Outdoor learning area gets a boost – and a slide!

Pupils at Ysgol Derwenfa Primary School in Leeswood, Flintshire, are enjoying a brand new outdoor learning area and playground, thanks to a donation from our Padeswood cement works.

We contributed £6,000 to help transform the space into a safe and stimulating environment that supports active learning, wellbeing and collaboration for foundation learning pupils aged four to seven.

The new area features a colourful outdoor reading shed that encourages a love of books and storytelling, a climbing frame and slide to promote physical development, new picnic benches for group learning and outdoor drawing boards to inspire creativity and imagination.

Teachers at the school have already noted how children are more engaged and excited to learn outdoors, and how the new facilities have enriched opportunities for exploration and play-based learning across all areas of the Curriculum for Wales.

“We are incredibly grateful to Heidelberg Materials for their generosity and belief in our school,” said Andrew Jones, Headteacher at Ysgol Derwenfa Primary School.

“Our outdoor learning space is now a bright, welcoming space that truly reflects our values of caring, growing, nurturing and succeeding. It’s wonderful to see the joy and enthusiasm the children show when using the new facilities.”

To celebrate its opening, David Quick, Plant Manager, David Rawcliffe, Operations Manager and Dereth Holland, Plant Manager's Secretary, attended an unveiling event at the school and joined pupils in their new outdoor library for a reading session.

“We were delighted to support the school in creating their new outdoor learning and play area,” said David Quick, Plant Manager.

“It’s great to know that we are supporting the pupils to get the most from their learning.”