The summer holidays are over, pupils are back in their classrooms and a new school year is underway. But September isn't simply about lessons restarting. The autumn term brings a packed calendar of school events, PTA activities, fundraising days, seasonal celebrations and end-of-term treats.
King of the Castles Gloucester can provide inflatables, games and children's entertainment for schools throughout Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Stroud, Cirencester and the wider Gloucestershire area.
September: Start the New School Year with Some Fun
September is a busy month for children. New classes, new teachers and, for some pupils, an entirely new school can mean plenty of change in a short period of time.
Schools and PTAs can add something fun to the first few weeks with a back-to-school event, family afternoon or social activity. It can also provide an opportunity for new families to meet other parents and children outside the normal school-day routine.
Our bouncy castles are always popular with primary-age children, while garden games can be incorporated into events where you want several activities running at once.
PTA Fundraisers That Children Actually Want to Attend
The autumn term is an important fundraising period for many PTAs and Friends of School groups. Rather than relying entirely on stalls, raffles and refreshments, adding children's attractions can turn a fundraiser into a much bigger event.
Depending on the available space, you could create an inflatable section with inflatable slides and bouncy castles, set up games elsewhere and keep food, stalls and other fundraising activities in separate areas.
Larger equipment can also work well for events where children participate in groups or take turns throughout the afternoon.
School Discos, Halloween and October Events
By October, evenings are getting darker and outdoor events become increasingly dependent on the weather. That doesn't mean the school events calendar needs to stop.
Halloween parties, autumn discos and half-term celebrations can all be organised indoors. If your school has an appropriately sized sports hall or other indoor space, selected inflatables can also be installed inside, subject to the dimensions and requirements of the individual equipment.
For younger year groups, soft play can provide an alternative to larger inflatables. Add Didi Cars or other activities and you can create several different play stations for children to move between.
PE with a Difference
Inflatables don't have to be reserved for traditional school fetes. An activity day can introduce challenges, races and energetic play into the school timetable, giving pupils something very different from their usual lessons.
An assault course, for example, can introduce an obvious competitive element. Children can race one another, classes can compete for times, or pupils can simply work their way through the obstacles as part of a larger activity circuit.
Games can also be organised into stations, allowing different classes or groups to rotate between activities rather than having everyone queue for the same attraction.
Reward Days and End-of-Half-Term Treats
Sometimes you don't need a complicated reason to arrange something fun. Schools can use inflatable activities as part of attendance rewards, house prizes, enrichment sessions, end-of-half-term treats or celebrations following a particularly busy period.
A smaller event might only require one inflatable for a few classes, while a larger school could use several activities and timetable sessions for different year groups.
Then Christmas Starts Appearing on the Calendar...
It never takes long. September turns into October, half term arrives and suddenly schools are organising Christmas fairs, festive parties and end-of-term activities.
Our equipment can form part of a larger Christmas fair alongside stalls, refreshments, games and fundraising activities. For children's Christmas parties, schools can choose entertainment appropriate to the ages attending and the indoor space available.
Booking earlier in the term also gives you a better opportunity to secure the equipment you want before popular December dates begin filling up.
What If the Autumn Weather Turns Bad?
Rain, wind and colder temperatures become increasingly important considerations as the term progresses. If you're planning an outdoor event, having an alternative arrangement is sensible.
Some of our inflatables are suitable for indoor use where the venue provides sufficient floor space and ceiling clearance. Community halls and sports halls can therefore be useful alternatives for school events when outdoor conditions are unsuitable.
For outdoor inflatable hire, we follow appropriate safety requirements and inflatables must not be operated when wind speeds or gusts exceed 24mph.
Safety Matters at School Events
When you're arranging equipment for pupils, safety and documentation are naturally important considerations. King of the Castles Gloucester carries £5 million public liability insurance, our inflatables are tested in accordance with applicable PIPA requirements, and electrical equipment is PAT tested where required.
Equipment is cleaned between hires, and our team handles delivery and installation before completing the appropriate checks ready for use.
Put Your Autumn Term Dates in the Diary
If your school, PTA or parent group already has events planned for September, October, November or December, now is a good time to start thinking about the entertainment. Autumn dates can include back-to-school events, Halloween celebrations, fundraisers, activity days, discos, Christmas fairs and end-of-term rewards, so there are plenty of opportunities to give pupils something beyond the normal school timetable.
King of the Castles Gloucester supplies schools throughout Gloucestershire with bouncy castles, slides, games, soft play and other children's entertainment. Browse our hire range online or use Contact Us to tell us about your school, expected numbers, age groups, available space and event date.
We'll help you work out which equipment could be suitable and get your autumn term event booked in.
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