Summer planning


A pick-and-mix guide to summer events


PTAs have built up a wealth of knowledge over the past year, experimenting with new technologies and holding virtual events. This summer, combine new skills with traditional ones to create the right celebration for you


SUMMER FAIR If you want to hold a fair this year,


take your favourite elements and combine them in a safe way that makes supporters happy. A theme will help tie it together: country fayre, carnival or seaside could all work.


FEELING CAUTIOUS? A virtual fair is a safe bet and can go


ahead no matter what. Overcome the lack of face-to-face contact by fi nding creative ways for attendees to see one another online. Plan a mixed day and make it clear which platforms you’re using for each part. Ask your head teacher to record an opening speech and book a virtual act such as a magic show or comedian. Use social media to post games and challenges such as throwing balls into a bucket, scavenger hunts or dressing up. Guess the number of sweets in the jar, name the teddy, 100 square grid and many other fair regulars can be adapted for a virtual audience too. Ask for donations via your usual online platform. If the school agrees, you may be able to recreate a few favourite stalls and games during school hours just for the children. Assemble them in the playground where classes can visit in bubbles.


FEELING OPTIMISTIC? If groups are allowed to meet


outside, hold a hybrid event. Ask supporters to register online to receive a fair programme containing ideas for the day, times of any virtual shows or talks, plus links and templates for competitions or challenges. Speak to your usual fair sponsors about advertising or see if they will offer a voucher as a prize. On the day, families can gather informally in private gardens, the


park or open countryside for races,


challenges and outdoor sports, such as: ● Egg-and-spoon race: Families can bring spoons and hard-boiled eggs from home or use teaspoons and marbles. Mark out lanes with cones or lengths of string or cord to keep


distancing in place. ● Beat the goalie: The player has three chances to get the ball past the goalie. Comedy gloves for the goalie


always go down well! ● Sack race: Bulk-buy sacks so there’s one for everyone or suggest groups use old pillowcases. For more fun, get


mums and dads hopping along too! ● Chalk Pictionary: Find a tarmacked space where children can spread out and draw pictures for the others to guess. Draw a grid on the ground so


they can stay distanced. ● Musical statues: If it won’t annoy the neighbours, get everyone dancing with some party music, adding an element of competition with this


classic game. ● Water fi ght: Build some defences, behind which players must remain. Creating them from whatever you have available makes for a fun project before the game has even begun. Using water pistols, players must try to hit their opponents. Four defences work well, with children


taking it in turns to play. ● Circle games: Spread everyone out in a circle, using markers to make sure no one moves too close. Play games such as Simon says, splat, zip zap boing or charades. For bigger groups, make multiple circles, mixing them up for more social interaction, if regulations allow. Ask supporters to video their


attempts and submit to the PTA for judging. Don’t get too competitive – it’s just for fun. Award small prizes or


vouchers, which can be delivered by volunteers or collected from the school, if they are willing. Hold some whole-school activities online as well, so everyone comes


together at the same time: ● Hook up with a local business to sell activity sets for families. Think pizza-making kits, craft packs or


ceramic art. Run an online lesson. ● Host an end-of-year quiz. Set some questions where the answers can be a drawing, show-and-tell or a song,


to stretch logical and creative muscles. ● Ask families to send in photos and video clips of all the things they have achieved this year. Edit the clips together and premiere the fi lm on the day of your fair.


FEELING AMBITIOUS? A bigger summer fair could go ahead


with careful planning. Start making plans with a summer date in mind, which could be moved to autumn, should the need arise. Marketing materials, stall ideas and requests for sponsorship could all be carried over if necessary. For fair-planning ideas and a checklist, go to pta.co.uk/ events/fairs/summer-fair-checklist/ For a big celebration with minimal


work for the PTA, hold a circus. ‘We’re taking bookings now and our two circuses will start touring again as soon as we reach step four,’ says Patricia Randall, director of Happy’s Circus. ‘We do all the work, so the PTA can run a circus at quite short notice. We’ll be Covid-safe, following government guidelines on groups sizes, social distancing, sanitation and face masks. We only ask for a small booking fee upfront, which can normally be transferred to another 2021 date if Covid results in a show being cancelled.’


pta.co.uk SUMMER 2021 19


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