THE Holme in Headley has been working hard to improve its school grounds.

Taking advantage of large fields, a pond and woods, the school has created a plan to transform the early years, foundation-stage playground and the outdoor classroom.

The project has been driven by Susan Fox, the school’s early years, foundation-stage teacher, who has drawn up a design aimed at inspiring and supporting the pupils’ learning in all areas. Plans include reading nooks; a stage; a tyre trail, for climbing and as an outdoor classroom; a new mud kitchen; a tunnel, and revamped sheds.

The project has been tackled in two parts - the raising of funds and the banding together of volunteers to do the work. Parents, staff, pupils and even aunts and uncles spent a morning digging, painting, weeding, hammering and laying slabs. At the same time, the school’s Parent and Teacher Association Friends of the Holme set up a crowd-funding page as part of GoFundMe’s education competition. The page grew in popularity and the funds increased.

By the end of the competition, there was more than £2,400 in donations and the school qualified for the second prize of £1,500.

“Thanks to the incredible pulling together of the community, pooling resources, hard work and contacts, the school can now look forward to learning in the outdoors as much as in the indoors,” said headteacher Ruth Worswick.