Inverness Primary school wins child's play award

Winners of The Highland Council / Play Highland Community Play Award were commended and congratulated today by Members of the Council’s Education, Children and Adult Services Committee.

Smithton Primary School’s Mrs McCormack, Mrs Aitken and pupils Fiona Roehling and Jake Richardson were presented a certificate by Cllr Drew Millar, Chair of the Education, Children and Adult Services Committee.

He said: “As we approve the Highland Play Strategy for 2016 – 2020, I am delighted to present Smithton Primary School with this Highland Community Play award for their Outdoor Explorers after school club and Green Leaf Garden.

“Play and especially outdoor play is vital to the learning and development of children and Smithton Primary has shown that with very little they can achieve a lot. With the prize money that they receive I am certain that they will further expand the play horizons of their pupils.”

Janice McCormack, Pupil Support Assistant said: “It’s amazing what a couple of spades and a muddy corner of the playground can provide as a play opportunity for children. Over time we developed different play zones at the school including a ‘mud kitchen’ and a den building area. Loose materials such as sand and pipes also provided huge fun for the children.

“But this is more than just fun – we have enmeshed play into the learning curriculum. The pupils have been reading catalogues, writing letters, and using their arithmetic skills as part of the competition process – all because of play.”

For further information on Play Highland visit: http://www.playhighland.co.uk