Positive Play is an initiative that has been running in Derbyshire for 27 years.

Positive Play-Support aims and objectives:

• to allow young people a space to express and communicate feelings and difficulties in their lives, through a variety of media in constructive rather than aggressive ways and in a safe non-threatening environment
• to help young people feel good about themselves and raise self-esteem by providing activities that look at their strengths and by valuing what they do and making it special
• to provide a non-authoritarian, supportive, reliable, safe, unconditional relationship within schools and other settings
• to provide some of the early experiences that may have been missed but which are necessary for formal education and social interaction
• to help young people acquire the complex range of life skills needed to achieve their full potential.

Sheffield Hallam University have conducted 2 evaluations of the intervention, the second one being a 3 year longitudinal study by Dr J Empson.

“There is statistically supported evidence that positive behaviour change occurs in children who have participated specifically in the Positive Play-Support Intervention”

In conclusion it was stated that the effectiveness was proven that:

“unless a Child or Young Person can manage their social, emotional and behavioural baggage, their achievement in school and their success in life will be significantly limited.”

Ofsted reports defined the programme as

“an early intervention tool, reducing disaffection and encouraging inclusive education.”

From September 2021, we will be training staff and starting to run Positive Play sessions for pupils in school.