GRANT HELPS LEARNING IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Outdoor learning is proving a big draw at a North Yorkshire Primary School.

The easel, author’s chair and performing stage at Applegarth Primary School were funded through a grant from Broadacres’ Community Development Fund and allow children to get creative outdoors.

It came at an important time because the school say that throughout the pandemic, the children’s education was negatively affected, with some experiencing anxiety and requiring emotional support.

“Different learning environments can stimulate children and this equipment provides lots of opportunities for our children to experiment,” said teacher Emily Burrell.

The school, in the centre of Northallerton, is over 100 years old and constantly looks to find different ways of stimulating the children.  Mrs Burrell said with school budgets tending to only cover essential items, the Broadacres grant will providing vital extras that can do so much to enhance a child’s education.

The equipment is used by reception class and after school club with children able to draw big pictures on the easel or perform using the author’s chair and stage.

“Outdoors offers more space for children to express themselves, we hoped this would encourage them to use their imagination and they have responded really well,” said Mrs Burrell.

Broadacres’ Community Development Fund supports organisations, groups, and projects in areas where Broadacres has homes, and grants are approved by the Association’s own residents, via a Community Development Fund Panel.

Broadacres resident Mags Crook, who is on the Panel, said: “Anything which encourages children to be outdoors and learning in the process deserves to be supported, so we were only too happy to approve the funding for the school.”

Applications for Broadacres’ 2022/23 Community Development Fund are now being accepted and people/organisations can visit www.broadacres.org.uk/customer-area/getting-involved/community-development-fund to find out more.

Picture: Mrs Burrell with the outdoor easel and pupils Kobie, Brooke, Evan and Meriem.