This document discusses a program called Active Play that aims to increase physical activity among schoolchildren in Glasgow, Scotland through outdoor play. Over the past 8 years, the program has worked with 70 charities across 30 local authorities, reaching over 1,600 children. Active Play delivers 10-week programs in primary schools led by local charities and supported by teachers. It has shown success in increasing physical activity during the school day. The benefits of Active Play include supporting health and wellbeing as well as social, physical, emotional, and cognitive development in children.

1. 13 June 2018
Glasgow

2. Inspiring Scotland and outdoor play
GoPlay – Go2Play – Thrive
Outdoors
8 Years 2010-2018
Over £7 million
70 Charities in 30 Local authorities

3. Active Play
2014 – Commonwealth Games buzz
Worked with PEEK to develop its Active Play
programme
Funded 4 charities
in 4 local authorities
Research of programme by University of
Strathclyde
It worked! Increased physical activity during the
school day.

4. Active Play in Glasgow

5. Active Play in Glasgow
Active Play
Glasgow
Active Play (Whole Class)
• P3 or P4 Class
• 10 weeks
• Delivered by local charity
• Supported by Class Teacher
Play Champs (about 10 pupils)
• P5 or P6 Class
• 8 weeks
• Delivered by local charity
• Supported by SfLW

6. Active Play in Glasgow
118 Primary Schools over 3 three years
To date:
58 Schools
576 Active Play sessions
1,694 children
584 Play Champions
278 Teachers & SfLW Trained
Began pilot work in Dundee and Highland in
January 2018

8. Aidan Gallacher, Agile CIC Avril
Johnstone, Strathclyde University
Why physical activity and Active
Play?

11. The Benefits of Active Play

12. What is Active Play?
‘Active play involves
children using large
muscle groups to exert
energy in physical activity
which is unstructured,
freely chosen and fun’
(Truelove et al, 2016)

13. Why Active Play?
• Could have huge potential for increasing
children’s physical activity levels (Janssen, 2014)
• Engaged in 365 days of the year (before, during
and after school)
• Outdoor time is associated with increase PA
(Gray et al, 2015; Cooper et al, 2015)
• Active play interventions have potential to
increase physical activity levels (Johnstone, 2018)

14. Why Active Play?

15. Active Play works
• Supports the Health and Wellbeing
aspect of the CfE
• Social, physical, emotional and
cognitive benefits
• Healthier and happier children
• Active children learn better

16. Our Active Play journey
• Partnership – local organisation
and primary school
• Part of a pilot project in 2015
• Active play 10 week programme
• Play CHAMPS
• Pef Programme in 2018

17. Aidan Gallacher, Agile CIC
Support and CPD

18. Support and CPD
School induction
Charity training Delivery support
Twilight CPD
sessions
School visits
Review sessions
Web
resources