SOME clever financial wizardry and great imagination has led to a primary school’s dream of having a small outdoor classroom for early years turn into the reality of a large multi-use facility.
Butterknowle Primary School not only has a new fence around the early years playground and a new outdoor classroom, but also wooden benches to match, thanks to a £7,000 grant from county councillor Heather Smith and former county councillor Andy Turner.
Headteacher Tessa Fenoughty said the original idea was to fence off the play area and put in a small classroom.
She added: “We used our money wisely and we got one that was bigger than expected.”
The new building was relocated to the main playground and has now become home to a year two “wild writing” club who are so inspired that they “don’t want to stop writing”.
It has the added benefit of offering sanctuary to children who struggle outdoors, such as one pupil who suffers badly from a pollen allergy, Mrs Fenoughty said.
The pupils can now enjoy play time with the other children without suffering from hay-fever.
The facility was turned into a dentist’s check-up room during the school's recent sports day.
It was so popular with parents that the school plans another session in the near future.
Cllr Smith said: “It’s brilliant. It is a health space as well as an education space. I am so impressed. It is terrific.”
Children involved in the writing club gave a demonstration of their work to Cllr Smith when she visited the school on Thursday, July 5, to see the new facility.
