Contacted by Alice Ireland, family worker for the Childrens Fund in this area. The playscheme had closed due to the playleader resigning and she was trying to keep some holiday activities going.

We had 24 children and three adults attend the workshop. The children were engrossed in creating all sorts of things out of scrap materials, from puppets to tables!

Refreshments were provided by Alice. The children also enjoyed looking at the books and many children took books home with them.

Comments;

I liked being able to make what you want.

I think it was really good.

I think it was good because everyone was helpful.

I think it was good and I would like to come again.

13 children atteneded this session. The space was very limited as the playworkers were not able to hire the school hall. David adapted well to the space and the children all enjoyed taking part in juggling and plate spinning. This club is well attended, and is only open during the holidays at present, although funding is in place to open an after school, and breakfast club in the near future. Both playworkers are university students, studying child related subjects.

Asked by Home Start to run a workshop at their weekly café’s in Teignmouth and Dawlish. The organisation support families with children under 5yrs, who are experiencing difficulties for various reasons. They like to offer their parents new ideas for activities to try with their own families.

14 mums and 5 children (various ages due to school holidays) took part in the workshop which proved to be very popular – most people wanting to make more than one piece. This activity appeals to a wide age range – we covered 4yrs upwards, and everyone found it easy and enjoyable. The method is quick and simple – ideal for limited concentration spans – and also allows for individual creativity so that each one is a success and totally unique to them, which gives a great deal of satisfaction.

‘I would like to take part in another Tepee event – anything hands-on.’  ‘This is cool!’

4 mums and 3 children took part. Again, very well received. Evaluations showed all found it useful and enjoyable.

Contacted again by Alice Ireland, Family Worker for Children’s Fund. Still no-one to run playscheme, wanting to offer children something to do in the holidays and this was very popular last time. 14 children and 3 adults took part in the workshop, which was held in a smaller room this time because hall booked, but less children were booked on. In fact a few more came along on the day.

Once again this activity was well received by all ages. The workshop leaders bring a wonderful range of scrap materials to inspire the children, then help them to create what ever their imagination conjures up (ideas and examples are always on hand to help if a kick start is needed!) Most children made more than one thing and were still completely absorbed even when the 2 hour session had to end. Tepee provided refreshments.

‘The recycling things helped to make a lot of things!!!’

‘I would like to do art at another Tepee event.’

‘It was crowded’

The Club asked for a Freewheeling activity in the holidays as there had not been any there for a while. We provided Silk Paper-making with workshop leader Carole Williams. 11 children and one adult took part. All were very interested in the process of the activity and took great care and effort making their own individual pieces – getting especially ‘stuck in’ with the paste! After this the group made one big piece to be proudly displayed in the Village Hall.

‘This is fun!’ ‘The silk is so soft’ ‘I love the colours’

11 children aged between 4 and 11 years. Clive set up under a tree in the garden area and the children came and listened to his entrancing stories for about an hour. Then we had a break inside for juice and biscuits. The 2^nd half of the workshop involved the children in acting out the stories and playing percussion to accompany them. The children became fully involved and enjoyed running around the straw bale hut. This group has a few children with special emotional needs. It was good to see them interact so well. At the end of the session the children had a chance to borrow some books and give feedback.

A week later I met a 5 year old girl at the school fete, who had played the wise old woman in the story. Her eyes lit up when she remembered the stories and could tell me lots of things she remembered about them.

An inclusive play day organised by AIMS and Playlines inclusion worker. Tepee provided them with the tipi, which was used as the storytelling arena. Also a scrappy workshop, making hats with corks on, rain sticks, didgery doos, dream catchers.

There were 38 children, two thirds of which had disabilities. 25 adults, parents/carers.

A very special day in a lovely outdoor setting. Very relaxed and fun with lots of freedom for the children to play in. Activities included storytelling, African drumming, T-shirt painting and our scrappy workshop.

Summer 2004

This is an open access playscheme for children and parent/carers. It is open every Monday of the holidays.

We bought a circus skills workshop as requested. As we had a lot of children and the space inside was limited we started with parachute games inside and then moved to the playing field to continue the workshop. David finished the workshop with a short show inside. We had lots of good feedback and lots of smiley faces on the evaluation board.

This playscheme caters for two age groups on different days of the week. On Tuesday we had the older age group, 7-12 year olds. We also had some visiting children from Liverton Playscheme. All together we had 17 children.

Again the inside space was limited, so we worked outside on the field doing circus skills with David Maynard. The children enjoyed it very much, although some felt it was hard to learn the skills.

On Thursday we had the younger group, 19 children aged 5-7 years. Also 1 child who was a wheelchair user, one with ADHD and one with autism. Again we worked outside and the rain just held off. David adapted the parachute games for the boy in the wheel chair, who loved David’s hat.

This is a village very near Exeter, which we haven’t visited for a few years. There used to be a holiday club, but at present there is nothing happening in the area. We took a scrappy workshop to this venue and were pleased to have 14 children turn up. 0-5 = 11, 6-10 = 2, 11-14 = 1, Adult = 6, Gran = 1

Interesting that the age group was so young, but all were able to take part and some wonderful creations were made, from robots to trains, decorated handbags to puppets. All the adults enjoyed making too.

