A fun way to learn and earn
PUPILS at a Northampton school are fast
becoming the next generation of business moguls thanks to new
playground equipment.
Year six pupils at Hackleton C of E School,
Hackleton, have turned their newly installed Playforce gazebo into
a tuck shop.
But far from selling the usual crisps and
penny sweets at break times, this gazebo is transformed into the
‘Healthy Snack Shack’.
“We are currently working towards
Healthy School Status and part of our objective includes healthy
eating. The gazebo is the ideal place to operate the 'Healthy Snack
Shack' from and it was all the idea of our School
Council,” explained the school’s assistant head, Sonja
Pragnell.
Mrs Pragnell said that so far the snack shack
project has been a complete success as it was working on a number
of levels to teach the children invaluable lessons whilst they have
fun. On top of promoting and encouraging healthy eating for all
pupils, the children running the shop learn a whole new set of
extra curricular skills like stock taking and ordering, sales
techniques, accounting, advertising, teamwork and
responsibility.
But beyond break time the gazebo takes on
another role acting as an area for children who want to enjoy
quieter entertainments. The School Council is currently organising
a competition to create and invent activities for people to enjoy
in it at lunchtime. Entrants so far have come up with some exciting
colouring challenges and intricate word searches.
“The children love the gazebo,”
explained Mrs Pragnell, “All children are very excited by the
'snack shack' that operates from it at playtimes and are looking
forward to having activities to work on in it at
lunchtimes. In the summer months we hope the gazebo will
provide a shady area as well.”
The gazebo was fitted by Wiltshire-based
Playforce, a company with a reputation for producing quality
products that stretch children’s minds as well as bodies.
They also installed a pirate ship, geared towards entertaining the
younger members of the school, which has also proved a huge
success.
“It’s inspired lots of imaginative
role play,” said Mrs Pragnell. “Everyone is
delighted.”
Further information relating to Playforce can
be viewed at http://www.playforce.co.uk/