Pupils at Windygoul Primary School in Tranent have created a video showcasing them making use of “loose parts” turned into playground objects.
Organised by East Lothian Play Association (ELPA) in partnership with the ERASMUS+ scheme, Loose Parts Play has connected with schools in Hungary, Poland and Slovakia as well as at Windygoul.
The project aims to teach children and staff how unwanted objects such as old tyres or containers can be used for creative play and helps to encourage recycling.
At Windygoul Primary School, children have been encouraged to play with crates and tyres, roll huge tubes and build dens out of items donated by families that no longer need them.
Parents are being urged to think before throwing out unwanted items and to consider donating them to the school to be used by children. The items are being stored in two large containers within the school grounds.
On Fridays, the whole school comes together for an extended morning break, ensuring everyone is involved in the project.
The project is being led within the school by principal teachers Stephen Mitchell and Mhairi Bernard.
Mr Mitchell said: "Participating in the Erasmus+ project alongside ELPA has been a fantastic opportunity to develop our play approaches across the school.
"We have visited schools in Hungary and Slovakia to share our experiences and learn from our European partners. We also enjoyed hosting a visit to Windygoul Primary and the children led a tour of the school and explained our approaches to Loose Parts Play. This international collaboration has been so valuable."
While Mrs Bernard said: "Another focus of the project was sustainable thinking and environmental impact, which links with our eco team and supports the reduce, reuse, recycle campaign.
"We rely on donations of loose parts from our families and our local community and are always thinking looking at objects for their creative play potential!"
Pupils at Windygoul Primary School made a short video to discuss how the project has helped them.
In the video, pupils can be seen rolling around in tyres, using half cylinders as slide,s and rolling large tubes down hills.
Lucas Davidson, P6 pupil and Loose Parts ambassador, said: "Loose Parts play means nearly everything to me. It is such fun and you can use your imagination all of the time.
"For example, my friends and I pretend a blue half cylinder is a boat but it could also be a space ship!
"Having loose parts to play with has added so much more to our playtimes and it is always changing.
"Making the video was a great honour. I started as a Loose Parts ambassador in P5 and have loved the way everything has grown. Making the video helped show other people what Loose Parts is and what it means to our Windygoul family."
A spokesperson for ELPA said: “School playgrounds can be dull, flat places that are predominantly grey. By adding loose parts, the playground is immediately transformed.
“East Lothian Play Association and Windygoul Primary School have been working together to build understanding of play across the school and improve play experiences for all pupils.”
Dianne MacKenzie, head teacher at Windygoul Primary School, feels the project has been “incredibly positive”.
She said: “I think Loose Parts has been really exciting for everybody. I think it has been exciting for the children and I think it has added something else to our playtimes."
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