We are delighted to announce that in May 2015, we were successfully awarded a grant from the Big Lottery of £10 000.
The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities across the UK. They are responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery and invest over £650 million a year in projects big and small in health, education, environment and charitable purposes.
Since June 2004 they have awarded over £6.5billion to projects that make a difference to people and communities in need, from early years intervention to commemorative travel funding for World War Two veterans.
The Grant was awarded to renovate our much loved and exceptionally well-used outdoor spaces within the Early Years Unit. We are sure that you have glimpsed how we have used this money, along with a substantial input of school money, to rejuvenate the ‘orange’ and ‘green’ zones, and we hope that our younger children have begun to tell their friends and families about their new spaces and resources.
Our aim has been to create two spaces which inspire the children in their learning, and develop the communication skills and physical development of the children through outdoor play.
The project has included building a number of outdoor play stations, including a mud kitchen, outdoor music area and stage, den making area, wigwam and mark making panels. The new artificial grass surfacing ensures that it is usable all year round. Playing outdoors in the mud kitchen and using the giant mark making equipment will increase the physical development, vocabulary and language as well as gross and fine motor skills of EYFS children.
Parents of the children in the Early Years Unit have been invited to the grand opening and have been asked to come in and use the areas with their children during the Informal Parents’ afternoon.
