Free school visits to Indoor Play Centres

The Play4Life Schools Challenge is underway

The Play Providers Association (PPA), in support of the Department of Health’s Change4Life movement, is offering schools throughout the UK the opportunity to play for free this September. This is part of the Play4Life Schools Challenge which  combines active play with tasks educating children about the importance of healthy eating and a balanced diet reinforcing the “Eat Well, Move More, Live Longer” values of Change4Life.  

The Play4Life Schools Challenge has two key elements- firstly an open play session where the class will be fitted with a pedometer so they can compete to find the most active child in the class. Kids will have great fun playing on the fantastic play equipment, running, jumping, climbing and sliding and at the end of the session will be able to see who has taken the most steps with certificates for everyone to take home. Leader boards in the play centres will then chart the best class and individual scores in the challenge and thanks to support from our partners at Fruitshoot My 5 and California Raisins, prizes will be awarded. The second element of the school visit will see children participating in some fun but educational tasks to teach them about the importance of healthy eating, with play centres running activity sessions.  

Indoor Play is a great way to give kids their recommended 60 active minutes a day and because they are just doing what is natural to them and having fun, they don’t realise the vast health benefits coined “Exercise in Disguise” by the PPA. The timing of this campaign couldn’t be better with it being the start of the new school year providing a great opportunity to give children a new healthy lifestyle.   Janice Dunphy, chair of the PPA commented “The benefits of play are vast, which is why this campaign is such great news for schools. PPA members have fantastic facilities at their disposal and the beauty of indoor play sessions is that everyone can take part no matter their level of fitness or sporting ability. Our members are opening their doors to schools to demonstrate how we can help support a healthier lifestyle for our children so we would encourage primary schools to get signed up at www.play4lifeschoolschallenge.co.uk”  

The Play4Life schools challenge is backed by the Play Providers Association (PPA), the association representing high quality operators of children’s indoor play centres. More than 100 sites nationwide are taking part in the campaign and are giving away FREE group play sessions to schools and clubs between the 15th and 30th September in England and Wales and between the 10th-23rd September in Scotland.  

To register your school simply sign up on our website www.play4lifeschoolschallenge.co.uk or speak to your local participating PPA member. A teacher’s pack to accompany your visit is available to download online as well as lots other resources to accompany your visit. PPA members will also be hosting open evenings to allow teachers to see the facilities on offer, and discuss your visit requirements.