Promoting Play in Schools: A Conversation with Michael Follett of Opal Outdoor Play and Learning

The Forest School Podcast

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Guest Info: https://outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk/

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Summary

Michael Follett discusses the importance of outdoor play and learning in schools and the need for a structured approach to play in the curriculum. He highlights the impact of COVID-19 on children's play and the detrimental effects of limiting playtime. The report emphasizes the intrinsic benefits of play and the need for training and support for playwork in schools. The role of forest school in promoting play and the importance of a broad definition of learning are also discussed. The conversation explores the use of unconventional resources in play, the design of play spaces, the importance of the journey between activity spots, the gender bias in school playgrounds, the imbalance in sports funding, the design of play spaces for social spaces and rest, the research on loose parts and the importance of social gatherings, the balance between safety and privacy in play spaces, and the future of play and the ambition for every child to have an awesome playtime.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

00:28 Overview of Outdoor Play and Learning

01:16 Michael's Experience in Playwork and Education

02:44 Structured School Improvement Approach

03:39 Importance of Play in Schools

04:01 The Role of Playworking and Forest School

04:40 The Plan for Play and its Purpose

05:15 Collaboration with All-Party Parliamentary Group

06:21 Impact of Ratios and Clothing on Playtime

07:19 Economical Benefits of Play in Schools

07:49 Importance of Training for Playwork in Schools

08:26 Perception of Risk and Rough and Tumble Play

09:10 Importance of Rough and Tumble Play

10:14 Children's Ability to Self-Regulate in Play

12:16 Impact of Clothing on Play

14:16 Changes in Modern Childhood and Play

15:11 The Need for Play in Various Settings

18:01 Impact of COVID-19 on Children's Play

19:19 The Detrimental Impact of COVID-19 on Play

20:18 The Importance of Play in Learning

21:13 Impact of Playtime on Behavior

22:07 The Role of Forest School in Promoting Play

23:03 The Importance of Play in Learning

24:13 The Role of Play in Child Development

25:28 The Range of Play in Schools

26:29 The Overlap of Playwork and Forest School

27:36 The Importance of Intrinsic Play

28:49 The Narrow Definition of Learning and Education

30:40 Using unconventional resources to facilitate play

35:05 Designing play spaces and the importance of the journey between activity spots

36:04 Creating excellence in primary school playtimes

37:26 Gender bias in school playgrounds

40:08 Addressing the imbalance in sports funding

42:21 Designing play spaces for social spaces and rest

44:29 Research on loose parts and the importance of social gatherings

46:00 Balancing safety and privacy in play spaces

48:03 Managing risk and the perception of risk in play environments

50:35 The future of play and the ambition for every child to have an awesome playtime