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The children reported going to the following activities: - Church,
after-school club, lots of swimming, horse-riding, Brownies and
Scouts.
The children would like to do the following activities: Skiing,
ice skating, skate-boarding, have a wave machine in the pool, access
to a bike park, a sports hall in the village and more child friendly
transport. Children would like to interview adults who wish to work
with them and felt that it would be better if they were in charge
of children’s areas rather than adults. They would also like
to design their own signs for these areas. The children would like
to have access to open air swimming and be able to play in safe
streets free from traffic.
Problems: Some concerns expressed about drug problems in the main
park – safety is not good – teenagers. Worries about drugs
mean that mums and dads don’t let the children play out. It
was expressed that the children could do with more information about
drugs.
A few things that the children of Hall Orchard would really like
to see:
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Barrow become a child friendly place. |
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Be able to swin in the open e.g.,
lakes, rivers, outdoor swimming pools. |
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The need for a sandy beach to play
on, because living so far inland it was too far for children
and old people to travel. |
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More car parking - cars kept in their
place. |
Wider ranging ideas about growing up included living in a skyscraper
and going to live in Australia. There was a powerful sense of how
strongly they identify with their school.They are happy to be there,
love their teacher and have a strong sense of belonging. Many children
said things like;
‘When I leave school I feel sad because I won’t see my
teacher.......they are all nice, because they all help me to do
my work.’ Not being able to see friends after or out of school
was also brought up frequently. Many expressed various levels of
sadness at having to go home after school. Some found solace in
their Playstations!
Some were already aware of going on to secondary school, possibly
because they have older brothers and sisters who are already there.
As with most childern, they like to do a range of activities.
Some of their ideas for after school activities were quite unusual,
but not all impossible to organize, such as the current pre-occupation
with being a pop star. e.g, they could easily have access to a space
with a mike, and just be left free to express themselves (or have
access to karaoke). Junior bungee jumping might be more difficult
to organize, but not impossible! Having a male role model, as in
football, was mentioned. Many of the boys were into football in
a big way, other sports included swimming, rugby, skateboarding
and hang gliding. The children wanted adults to be funny, nice,
good, fun, silly, lovely, happy and for some a request again for
males.
Children reported feeling safe with a range of close relatives and
child-minders.
A variety of different people looked after the children after school,
from parents to grandparents, to step parents and childminders.
Fantasy played an important part in what they’d like to do;
‘go to Center Parks every day, and have loads of slides and
bouncy castles.’
They’d also like to have more freedom of expression and/or
just be left to be. Most children also said they would like to do
out of school activities on a more regular basis.
See the school
Gallery
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