Clubs, Enrichment & Active Lunchtimes

At St Mary’s, we want children to have opportunities to play, move, create, explore new interests and spend time together throughout the school day.

We know that children benefit from being active and having time away from screens. Current UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidance recommends that children and young people aged 5–18 are physically active for an average of at least 60 minutes each day across the week, while also reducing long periods of sedentary time. Physical activity supports children’s physical health as well as confidence, social skills, concentration, learning and wellbeing.

For us, this is not simply about organised sport. Playing, walking, running, climbing, dancing and active games all count. We therefore want movement, play and opportunities to try new things to be a natural part of life at St Mary’s.

Active Lunchtimes – Choice for Everyone

We have developed our lunchtime provision so that lunchtimes are purposeful, enjoyable and active, while still giving children genuine choice.

Our outdoor and indoor spaces are organised into different zones, with adults allocated to each area so that children can choose how they would like to spend their lunchtime.

Activity Zone – a planned activity each day, including life skills, dance, walking, fitness and traditional playground games.

Free Play Zone – space for child-led play with balls, hoops, imaginative games and, importantly, time to play and talk with friends.

Adventure Zone – our trim trail and wooden park provide opportunities for climbing, balancing and more adventurous physical play.

Quiet & Creative Indoor Zone – we recognise that not every child wants to be active all of the time. Children can choose quieter activities including LEGO, colouring, crafts, puzzles, UNO, Dobble, Top Trumps and board games.

Alongside our zones, staff offer a changing programme of lunchtime clubs and activities. These currently include opportunities such as Shoelace & Life Skills Club, Dance Club, Walking Club, Wellbeing Wednesday, Fitness Club, LEGO Club, School Council, drawing, gardening and traditional playground games.

Our aim is simple: there should be something for everyone.

Music Opportunities

We are delighted to offer additional opportunities for children who would like to develop their musical talents.

Rocksteady Music School takes place in school on Thursday afternoons. Children have the opportunity to learn and perform as part of their own rock band. Parents sign up and pay Rocksteady directly.

Piano lessons are also available in school. These are arranged directly between parents and our visiting music teacher, with payment made directly to the teacher.

Please contact the school office if you would like further information about either opportunity.

After-School Clubs

We are working with our PTFA, families and wider community to develop our after-school offer further.

As a small school, partnership with our families makes an enormous difference to the opportunities we can provide. We would love to hear from parents, grandparents and members of our community who have a skill, hobby or interest they might be able to share with our children.

This might be sport, gardening, art, crafts, music, cooking, chess, languages, drama, nature – or something we haven't thought of yet!

If you have an idea for a club or an opportunity you would love our children to experience, please get in touch.

Together, we want to give our children as many opportunities as possible to be active, discover new interests, develop their talents, build friendships and have fun.

Why being active matters

The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that children and young people aged 5–18 achieve an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day across the week and minimise prolonged sedentary time.

[UK Chief Medical Officers – Physical Activity Guidelines for Children and Young People]

[Department for Education – PE and Sport Premium Guidance]