Children under 5 =10

Under 11=13

Under 14 =5

Total children – 28

Adults=7

A nice big hall that could accommodate our large number. Many people had heard through the pre-school and primary school. The pre-school workers were there and helped with setting up and clearing up. Children made finger puppets, note pads and vases with paper flowers, then they went on to create their own ideas, large puppets, trees and nests. It was hard to get them to stop at 12pm.

‘All my children had a great time (ages 3,9+12) great value for money and lovely materials’.

‘I liked doing whatever I liked’.

‘I liked making note books and getting messy with glue, thanks’.’

‘I liked it because I could do my own ideas’.

‘I thought the leaders were very nice and friendly’.

This is a newly opened summer holiday club, run by the after school club and pre-school. They have had very good numbers and we had their maximum, which are 26 children. As the weather was not good we decided to work inside with 2 groups of children. Each group was shown the process of felt making and then got to work creating their own felt pictures. After they had all done one we did a giant one all together that could be kept and displayed in the club. This is a very tactile workshop using soft colourful fleece, water and soap. All the children enjoyed it.

5 and under = 14

6-10 years =13

11- 14 years = 3

Total children =30

2 volunteers from the pre-school.

8 adults

All the children got very involved with making animal masks, using lovely animal print materials, lots of tissue paper and glue. The mums got very involved as well. We made tigers, sharks, whales, monkeys and elephants. The pre-school were very helpful with serving drinks and encouraging the children.

‘I liked the workshop it was fun’.

‘It was great’.

‘No other way to describe it than great’.

We planned to revisit the Teign valley area, where we had worked last year. The aim was to work with the communities in three neighbouring villages, providing childrens workshops in each village, to culminate in a Childrens Festival at the end of the week. All the workshops were aimed at preparing for and contributing to the festival. The three workshops included flags and banner making to decorate the marquee, circus skills to produce a circus show and a music/drama workshop to produce a musical performance for the festival. We contacted many people in each village, pre-schools, primary schools, parents etc and held an open meeting to get ideas and offers of help. Sadly we only had one person turn up to the meeting, a resident of Christow who had expressed an interest in a childrens festival the previous year. She was very enthusiastic and was full of ideas. We continued to work with her in preparing for the week and she was a great help in spreading the word, and put up lots of posters for us.

5 and under = 7

6-10 = 7

11-14 = 2

Total children = 16

Adults =7

‘Today was great and really creative. I am really looking forward to tomorrows circus skills, Vita’.

‘Great, should be more days like these’.

‘It was excellent, thank you for a lovely morning’.

A creative arty workshop making flags and creatures on sticks out of scrap materials.

Children 5 and under = 9, 6-10 = 23, 11-14=3 Total children 35

‘I liked being funny, thanks’.

‘I think today has been the best day even’.

‘Thank you for giving me a fab day. I learned how to use a Diablo and other things too. Thanks again’.

A wide variety of things to try, something for everyone. Time given by Caroline to introduce and demonstrate each piece of equipment. Time of everyone to show their skills at the end of each session, including the mums! Costumes and face paint provided to create a circus show.

Total children 29

5 and under = 9

6-10 = 19

11-14 = 1

Adults =10

‘I rirle lickt it it was so fun thank you for mackin it so fun’.

‘Real cool’.

Great fun, super leaders, learnt a lot, good creativity, well done’.

‘Go music! It was great’.

This workshop included making shakers, instruments out of scrap and masks, so it was arty and creative. It also taught people how to write and play music as a group. We also played some games and learnt some songs. A well thought out workshop, which all ages could enjoy.

Approximate total of children 150.

A large marquee on the field which held workshops in toy making, art and craft, clay modelling, badge making, scrappy making. Outside we had, 2 bouncy castles, Peter the birdman with his owl, balloons and hair braiding and face painting.

In the hall we had the two performances by the children, the circus show and the music show. Some local people provided refreshments and for older children we had a DJ workshop in a side room.

Despite the showers and wind it was a very successful afternoon with lots of fun and laughter. We even had an impromptu procession with all the children in their costumes, playing their instruments and singing. The workshop leaders worked very well together and created a brilliant atmosphere for the children.

We planned to revisit the Denbury/Ogwell area, where we had worked last year. The aim was to work with the communities in three neighbouring villages, providing childrens workshops in each village, to culminate in a Childrens Festival at the end of the week. All the workshops were aimed at preparing for and contributing to the festival. The three workshops included flags and banner making to decorate the marquee, circus skills to produce a circus show and a music/drama workshop to produce a musical performance for the festival. We contacted many people in each village, pre-schools, primary schools, parents etc and held an open meeting to get ideas and offers of help. We held the meeting in Ipplepen pre-school and had 4 people attend from Ipplepen. We had an offer to use the Millenium Centre free of charge, they also offered to organise people to do refreshments for the festival. They requested a kite-making workshop for the festival. We later also had an offer from the local pub, The Wellington to provide us with some tables.

