Glynwood Primary School

We would like to apply for funding. We are a large Primary School which currently has over 400 pupils on role. We have spent the last few years developing a “Forest School” area which the children love. It allows them to work outdoors, building confidence working in groups and teams on small achievable tasks, such as splitting firewood together with an axe, collaborating on building dens, playing team games, sharing a campfire and working collectively to cook on it. As children grow in confidence, tasks become more complex, such as whittling with tools and making useful objects.

We need the money to develop the area so it can be accessed in all weathers. At present children go outside if the weather is fair but when there are particularly wet days, children miss out on their sessions. As winter progresses, this can happen more frequently. These sessions are invaluable for children who find working within the confines of 4 walls a challenge. They need to be outdoors, working. After all children cannot “climb the walls” if there aren’t any.

Our plan is to install a large canopied area which would be constructed from a large army parachute, hoisted up with winches above and into the trees. It would then be fastened to posts around a circular seating area. This would give us a dry working area, where children would be able to come out and work in all weathers, staying dry and able to work collaboratively on tasks.