Last week, we were delighted to welcome parents to Sidcot School for a thought-provoking evening as part of our ‘Offline Adventure’ partnership with Ocean Adventurers, which supports families with finding alternatives to screen-time with their children.
The session was led by Dr Susie Davies from PAPAYA, who shared insights into the impact of early screen use on young people's development and reminded us of a powerful message: free play is the foundation of a flourishing childhood.
Together, we explored some of the concerns many families are facing today, including the impact of screens on attention and concentration, speech and language development, emotional wellbeing, and family relationships. Dr Davies highlighted how play deprivation can affect children's emotional, cognitive and physical development, as well as sensory processing.
Most importantly, the evening focused on practical solutions. Through group discussions, parents reflected on how we can work together as a community to encourage more opportunities for play, connection and adventure away from screens. It was an engaging evening filled with honest conversations, shared experiences and valuable takeaways. Thank you to Dr Susie Davies and PAPAYA for leading such an important discussion, and to all the parents who joined us and contributed so thoughtfully.
As a Junior School, we remain committed to supporting young people to thrive both online and offline, helping them develop healthy relationships with technology while ensuring they have the time, space and freedom to simply play. We firmly believe that children learn best through play, curiosity and meaningful real-world experiences. We are incredibly proud that this commitment has been recognised nationally through our Pearson National Teaching Award, celebrating the outstanding work taking place within our Early Years setting and the positive impact it has on children's development.
If you would like to learn more about how we prioritise play to nurture confident, curious and capable young learners, we would be delighted to welcome you to our Junior School Open Morning on Friday 25 September.
We also welcome you to find out more about our Offline Adventure partnership with Ocean Adventurers, and how we're supporting families across Somerset to reduce screen time.