PTA- ideas for a low key event?

[MorocconOil]

We are going to hold an event in the autumn to get parents, staff and children together. We are going to serve drinks and homemade cakes and some kind of physical activity for the children. It seems a bit empty though and I think we should have a focus like bingo or a family type quiz.

Has anyone done anything similar, or have any ideas?

TIA

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TMMJ- Have you done one before? Do you charge to play, where do you get questions from etc?

Thanks Cod

We do bingo nights at our school. V popular. We don't make a lot of money but they are real family fun nights, grandparents, small kids, everyone comes and has a go.

Family rounders on a school field is fun

We also went to a Beetle Drive which was surprisingly fun!

YOu need to be careful with bingo now - it's classed as gambling, so whilst you don't need a licence (I think) as long as you are not giving cash prizes, you aren't meant to do it with children present.

It's going to be an autumn event, so rounders probably not appropriate. Also, we have no field. Nice idea though.

I like the idea of bingo as there are lots of families at the school for whom English is a second language. I thought a quiz could be a bit challenging( at least trying to find universal questions).

Make sure you have a round of Irish bingo - always good for a laugh

Prufrock - are you serious? If so, we have been breaking the law with our family bingo night! Where do I find more info?

You could try the NCPTA web-site or regional advisor.

It was someone on here a while ago who said that the professional company they used to run their bingo nights would no longer do events that involved children. If bingo is done as a side event it is covered by the rules of the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976, but if it's the main focus of the event it comes under the Gaming Laws (Gambling Act 1968). Not that I know what either of those say - I figured it would be v. unlucky for us to get "busted"

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we did a quiz/ fish and chip supper once - that was quite popular

Thanks for all the ideas. I think a family quiz looks the most appropriate, considering the demographics of the school and the fact it will be autumn and potentially wet and cold.

www.quiz-zone.co.uk/

Someone on here recommended this site, and I think there are others.

Need to be careful with timings, etc. We overran on the first one so next one was planned like a military operation! 3 rounds of 10 questions each, then swap to mark them, then 3 more rounds, and so on. We only had 9 rounds in total and that worked well. Questions like identifying Mr Men or Women, say are good for children too. (One parent knew them all, poor sod.)

It's not that great for a gettiing to know you thing though as everyone sits at seperate tables. It's also a bit divisive!!

oops www.quiz-zone.co.uk/

Am interested about you saying it's divisive. That kind of defeats the object really. Maybe tables could be grouped by year groups? You could then get strangers sitting together?
Thanks for that site btw.

I don't mean you'll have fistfights

I just mean that it's easy to feel quite competitive, so very friendly with your own table while looking daggers at the others. It is a good laugh though. Maybe if there's some time after it for everyone to mingle. Don't let me put you off, as I think it's a good idea.