School Fundraising Ideas for PTAs and Playground Projects

The best school fundraising ideas for a PTA are events the whole community can enjoy and children can help run, such as a sponsored walk or fun run, a summer fair, a sponsored sports day, an outdoor cinema night or a plant sale. Spring and summer suit them best, because the warmer weather opens up the school field and playground for outdoor events.

Many PTAs raise money for resources that pupils will use for years, such as new playground markings and sports facilities. This guide sets out fundraising ideas that work, then explains how to spend the money well.

What are the best school fundraising ideas for a PTA?

The best school fundraising ideas for a PTA combine a simple format, a reason for families to come along and room for local businesses to sponsor or donate, so the event raises money on the day and builds goodwill for the school.

Sponsored walk or fun run

Set a target distance and invite pupils to walk or run laps of the school field, playground or a local park. Parents sponsor their children per lap, and local businesses can sponsor the event as a whole. It gets pupils moving and promotes a healthy lifestyle. If your school has a daily mile track, you already have a measured course to count laps on.

Summer fair

A summer fair is a classic that never gets old. Set up stalls selling food, crafts and games, invite local businesses to sponsor, and run a raffle with prizes donated by parents and local businesses. Children can help set up and run stalls, and even perform music or dance routines for entertainment.

Sponsored sports day

Run a range of activities such as relay races, egg and spoon races and sack races, with parents sponsoring their children for each activity and local businesses sponsoring the day. It promotes an active lifestyle and suits a campaign to raise money for new sports facilities.

Outdoor cinema

Put up a large screen in the school playground or a local park and invite parents and pupils to bring blankets and chairs for a family-friendly film. Sell popcorn and refreshments and look for a local business to sponsor the night. It brings the community together and works well for a specific target, such as new playground markings.

Plant sale

Ask parents and pupils to donate plants and seedlings, set up a stall to sell them, and invite local garden centres to donate plants or sponsor the event. Children can help plant and care for the seedlings beforehand, which also encourages a love of gardening.

What should a PTA spend its fundraising money on?

A PTA should spend its fundraising money on resources that benefit pupils for years to come, and thermoplastic playground markings are a strong choice because they last up to 10 times longer than ordinary paint and give the playground an instant facelift.

Whether you want traditional games, a daily mile route or bespoke playground designs that set your school apart, markings motivate children to take part in physical and social activities every day. Our thermoplastic markings carry a manufacturer's warranty of up to 4 years, subject to ground condition, and we have seen them last for over 10 years. They are anti-slip and non-toxic, which makes them suitable for children of all ages, and they are ready to use within 30 minutes of installation.

As an indicative guide, prices start from around £50 for a single design, excluding VAT. The cost of a full scheme depends on the designs, the size of your playground and the surface, so we confirm it in a quote.

How do PTA funds fit with the PE and Sport Premium?

PTA funds often pay for new playground markings because the PE and Sport Premium cannot be used for capital spending, so new markings are usually funded from PTA fundraising, a capital or premises budget, or a grant.

Refreshing markings the school already has is treated differently and can count as maintenance. Our guide to the PE and Sport Premium and playground markings explains what the premium can and cannot pay for, and our guide to playground funding and grants covers other sources a PTA can combine with its own fundraising. Your school business manager will confirm how the work should be classified.

How should a PTA choose a playground marking company?

A PTA should choose a reputable playground marking company that handles design and installation itself, works on your surface with little preparation and offers aftercare, then compare quotes to make sure the school gets the best value for the money raised.

• In-house work: a firm that carries out everything from design to installation in-house avoids extra costs from passing the work along.
• Trained crews and modern equipment: ask who will install the markings and how, so you know the work will be done to a good standard.
• Surface preparation: thermoplastic can be applied on tarmac, concrete and other surfaces with little preparation, which saves on extra costs before application.
• Fit to your space: designs should be sized to suit your playground.
• Aftercare: check whether the firm can take away old or worn markings, as our playground marking removal service does.

We know that most school projects, however small, can be costly, and we appreciate the hard work PTA members put in. Whether you choose us or another firm, research who offers the best value for your money. You can browse our thermoplastic playground markings and guides to help decide how best to use your funds, and our team is happy to suggest markings that suit your goals and support your curriculum. Call us on 0333 321 6699 or email [email protected].