers. Removing on site car parking to become a playground,
shouldn’t require much resource.
My time, £100 donation.
Can offer advice on any planting for wildlife e.g. willow
tunnel, wild flower, plants etc. Lindsay Mackinlay P6c
No real skills and resources but would be happy to provide
man power.
Lobbying Council and hospital to close road.
Happy to help with fund raising.
I will in the future be able to volunteer to be a playground
assistant.
Fund raiser
Happy to donate time/money if it was to contribute to better
surfaces/greenery.
I cannot offer help with reconstructing the playground but
can bring in refreshments if needed.
Photos of school playground with a sail over it.
QUESTION 4
Additional comments/suggestions.
Astroturf section for ball games.
Fill in mud puddle.
Cars parking on double yellow
lines outside school. Increase teacher
presence to avoid double yellow parking.
Securer gates.
Maybe make it longer and more
fun.
Help make fence for area. Ruaridh
P4c.
Great school but kids need to be
able to use all space and I am very concerned with recent incidents.
It’s good but could be better.
Would be nice to see the garden
over the road being put to more use.
Seems to be used only for dog walking.
The hospital needs more parking
spaces so they should be happy to take their stretch of road over.
I know there have been a number
of fairly serious accidents recently which is very concerning. I hope the
school will take action.
P7s should be able to go to the
Meadows again.
What do the Learning Assistants
think?
Perhaps having more organised
playtime activities (like the P6 running clubs on the Meadows) would reduce numbers.
Rosita Balia – I work on supply
teaching. So might not always be
available on short notice.
Games in hall at lunchtime. Swimming during lunch time.
Wednesday 20 March 2013
Thursday 7 March 2013
Summary of First Meeting of Sciennes Playground Improvement Group
Sciennes
School Playground Development Group Meeting - 21 February 2013
Attendees
Alison Noble, Angela Christie, Bruce
Crawford, Christine Rednall, Mary Kernohan, Jules Simner, Stuart Sheehan
Discussion
o
Alison opened with a short
scene-setting presentation covering -
o
Aims of the group – to share
information, to develop parental engagement, to seek views and decide next
steps
o
What has been done so far? -
amphitheatre, quiet area, benches, voucher scheme, gardens, staggered breaks/
lunches, basketball hoops, use of the meadows
o
What do the children think -
Pupil Wellbeing Survey – “I like playtimes……”
Yes definitely Yes most of the time
2011 – P1-P2 75% 21%
2011 – P3-P7 52% 37%
2012 – P1-P2 86% 10%
2012 – P3-P7 44% 42%
o Alison discussed the
“Grounds for Learning” initiative and the possibility to apply for a grant, up
to £25,000, to create an imaginative outdoor learning experience (as
illustrated by accessing the website www.ltl.org.uk/scotland)
o
While of interest, Alison felt the current
space would perhaps limit the ambitions of such a project but did not rule a
future application
o
Sport Scotland 2014 legacy – could also
offer some funding
o
Jules mentioned at this point that she had
grant application experience and could offer guidance if required
o
Sciennes road – the closure, either
permanently or temporarily during the school day was the next topic, with all
agreeing that the school 120th anniversary celebrations had had a
hugely positive effect and that linking this space with the park area could
offer a wonderful opportunity for the school, Alison agreed to continue this
discussions forward
o
Alison mentioned that a Health and Safety
representative had visited the school, to assess the playground’s overall
safety, particularly the raised bed area and had given the playground a clean
bill of health
o
On the topic of safety, Angela reiterated
that the “Climbing wall” was in fact a “Traversing” wall and while this was
observed during the school day, its potential misuse was highlighted during
parental supervisory periods
o
Jules then switched the conversation to the
type of games and the use of playground space, using the example of a game
called “Four-Square”, she had played herself at school which offered group
participation within a more efficient space area
o
On the topic of parental engagement, it was
mentioned that a number of parents with Design, Landscape and other potential
Playground development skills had offered assistance and the need to follow up
with these parties was agreed
o
Engagement with parents would also be
sought through suggestion boxes, canvassing at school events and the use of
surveys, either directly or via the Communications Group
o
The group also discussed the possible
introduction of a waiting area for parents bridging the two finishing times,
however this was not considered to be as important as creating a safe and
stimulating environment for the children and therefore not really within the
remit of a Playground Development Group
o
The move of the Sick Kids was mentioned and
there seemed to be some uncertainty over when the new building might actually
commence construction. Jules mentioned this was still on target for 2014 and
the conversation then moved to the possible securement of the adjacent land
behind the quiet area for the school
o
Use of Sick Kids land would still be some
time away but was being looked at by a separate School Group to make more use
of the School’s overall footprint which could then have a positive knock on
effect with the removal of the huts to free up play space
o
Funding in general was talked about and it
was clear that existing funds and possibly some of the Swimathon monies could
possibly be put towards Playground development, following due agreement with
all relevant parties
o
The Group structure and responsibility was
then the subject of a question or two and Alison confirmed that this Group
would be a decision-making group, seeking input from the Pupil Council and also
Staff and the wider parental group, using further meetings and Communication
Group surveys
o
The potential use of the back playground
was then raised and the return of the old playground from its current car park
usage to a more specific play area was debated, with ideas ranging from using
as the playground for the huts, P7, P1-2 or even using the space for a
particular sport, for example marking out a basketball court
o
Finally, it was noted that Angela and
Alison were reviewing the mix of children in the playground, with perhaps a
move to more of a lower / upper school divide, further details would follow in
due course
Action points
·
A consultation process would be
initiated involving discussions with Staff and the Pupil Council regarding the
potential use of the back playground –
Alison Noble
·
Further investigation with
other interested School Groups regarding the possible closure of Sciennes Road
to open the area up for play – Alison Noble
·
Pupil council involvement ,
engage the pupils generally to decide how they would like to see the Playground
develop – Alison Noble / Sharon McGhee
·
Scheduling of playground
utilization across the lower and upper school – Alison Noble / Angela Christie
·
Questions to be formulated for
a possible parent survey on Playground Development – Stuart Sheehan
Next
meeting - Thursday 11 April 2013, 6 - 7pm, all welcome
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