IT’S PLAYTIME FOR KIDS AFTER GRANT

2nd September 2010

IT’S all fun and games for youngsters at Dean Oaks Primary School thanks to a cash boost.

There is renewed interest in the outdoor play area where children can enjoy themselves on the colourful roadway surfacing, the hopscotch and in the inspiring playhouse and garden.

This is because new playground games and equipment has been provided by Pentagon after the school was given a lottery-funded grant.

Helen Wright, reception class teacher at Dean Oaks said the new playground has enhanced the appearance of the area and the opportunities for children.

She said: “With the merger, it was an obvious opportunity for a fresh start, with new resources, both indoor and outdoor.

The area allocated for the two foundation stage classrooms was fantastic, with large windows looking out onto the fenced outdoor play area enabling free-flow, but something was definitely lacking.

“There was a great deal of tarmac and not much colour. Now, the children really want to go outside, in all weathers, and as part of child-initiated learning, we allow them to choose where they want to go and when. They love it out there!”

The brief which Pentagon was faced with was not only to add to the current provision to meet all six areas of the EYFS curriculum, but also to provide an outside playground environment which children are excited by and which allows them to use their own ideas and imagination.

A spokesman for Pentagon said: “Our company prides itself on offering a consultative approach, working with schools to maximise the potential of their grounds and playgrounds. Our aim is to create outdoor playground equipment areas to stimulate imaginations and provide inspiration. And this is exactly what has happened in this case between Pentagon and Dean Oaks.”

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