Total children 17

5 and under = 4

6-10 = 12

11-14 = 1

Adults = 7

We made a wonderful long banner on plastic using liquid chalk pens and stickers.

Also painted bunting on fabric.

‘I liked the paint’.

‘I had a lovely time because I made a new friend’.

‘Not enough paint colours or chalk colours’.

Total children = 30

5 and under = 7

6-10 = 21

11-14 = 2

Adults = 8 (2 male)

An active day learning new skills to perform at the festival on Friday.

‘The kids loved it, you were very patient, lots of fun’.

‘Thank you it was great’.

‘It was really fun, I liked the diablo’.

‘The sticks were hard’.

Music and drama and stories with Clive Pig.

Total children 20

5 and under = 13

6-10 = 7

Adults = 9 (2male)

An exciting morning with lots of drumming, storytelling and drama. Everyone was involved. Clive told a story of the Thunderbird, a native American Indian story and we worked on this to produce a show for Friday. We had slightly less children come back in the afternoon as many of them were so young that 2 hours was enough for them.

‘Making up stories and listening to everyone else’s was great’.

‘I thought it was great & I liked playing on the drums’.

‘Wonderful! Imaginative and great fun’.

‘It was excellent and very loud!’

We had a very wet morning setting up, but luckily we had a big marquee and the tipi, so we had some shelter.

We had a smaller turn out than we expected because of the rain. In total we had about 75-100 children throughout the afternoon. The workshops were successful and the children had fun taking part in the performances. With fewer children it meant they had more time to spend on making things. We had excellent homemade cakes from the pre-school (all proceeds going to the pre-school and after school club.) Workshops included, toy making, scrappy workshop, kite making, clay modelling and badge making. Clive Pig did some story telling and Andy Coombes of Bob and Bob Jobbins bought his hilarious funny noise booth out. We also had sports on the field and bouncy castles when the rain held off.

This is a village re-visited from last year. We spoke to the vicar who is very active in the community and keen to get things in for children. He requested a poster-making workshop on the theme of wildlife. We called on Michelle and Sally and they bought lots of natural materials, leaves, berries etc and planned to make a collaged poster of a natural habit. Sadly we had a turn out of 8 boys. 5 and under = 5, 6-10 = 2, over 10 = 1. Plus 2 grandmothers. However we had a lovely morning with lots of time to spend on the posters and we finished with a song from Michelle. A woman from the church came to collect the posters and said she would put them up in church. We will be in touch with the vicar to find out why we had such a poor attendance.

Total children 12

5 and under = 7

6-10 = 5

Adults = 6 (1 male)

A wonderfully creative morning. A natural theme developed with lots of children making insects, dragonflies and wasps and made up creatures all out of scrap materials.

‘Thank you for all your help to make such beautiful dragonflies’.

‘Thanks so much, lovely to see Tom being so creative & sitting still!!’

‘Thanks for another great creative afternoon’.

We originally wanted to do a session in Shalden, but we had heard that most of the children from Shalden went to Broadmeadow over the river, so we decided to visit this large, busy playscheme situated in the sports centre in Teignmouth. It was their last day of the summer holidays and they planned a party in the enormous sports hall. We set up our workshop alongside a small bouncy castle, badge machine (ours) face painting and food. The children came and went as they liked around the various activities. We had a pleasant couple of hours making puppets, notepads and masks with the children. Most of the children were quite young and needed lots of help with gluing the tissue on. But lots of lovely sticky creations were made.

This is our largest event of the summer and we worked in conjunction with Surestart Teignmouth and Dawlish, who supported the event financially and bought along many activities for the under 5’s. Tepee organised the event and leased with Surestart and Homestart about what they wanted to contribute. Homestart did an hour of mini Olympics which went down very well.

In the large marquee we had a scrappy workshop, toy making, painting screens, clay modelling and badge making.

We also had African drumming and story telling, water play from Devonplay, henna tattooing, face painting, hair braiding, circus skills workshop, circus show, banner waving and bouncy castles.

We estimated that we had about 2,000 children throughout the afternoon.

Some people said that parking was a problem and that the queues for face painting and hair braiding were too long, they would like more refreshments (we couldn’t provide this because of TDC restrictions). A lot of childrens comments were that there were too many people, but liked the variety of things to do and that it was free.

A play day in Courtenay Park in partnership with Zero14plus to celebrate National Sure Start Month. It was a wet Saturday and so we had fewer people than expected, Orchard House Saturday club attended as it fell on a Saturday which was great. We had a selection of workshops in gazebos, storytelling with Clive Pig and circus skills from David Maynard and banner and flag waving plus parachute games from Bizzie Lizzie.

Tepee organised the PLAY area for this event for young people aged 15 and 16 years. This included a scrappy workshop, clay modelling and badge making and a very popular karaoke machine. We had about 300 young people throughout the day. As we played we engaged them in talking about playwork, training, opportunities etc.

We have been asked again to organise the PLAY area for their next childcare fair this November.

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Last modified: October 02, 2008