OUTDOOR learning will take on a whole new dimension for a Royton primary school which has had a welcome makeover.
St Paul’s Primary has opened two new outdoor areas which it says will help children flourish and enhance their learning.
These are the Genesis play area – where children with special educational needs can play and socialise alongside mainstream pupils – and The Ark outdoor classroom.
Among the special guests at a celebration attended by 250 children in the winter sunshine were Oldham Athletic footballer Mike Fondop, Deputy Mayor Eddie Moores, Deputy Mayoress Kath Moores and Councillor Mohon Ali, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills.
“These are absolutely brilliant additions to the school that will enhance children’s learning,” said Cllr Ali.
“It is great to see that all the work that has gone into developing these outdoor areas has paid off and I’m sure that the children at St Paul’s will receive a lot of enjoyment from using them to learn and play together.”
The Genesis area was built on a formerly overgrown area, with capital funding allocated by the Government, to help maintain and improve the condition of school buildings and grounds.
It will be used to help boost gross motor skills in a safe environment for children in the Hindle Drive school’s additional resource provision, named The Vine because all classes at St Paul’s are named after plants and flowers with an ethos of growing together.
“They needed somewhere safe where they’ve got supportive staff and mixing with mainstream children,” said headteacher Hilary Henderson.
“We’re very pleased that we’re able to have this for these children. We applied last year and had the area cleared over summer holidays. We named it Genesis because it is the start of where inclusion can really flourish.
“It will be used as part of lessons, for learning and for social interaction and the types of physical activity they may not otherwise get.”
The school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) have fundraised for The Ark over six years, raising £11,000 with events including discos, bric-a-brac stalls and summer fairs.
The Ark has been built on the school grounds as a sheltered area for children to use at break and lunch times.
Rachel Dowd, Chairperson of the St Paul’s PTA, said: “It’s an outdoor classroom and also a safe place for the children to shelter and sit and socialise together. It is something that we have wanted for a long time.”