School celebrates major makeover that will take learning outdoors for pupils
St Paul’s Primary School in Royton has made important changes so its children can flourish.
The sun was shining for St Paul’s Primary School in Royton at the official opening of two new outdoor areas to enhance learning.
Deputy Mayor Eddie Moores, Deputy Mayoress Kath Moores and Cllr Mohon Ali, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, were special guests at a special ribbon cutting for the Genesis play area, where children with special educational needs can play and socialise alongside mainstream pupils, and The Ark outdoor classroom.
The school Parent Teacher Association have fundraised for The Ark over six years, raising £11,000 with events including discos, bric-a-brac stalls and summer fairs.
Oldham Athletic footballer Mike Fondop also received a warm welcome at an uplifting outdoor celebration in the winter sunshine, attended by 250 children.
Oldham Athletic player Mike Fondop and Cllr Mohon Ali in the new outdoor classroom
The Genesis area was built on a formerly overgrown area with capital funding, allocated by The Department for Education 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 school’s additional resource provision, named The Vine because all classes St Paul’s are named after plants and flowers with an ethos of growing together.
Headteacher Hilary Henderson said: “They needed somewhere safe where they’ve got supportive staff and mixing with mainstream children.
A delighted pupil gives the outdoor play area the thumbs-up
“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.”
Mrs Henderson announced, as the Deputy Mayor cut the ribbon on the play area and also cut a special celebration cake: “We’d like to see children from our Vine and all our children within school learning to work together be inclusive, support each other and to be able to really enjoy being in the outdoors which is of course the best place where learning can happen, where we can be together and grow.”
Cllr Mohon Ali, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Deputy Mayor Eddie Moores and Deputy Mayoress Kath Moores officially open The Ark
The Ark has been built on the school grounds as a sheltered area for children to use at break and lunch times.
Rachel Dowd, Chairman 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.”
And Mrs Henderson added: “This is a proud day for us to be hosting both important openings for the school.”
Cllr Ali said: “These are absolutely brilliant additions to the school that will enhance children’s learning.
“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 playing together.”
