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Outdoor Classroom Project
EXCITING NEWS
The PFA are launching a campaign to raise funds for a permanent year-round outdoor classroom at St Paul's school, which will benefit all the current and future children at the school.
BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR LEARNING
Mental Health & Wellbeing:
- Reduces Stress and Anxiety
- Boosted Mood
- Creativity & Problem Solving
- Appreciation of Nature
- Vitamin D
Key findings from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs):
- Children engaged in learning in a natural environment have higher levels of achievement in reading, maths and science
- Pupils have been found to make 3 additional months of progress in terms of learning outcomes compared to their peers
- Pupils have improved attendance rates
- Greener school grounds have been linked with better motor skills and rates of physical activity
MILESTONES
Phase 1 – ALREADY COMPLETED
- Identified underused area of the school
- Permissions obtained from the school & diocese
- Insurance
- Appointed a reputable company Pentagon Play for the project build - Paul Speller
- Clearing & preparation of overgrown areas
- Meeting with local residents
- Meeting with teaching staff
- Planning permission granted by BHCC (Brighton & Hove Council)
Phase 2 – WE NEED YOUR HELP
- Clear the Wild Life Garden of Litter- Parent Volunteers sign up to help
- Raise Funds - Parents & Children
- Need ideas and challenges from parents and children alike
- Every penny helps - anything from £1 to £10,000
- No ideas are too small...or too big!
Phase 3 – GET INVOLVED
- Avid Gardeners
- Carpenters - to build bug hotel, flower planters
- Landscapers - Pathways, borders
- Painters - mural for the walls
MOVING FORWARD
- Timeline Spring '25'
- £20K Target for the O/D classroom
- Raised so far for this project £6k
Phase 4 – THE BUILD TO COMMENCE
TWO EASY WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
- Installation of the O/D classroom to commence
- Any excess funds raised will go directly towards other PFA projects, which will include the next phase of the outdoor project (Pathway and Play bark)
TWO EASY WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
