Primary School Film Nights - How?

[TeenAndTween]

Our PTA is thinking about holding a film night. We are a single form entry school. The trouble is we haven't done one at the school in living memory.

How are your organised?

Straight after school or home and back again later (what time?)?
What 'extras' do you sell?
Interval in the middle?
Level of supervision needed?
What type of films work well for age range 4-11?
Do they sit on chairs, or bring cushions or what?
What aren't I thinking about?

Thanks for any input.

[PlayingSolitaire]

We are a primary school with 2 form entry, so we split our film nights infants and juniors. I think the film nights start about 4.30/4.45 so this gives children a chance to go home and get changed and Have Something To Eat. I also think that we don't charge the children to see the film, but instead the charge is for the snacks they get- popcorn or crisps, sweets and a drink.
No interval in the middle. Children go to the toilet when they need to (frequently in some cases!)
We have a lot of supervision both from parents and teachers. Helpers around hall to watch the children and make sure they are all behaving, plus those giving out the treats, plus those making sure that there are not too many in the toilet and they are coming straight back. And someone to guard all hall exits too
We split infants and juniors, which is easier on ages for films. We show U or PG film. We have always seen the film before hand to make sure it's ok. The parents guide on IMDb is very helpful for the bits that might be scary or inappropriate- best to aim towards the more scared type child though. We tell parents the film choice so it is ultimately their decision on whether their children come to watch it.
Our children bring cushions and beanbags.

HTH

[WombatStewForTea]

We do similar to above and have separate ones for infants and juniors but they run at the same time. I think we usually start about 6. We charge for the snack rather than the film. Often the kids come in pyjamas and bring sleeping bags. It works well and is much less hassle to run than a disco!

[Leeds2]

I think the children see it as more of a treat if they aren't wearing uniform. It is though a real pain if they have to go home to get changed, and then come back again. So, I would probably start 15 mins after the end of the school day and allow them to get changed, if they want to, in a classroom. Early start also means they get home for dinner, so that you don't have to supply hot dogs etc!

Check that there wouldn't be a problem with After School Club, if they would normally receive money for children attending there.

I would charge for drinks, popcorn, crisps and sweets. Could also supply goo sticks. Make sure parents know the price of these so that they know how much money to send in.

Get as much help as you possibly can to supervise the many, many trips to the toilet.

[BertPuttocks]

I think there are potential legal issues from calling it 'film night'.

I can't remember the exact details but we were told that licensing issues meant you couldn't charge people to watch a DVD but you can charge people money to come to a popcorn night and then have a DVD on while they're there.

[Tuiles]

We're just an infant school and run them straight after school to save parents doing 2 pick ups. The charge covers a drink and small snack. No interval but the library is open with some extra coloring activities if the kids get restless.

[cariadlet]

I'm on the PTA at the primary school where I teach. We ran a couple of film nights last year. We wanted them to be a Family Film Night rather than a children's film club/child care.

We start about 6.30. We can't do earlier as the Hall is in use by our After School Club. We can't do later as the finish time would be too late for younger children. We have chairs in rows for adults and children to sit on. We open up the kitchen and sell hot and cold drinks, hot dogs, sweets and popcorn. We don't have an interval - children just go off to the toilet if they need it. As it's a family night, supervision is generally by children's parents but there are also a few members of staff on hand.

I think we had to pay for a licence, but I wasn't involved in that side of things so I don't know the details.

[MangoDaiquiri]

Ours is straight after school. We sell hotdogs, popcorn, drinks. No interval, kids can go to the loo when they like. Parent must attend with them (they don't have to watch the movie, can socialise outside the room but it's clear that it isn't free child care). U or PG films. They sit on chairs or the floor. It's only for Y1 upwards (EYFS get another event for themselves).

We have a licence which lasts for 1 year so we squeeze a couple of nights in.

[AuntieStella]

You need to canvas parents to find out if straight after school works better than returning later (you may find that working parents, or those with other children who may have their own activities) prefer not to have pick up and return a child. Then try and fit the majority view. But if it's a success and you do it more than once do also use other timings that have a good level of support (so that most families get the chance to at a time that isn't stressy).

(If you want to make it more of a treat as suggested above, they could bring an outfit to change in to)

[Ginxed]

We start at 5, we show 3 films in 3 classrooms, serve pizza, hotdogs and drinks in the interval (in the hall to keep the classrooms clean) and send them back to watch the rest with some sweets and biscuits (less messy than popcorn). We sit them on chairs as they behave better that way, and have a couple of adults per room.

We do it on a late night shopping evening in the run up to Christmas and sell it as a babysitting service to avoid any legal issues.

[Pengweng]

Straight after school. Parents collect at 5.30pm
Tickets are £3.50 and include hotdog, popcorn and a drink.

[Pengweng]

Oh and we have a license so are allowed to screen films so you may want to look into that. There are limited amounts of tickets based on how many the hall fits. When it's sold out that's it.

[TeenAndTween]

Thank you all, really helpful.