New adventure play for Leeds pupils

Parent power has helped to transform an outdoor space for the youngest pupils at a Leeds primary school.

A group of volunteers spent the summer holidays clearing space for an exciting adventure play and learning area for reception and year one children at Calverley CE Primary School.

A temporary classroom was removed and vegetation cut down to make way for the playground, which has a circular pathway for bike and scooter riding and three raised pits filled with gravel, sand and bark.

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James Malcolm, a parent who has children at Calverley, secured a donation of £10,000 worth of paving materials from his employer, Marshalls of Elland, a hard landscaping specialist based in Stanningley.

Garden and playground designers were invited by teachers Sara Wilkinson and Vickie Edgar to create plans, and they also presented a vision board of ideas to children and parents to collect feedback.

“Our aim was to create a safe environment which encourages risk taking and independent play. We have big plans for the future such as enhancing our ‘mud kitchen’ with decking and further worktop space,” said Sara.

“We would also like a creative area with easels to draw our surroundings.

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“We intend to take out the bushes at the far end to create space to observe the view across the valley, provide seating and quiet areas, a performing stage area, a large water wall and an investigation area.

“We would also love a music station. An outdoor teaching space would be useful for wet days too!”

Headteacher Bob Curran will officially open the play area on Thursday.

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