A walking school bus is a healthy, environmentally conscious, safe and fun way to travel to and from school. It is a scheme that involves parent volunteers walking children to
school along a set route.

Check out this useful resource which will give you tips on how to start up a Walking Bus at your school.

Walking Bus Start Up

The aim of Playground Markings is to increase the opportunities for school based activity and play as well as increasing the number of children who are active.
Here are some useful tips if your school is planning on putting markings down.

TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED WITH THE PLAYGROUND MARKINGS

COMMITMENT:
It is advisable to take on this project in collaboration with the board of management of the school, staff and the parents/community.

PROJECT LEADERSHIP:
Appoint a Project Leader that will be involved in the process from start to finish. The project leader in collaboration with the management/staff and administration should determine the primary intent of the markings prior to initiating the painting process.

TRAINING:
Training is an integral piece of the process. Consideration should be given as to how to train teachers and support staff to utilise the markings during lunch/ break times. Training should include not only how to use the markings, but also incorporating teacher reinforcement cues to promote physical activity.

FUNDING OPTIONS:
Parents Council Committee | Fundraising Effort | Department of Education – Minor Works Grant
Department of Education – Summer Work Scheme | Contact Department of Education – School Planning | Department of Rural and Community Development

COST:
This can vary depending upon who puts down the markings, here are 3 options:
Option 1 – Employing a professional can cost between €1,000 and €2,000.
Option 2 – Hire a community Artist, borrowing the stencils from WSP or HSE
Option 3 – Parents/Caretaker/PTA. This will cost around €50 for the paint but it is recommended to use line marking paint and discuss this with experts prior to buying this. Line Marking Paint’ is recommended for the long term wear of the games – best suited for tarmacadam but also works on cement. Line Marking Paint’ is toxic and masks should be worn when putting down the markings.

PREPARING FOR & PAINTING THE PLAYGROUND MARKINGS

ARTIST CONSULTANT:
If the decision has been made to engage with a local artist, it is recommended to have a consultant process to assist with layout design and the actual painting process. The artist consultant, along with the project leader and other school representatives, can help develop a layout design plan that details where the playground markings will be located.

GROUND PREPARATION:
Prior to painting the markings, the areas to be painted need to be cleaned and swept as much as possible. The paint will adhere best to a clean surface. Ideally, the areas to be painted should be power-washed and allowed to dry completely before any paint is applied (e.g., a day or two before painting). Additionally, on the day painting will take place it is recommended that the area be swept and/or cleaned again with a leaf/yard blower to remove any loose dirt, etc. shortly before applying paint.

VOLUNTEERS:
Having school staff and parent volunteers involved in this aspect of the project is essential. The painting process will go much faster and more smoothly if parent/school volunteers help paint the markings. Having volunteers plan to be available for at least a couple of hours or more is helpful. The painting process typically occurs in phases with the organization and preparation happening at the outset. For instance, confirming the placement of the markings, sweeping/blowing the areas to be painted, organizing and preparing the paint supplies (e.g., brushes, water, etc.).

STENCIL RESOURCES:
Stencils for Playground Markings can be borrowed from Waterford Sports Partnership or the HSE.
Please contact Louise Barry on 0761 10 2619 or email lbarry@waterfordsportspartnership.ie
or alternatively…. Health Promotion Office, HSE – South, St. Catherine’s Hall, Waterside, Waterford Tel: 051 842911

PAINT RESOURCES:
You can use road-marking paint (lasts longer but only available in yellow and white)
or
You can use acrylic outdoor masonry paint (it is water based and non-toxic, available in a wide range of colours (primary colours are best) and costs approx. €40 per gallon)

WHEN THE PLAYGROUND MARKINGS ARE IN PLACE

SUPPORT:
Contact Louise Barry from Waterford Sports Partnership or Susan Scully from the HSE to arrange training for teachers and older children demonstrating how to play the games.
This workshop is essential to maximise the potential of the markings.
Health Promotion Office | HSE – South | St Catherine’s Hall | Waterside | Waterford | Tel: 051 842911
Susan Scully| HSE | Health Promotion | Tel: 051 846714
Louise Barry | Waterford Sports Partnership | Tel: 0761 10 2619

Buntús Start is a comprehensive physical activity programme for children aged 2-5 years old.  It has been designed for use in pre-school settings so that pre-school and playgroup leaders can provide a wide range of learning opportunities for young children to develop their fundamental motor skills, manipulative skills, co-ordination and balancing skills and develop a positive attitude to physical activity.  The programme is a joint initiative between Waterford Sports Partnership and Waterford County Childcare Committee.

Buntús Start Training Programme:
Participants attend a four hour training session.

Buntús Start REFRESHER Training Programme:
As part of the training, Waterford County Childcare Committee in partnership with Waterford Sports Partnership also offer a Refresher Training Course for those have completed the Buntús Start Training and wish to enhance their knowledge and skills around physical activity and games for young children. The Refresher Training will benefit all childcare practitioners and children in becoming more active more often. It will also focus on sharing activities amongst each other and what works best in different centres along with new activities and resources.

