Positive Play
Learning Through Play, Building Confidence and Nurturing Wellbeing
At Penllergaer Primary School, we believe that every child deserves to feel happy, valued, included and supported. We recognise that children learn and develop in different ways, and that positive relationships, emotional wellbeing and opportunities to play are essential foundations for successful learning.
As part of our commitment to inclusion and supporting pupils with Additional Learning Needs (ALN), we provide Positive Play sessions, offering children a nurturing, supportive environment where they can develop their confidence, emotional awareness and social skills through meaningful, play-based experiences.
💛 What is Positive Play?
Positive Play is a nurturing, play-based approach designed to support children's social, emotional and personal development.
Through carefully planned activities and positive interactions with a trusted adult, children are encouraged to explore their feelings, develop relationships, build confidence and experience success.
Sessions provide a safe, welcoming space where children can express themselves, practise important life skills and develop a greater understanding of their own emotions and the feelings of others.
At PPS, we understand that play is not simply a break from learning – play is learning!
🧩 What Happens During Positive Play Sessions?
Positive Play sessions are tailored to the individual needs of our learners and may include a range of enjoyable, purposeful activities.
🎨 Creative Play – Art, craft and imaginative activities that encourage self-expression, creativity and confidence.
🧸 Role Play and Small-World Play – Opportunities to explore feelings, relationships and everyday situations in a safe and supportive environment.
🎲 Games and Turn-Taking Activities – Developing patience, cooperation, communication and the ability to follow rules.
😊 Emotional Literacy Activities – Helping children recognise, understand and express their feelings appropriately.
🤝 Cooperative Play – Encouraging children to share, negotiate, solve problems and develop positive relationships.
🌿 Calming and Sensory Activities – Providing opportunities to relax, regulate emotions and develop strategies for managing different feelings.
Through these experiences, children can develop important skills while having fun and feeling supported.
🌟 What Skills Does Positive Play Develop?
Our Positive Play provision aims to support children in developing:
💛 Confidence and Self-Esteem – Helping children recognise their strengths, celebrate achievements and develop a positive sense of self.
😊 Emotional Awareness and Regulation – Supporting children to recognise their emotions and develop strategies to manage their feelings.
🤝 Friendship and Social Skills – Learning to share, take turns, cooperate and build positive relationships.
🗣️ Communication and Language – Encouraging children to express their thoughts, feelings and needs with growing confidence.
🌈 Resilience and Problem-Solving – Helping children manage challenges, cope with disappointment and develop perseverance.
💚 Trust and Positive Relationships – Building secure, supportive relationships with adults and peers.
⭐ Independence and Readiness to Learn – Developing the confidence and emotional security needed to participate positively in classroom learning.
🏫 Why Is Positive Play Important at PPS?
At Penllergaer, we recognise that emotional wellbeing and academic achievement go hand in hand.
When children feel safe, understood and supported, they are better placed to engage with learning, develop positive relationships and achieve their potential.
Our Positive Play provision reflects our belief that every learner should have access to the support they need to flourish.
For some children, expressing emotions through words can be difficult. Play provides a natural and meaningful way for children to communicate, explore experiences and develop their understanding of the world around them.
Positive Play also supports the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales, particularly helping children become:
Healthy, confident individuals who develop emotional resilience and positive relationships.
Enterprising, creative contributors who express themselves, collaborate and explore new ideas.
Ambitious, capable learners who develop confidence, perseverance and independence.
Ethical, informed citizens who demonstrate kindness, empathy and respect for others.
Through Positive Play, we aim to equip children with skills that extend beyond the classroom and support their personal development throughout life.
💚 Our School Is for Everyone
At PPS, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do.
We understand that every child is unique, and our Positive Play provision is one of the many ways we respond to individual needs, nurture wellbeing and remove barriers to learning.
Alongside our ELSA support, Sensory Circuits and LEGO®-based Therapy, Positive Play forms part of our wider commitment to ensuring that all learners feel a sense of belonging and have opportunities to succeed.
By investing in children's emotional wellbeing, confidence and social development, we are helping them become happy, resilient and confident individuals who are ready to thrive both in school and beyond.
🌈 "Through positive play, we build happy hearts, confident minds and friendships that flourish."
💚💛 Penllergaer Primary School – Our School Is for Everyone.
