Wellbeing & Culture

Inclusive Play: Everyone is Welcome

Play through games, conversations, friendship building, confidence, shared activities and social skills offers such an important role to students within our school. Supporting positive playground experiences for all children can be done through encouraging inclusive practices helping all students to feel welcome and valued. Children can benefit from learning that everyone learns differently, communications and plays differently and also socialises in their own way. Being a good friend sometimes means adjusting to the way we interact with others.

Inclusive play can also mean noticing when someone has been left out, then using some simple skills and strategies to invite them to join in:

• Using kind and encouraging language
• Giving others time to respond
• Using positive conversation starters and open ended questions
• Sharing ideas
• Taking turns
• Noticing when someone may need support
• Choosing games with multiple players
• Sharing the leadership role
• Adopting the Stay, Play, Talk strategy

Developing these social and communication skills from primary school improves practices moving into high school and adulthood. Research shows that inclusive social practices strengthen friendships, increase confidence and create a stronger sense of belonging for all students involved.  Families can support these practices at home by talking about kindness and empathy, practice turn taking games, and celebrate differences. Working together within our school community we can continue to create an environment where every child feels included, valued and respected.

Hayley, Kelly and Jordan