Monkhouse Primary School

Monkhouse Primary School serves a community of 242 pupils and their families. In late 2018 we began a programme to update our traditional yard and field outdoor play areas to strategically and sustainably improve the quality of play opportunities with the support of OPAL playtimes. We aim to create a stimulating environment where pupils can play independently to develop their practical and social skills.

84% of our parents believe that as a child, their own play experiences developed and improved their skills for life, yet 76% of parents feel that their children do not have the same outdoor play opportunities as they had.

You will see from the attached photographs that our Children are already developing their STEM skills through independent play, building and balancing with the various materials now available to them in the playground. With this evidence to support the project, stimulating innovative thinking around STEM subjects, we would welcome these funds from Venator to build on this and contribute to the creation of a sand and mud play area. Here children across the whole school will be able to freely and independently experiment with various wet and dry materials, exploring how materials can change state and consistency depending on quantities and environmental conditions. Understanding how sand, water and mud can pour and how these materials can be used in construction.

We hope you find our project demonstrates an opportunity to invest in enhancing our Pupil’s play environment in a way that will stimulate innovative thinking around STEM.