For more information please contact Louise Barry on 0761 10 2619 or email lbarry@waterfordsportspartnership.ie

Be Active ASAP is a FREE 2 ½ hour training for teacher and parents interested in leading physical activity session after school hours. The programme is designed for 7-8 year old children (1st & 2nd class), and the aim is to introduce children to fun physical activity in a safe, familiar, structured setting, with an emphasis on enjoyment, learning and variety of activity.

When/where does it take place?
The programme takes place on schools grounds, which offers a safe, familiar, convenient setting for an age-appropriate introduction to after-school physical activity.

Cost
This is a FREE programme.

How do we get involved?
To register your interest, please complete this online
Expression of Interest Form

For further information and support please contact: 
Louise Barry, Sports Development Officer on 0761 10 2619
or email lbarry@waterfordsportspartnership.ie

Visit the website for further insight into Be Active ASAP www.beactiveasap.ie

Book your place now

Tri -Heroes is a programme, brought to you from Triathlon Ireland, to help schools and teachers introduce and deliver triathlon activities to pupils whilst supporting the needs of the school to deliver the necessary Physical Education progression for all pupils. Tri Heroes includes a 4 session triathlon programme which introduces triathlon in an enjoyable, interactive and non competitive environment. The activities include walking/ running, cycling and swimming (optional).

When/where does it take place?
This programme can take place at any time during the school year. The sessions are delivered by a qualified Triathlon Coach and last approximately one hour. Another option is to provide teachers with lesson plans and an introductory training workshop to allow teachers to deliver the sessions during PE class time.

Cost
The programme costs €5 per child, which covers the cost of insurance, membership for each child to Triathlon Ireland, the four coaching sessions and entry to a Celebration Event.

How do we get involved?
To register your interest, please complete this online
Expression of Interest Form
For more info visit www.triathlonireland.ie.

For further information and support please contact:
Brian O’Neil on 086 020 1219 or email boneill@waterfordsportspartnership.ie

Playground markings are designed to promote a child’s enjoyment of and participation in physical activity during P.E time, lunch time and other break times during the school day. The markings are painted designs on the school/centre grounds using lines, shapes and patterns to encourage children to play, have fun and engage with other children.

Play and fun games are widely recognised as an essential part of a child’s early development, which is defined as up to the age of 5 years. There is significant evidence which highlights play and physical activity have a positive impact, effecting cognitive, physical, social and even emotional advancement from an early age. The focus of the Playground markings is to enhance the physical environment and provide playground designs that promote physical activity and play. Additionally, the markings are intended to appeal to teachers as well given that the markings lend themselves to reinforcing core academic content. The markings are designed to encourage teachers to incorporate activity breaks during the instructional day.

A stencil kit is available to schools across Waterford who wish to put down markings on their school yard. These Playground Markings promote movement through Mathematics, Activity Circuit, Hopscotch and a Maze and are suitable for children of all ages.

Cost: The cost of the programme is €350. 50% of the cost will be covered by WSP with the school paying €175.
Logistics: Once applications are received and reviewed, WSP will liaise with each school to arrange a date for markings to be painted and a date for in person training

To organise a consultation and plan your Playground Markings,
please complete this online Expression of Interest Form

For more information please contact Jordan Kelly at jordankelly@waterfordsportspartnership.ie

Waterford Sports Partnership would like to invite schools to take part in a free and simple initiative to improve the physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of primary-aged children (3-11 years).

The Daily Mile is an initiative which was started by Elaine Wyllie, when she was Head teacher of a Large Scottish Primary School in 2012. Elaine noticed that the children in her school lacked fitness: when asked to run around the school pitch, most were exhausted before they reached halfway. The children were keen to improve their fitness, and it was agreed they could spend 15 minutes each day in school walking, jogging or running round the path. Within one month the children were averaging 5 laps of the path, which, when measured, turned out to be a mile – so The Daily Mile was born. Since then the initiative has been introduced into over 1,750 schools in the UK, over 540 in Belgium, and over 100 in the Netherlands.

The Daily Mile is very simple to start in a school. Without wasting time to change into kit, every child in the school goes out each day in the fresh air to run, jog or walk at their own pace for 15 minutes. It is not competitive and most children average a mile, with some doing more and some doing less, although all children should be encouraged to run over time. It is not PE, sport or crosscountry but a physical activity which is aimed at improving the children’s physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing. It can help children to focus and concentrate in the classroom and raise their attainment.

If you are interested in starting The Daily Mile in your school or with one of the classes in your school initially please register your interest by completing this online
Expression of Interest Form

Brian O’Neil on 086 020 1219 or email boneill@waterfordsportspartnership.ie

For further details on The Daily Mile please visit the website http://www.thedailymile.co.uk