Opening Ceremony for our new outside area!
Children, staff, parents, along with key people that helped to create the area, gathered this morning to open our new outdoor learning area, incorporating a stunning new allotment garden complete with reading circle/outside learning space, orchard, wild area and pond.
After speeches from Ros Allsop (Headteacher), Julian Hall (Chair of Governors) and Sonja Phipps, a child from each class, together with Sonja, cut the ribbon to open the new learning space. The school and visitors then took part in a tour of the area followed by refreshments provided by the kitchen.
The children are very excited about the new area and are keen to start working on their new allotment beds. The School Council has introduced each class to the idea of running and maintaining an allotment bed. Nature Club is developing the new herb bed and pond area. The plan is for the children to produce their own fruit and vegetables for the school kitchen to use in the school lunches.
The area will also extend the existing outdoor learning that already takes place offsite during Forest Schools. The reading circle, complete with wishing chair, will be used as an outside learning space to support the curriculum, including drama.
The pond is due to have work on it to increase the space around the pond and revamp the whole area. The children are also about to each produce a tile, which will form flooring around the herb garden.
We would like to thank many people who have helped to produce such an amazing learning environment: the parents via our Friends of Clavering Committee who have raised the necessary funds and have helped support the manual labour moving material. Paul from Ace of Spades who carried out the works; the Rusch family for donating the wishing chair and toadstools in memory of the belated Lillian Rusch, who used to help hear readers in the school; Ron Docking, our handyman, for putting up the fence and assembling the reading circle. A very special thank you has to be given to Sonja Phipps who has been instrumental in designing the area with myself, staff and pupils, and coordinating the works, as well as seeking various grants.