Outdoor Learning Environment

Welcome to our Big Outdoors Project here at King Athelstan Primary School. We are on a journey to redevelop our Outdoor Learning Environment for our children and are dreaming big!

At King Athelstan we put the children’s happiness, wellbeing and excellence in learning at the core of everything we do and our ambitious Big Outdoors Project will ensure we achieve this in all aspects of the children’s school experience.

The project began in 2016 with a school community consultation, resulting in an exciting design for our Key Stage One and Key Stage Two outdoor areas. As our ambitious project had a price tag of around £400,000, we have tackled the development in two phases. The first phase, which includes a wonderful new MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area), small allotment, challenging climbing equipment and inviting Key Stage Two play space, was completed in the Summer of 2020, just in time for our young people to return from lockdown. This development cost £240,000 which we raised through our dedicated Parent Carer Staff Association (PCSA), sports funding and other school revenue. We have been fundraising for the next phase to redevelop our Key Stage One Playground with a cost of around £90,000. This fundraising included the continued work of our Parent Carer Staff Association (PCSA), sponsorship from local businesses and securing funding from grant applications.

Now more than ever our children need an inspiring outdoor learning environment where they can safely and confidently build their friendships and develop physical fitness, motor skills, imagination and their love of learning. In a complex changing world, they need a space where they can focus on their education and on nourishing their mental health and social interactions. Our carefully designed Big Outdoors Project for our 5 to 7-year olds creates spaces for physical, social and mental development as well as enhancing reading, science, drama and core life skills, such as problem solving and team building. It also include a fantastic outdoor space to further develop our nurture provision for children across the school with complex Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs.

Work was completed on the first phase of the KS1 playground refurbishment in February 2024, and the children have been enjoying all the new equipment. We look forward to beginning the next phase of the project imminently.

At King Athelstan we ‘dream big’ and the final outdoor learning environment will certainly be an incredible addition to our school.

Here is an PPT about the development: KS1 Update