Castlepark Primary School Parent Council are applying for funding to support the running of the schools Breakfast Club.

Aim

As 4 senior Art and Design pupils, we would like to create and develop a mindfulness art lunch club.  We would like to offer this to junior pupils and help create a zen-like lunch group where pupils get to express themselves creatively, as a welcomed break to their busy day. To help them Zen out, we would like to offer a club where pupils can bring their lunch and possibly use art and Design materials to creatively engage in mindful activities, such as ; drawing , painting , character design, fashion design, photography, printmaking and model making.

Throughout lockdowns we have saw an increase in children becoming more comfortable sitting with devices than embracing all things outdoors. We know the huge benefits outdoor learning and play has on their mental health and well-being and introducing this as early as possible is crucial. Following periods of lockdowns we found many of our children struggle to interact and socialise, through outdoor learning/play we have reaped the benefits of not only these barriers reducing but through this they are being shown how the outdoors is benefitting them physically as well as mentally, often giving teachers the opportunty to have informal chats around healthy eating and its importance to them as they grow.  Following consultation with our young people, through the pupil focus group, they have asked if they could have some more resources for them to enjoy and learn outdoors with.  Following this the parent council purchased some of the "Operation Play Outdoors"  den building packages. These have had such amazing feedback from all year groups, however in order to provide more outdoor resources we must provide somewhere safe to store future purchases.   

Dreghorn Primary Parent Council(PC) would like to provide a trip for the whole school, this would be the first trip for years.  Pupils and Parents have expressed their desire for a whole school trip but have alluded to the challenge posed by the current cost of living crisis.  Not having a whole school trip is adversely effecting children of all ages and we want to ensure that finance is not a barrier. The PC are applying for funding to cover the cost for every child. We all have great memories of trips, we would like that for this generation.

Outdoor learning is so important to make connections between school and the real world – bringing topics alive. The extensive benefits for health and wellbeing are also well documented.

One pupil said " I enjoy trips, they are very educational because you are in a new place, learning new things that you would never be able to see in school. Another pupil told us " You get out all day to see things and its fun. I like a trip because you get to be with all your friends from the other classes and it can be good learning.

Barnardo's works with young people across North Ayrshire in a variety of services. We would like to take the young people to a Pantomime this Christmas as their Christmas activity. We did this last year with non-recurring funding so this year we are looking for support as the young people that attended last year had such a good time, they got out the house, socialised and made new friends, and had a laugh. We will take the young people for dinner before the Panto and make them up a snack bag for the show. This activity will help young people with their mential health and wellbeing and social isolation. Dates for this years Pantomime are from 1st December to 7th January. 

At the heart of the Young Ambassador programme is our principle that our views, and those of other young people are heard, valued and influence decision making; and that they are engaged in driving sporting change in our school and in the community.

In this context our Young Ambassador role has two key bits:

• to promote sport, and motivate and inspire other young people to get involved in sport in a wide range of settings within their local communities, including schools, clubs and community organisations
• to influence six key aspects of school sport: 
  • extra-curricular sport provision
  • links to community sport opportunities
  • opportunities for extra- curricular competition 
  • celebration of young people achievements in sport
  • leadership opportunities for young people

As role models and leaders for other young people, Young Ambassadors can have a pivotal role within their school and wider community. We have a Young Ambassador comittee in each school and it is pupil lead and supported by school staff and Active Schools Staff. 

To support the children's mental health and well-being we are looking to purchase outdoor equipment to encourage outdoor play. This will have a positive impact physically and mentally for the children and will allow a more fun approach to learning.

We would also like to put £150 towards to cost of free school discos for all the children to attend and enjoy.