'˜Fantastic' outdoor play space to aid learning at Shoreham school

Parents have been hailed for clubbing together to build a new outdoor play area at a Shoreham school.
Renovated garden at Shoreham Beach Primary School for reception childrenRenovated garden at Shoreham Beach Primary School for reception children
Renovated garden at Shoreham Beach Primary School for reception children

More than £6,000 worth of time and equipment has been donated towards creating the permanent space at Shoreham Beach Primary School in Shingle Road.

The project, which has taken to months to complete, includes a race track, woodland tea party area and raised planters.

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It was unveiled last week at a special tea party - much to the delight of the four and five-year-olds in the Minnows Reception class.

Parent Anneka Drummond-Davies drew up plans for the space after discussions with class teachers Caz Thomas and Sally Edwards.

Together they sourced materials and then spent their weekends and evenings making the plans a reality.

Some help was also drafted in from local businesses and tradesmen.

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Mrs Drummond-Davies said: “Children gain enormous benefits from the outdoors. The outdoors supports active learning and when balanced with quiet areas for reflection can really enhance children’s learning.

“It is an area that is used on a daily basis and the funding was just too tight for the school to do it alone.

“Together, with some amazingly supportive parents and families, we were excited about the opportunity.

“We planned the outdoor area with the children to identify the needs and have had big build weekends with working parties of teachers, families and pupils all lending a hand. I have loved celebrating and supporting the children with their learning.

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“It’s been a fantastic couple of months working with our local community to source materials on a shoestring budget. The generosity of our town has been incredible to be a part of.”

Headteacher Bob Woodman said the whole project was ‘just fantastic’.

She added: “I came into my office one morning to find a colourful detailed plan of the outside area and already, behind the scenes, lots of people had put in lots of work, time and thought thinking all about our little guys and future little Minnows.

“When we had a discussion about it, what was possible, what we could do with limited funding, it was amazing the amount of work that parents were prepared to put in and the amount of time and effort that they had already done for the children.”

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