PUPILS from a primary school have helped officially open an adventure play and learning area thanks to the help of a local business and volunteers.

Reception and Year 1 enjoyed the opening of the new play area of Calverley CE Primary School.

Paving for the track, worth £10,000, was acquired thanks to James Malcolm, a parent at the school who works at the Stanningley office of Marshalls of Elland, landscaping materials company. In appreciation for their generosity, the school made a donation to Marshall’s chosen charity of the year Prostate Cancer UK.

A temporary classroom was removed and bushes were cut down to create the space required for the expanded Reception outdoor area. A multi-coloured paved circular pathway for cycling and scootering was built in the opened up space with raised pits in the centre which were filled with gravel, sand and bark.

Headteacher Bob Curran cut a tape to officially open the area earlier this month, watched by pupils, staff, Governors, parents and carers and local Councillors.

Sara Wilkinson, Phase 1 Leader and Vickie Edgar, Reception Class Teacher, invited different garden designers, landscapers and playground specialists to look at the area and provide them with ideas of what might be achieved. They visited other schools to look at their provision and took advice on which resources and areas worked the best.

They also created a “vision board” of ideas and presented this to the Reception class parents and children so they could offer further suggestions. School admin assistant Linda Marshall drew up the plans, finalised the design and contacted builders to create it.

A team of volunteers gave up their spare time to help transform the space over the summer months. The parents and friends were led by parent Rachael Kelley and included Neil Kelley, Martin Frazer, Richard Akakpo and his nephew, Kevin and James Malcolm.

Mrs Wilkinson said: “Our aim was to create a safe environment which encourages risk taking and independent play. We have big plans for the future such as enhancing our mud kitchen with decking and further worktop space.

“We would also like a creative area with easels and perspex sheets to draw our surroundings. We intend to take out the bushes at the far end of the outdoor area to create space to observe the view across the valley, provide seating and quiet areas, a performing stage area, a large water wall and an investigation area. We would like a dry river bed to explore water and its movement. We would also love a music station creating using pots, pans, wood blocks. An outdoor teaching space, such as a den or tipi, would be useful for wet days too.”

Mr Curran said: “Improving the outdoor play area is a huge development for the Early Years Foundation Stage in our school. Reception will be developing links with Year 1 children who will also use the space.

“We were delighted when Marshalls agreed to make a very generous donation of colourful paving stones. We are really grateful to the staff who put in a lot of time to develop ideas for the area and to the team of hard-working volunteers who helped to transform the area over the summer.”