A Lancaster school is celebrating a funding boost to improve its facilities.
Moorside Primary School is set to create an improved outdoor learning environment for its youngest pupils after being named the winner of Northstone’s £2,000 Community Fund campaign.
The funding has been awarded to MOORFs (Moorside School Friends), the fundraising group supporting Moorside Primary School, following a competitive application process that attracted entries from community groups and organisations across the Lancaster area.
The grant will contribute towards enhancing the school’s reception outdoor play space with a brand-new landscaped playground complete with willow trail, painted on river, new equipment, creative play facilities and artificial grass creating a safer, more inclusive and accessible environment for children to enjoy throughout the year.
The project will address issues with the current outdoor area, which can become muddy and difficult to use safely during periods of wet weather.
The improvements will include upgrading the ground surface to ensure year-round accessibility, alongside the installation of inclusive play equipment designed to support children’s physical development, creativity, social interaction and wellbeing.
Anita Jolley, sales & marketing director at Northstone, said: “We were overwhelmed with entries having received a number of fantastic applications from organisations doing incredible work across Lancaster, which made selecting a winner extremely difficult.
“MOORFs’ application really stood out because of the lasting impact the project will have on local children and families. Outdoor learning plays such an important role in early years development and these improvements will create a safe, inclusive and engaging space that can be enjoyed all year round.
“As a responsible homebuilder, we are passionate about supporting the communities where we build. Moorside Primary School is a key part of the local community and will undoubtedly become an important school for many families moving into Breacla, so we’re delighted that the Community Fund can help bring this project to life.”
Roger Shone, headteacher at Moorside Primary School said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been selected as the recipient of Northstone’s Community Fund as it means we have surpassed our £30,000 fundraising efforts in order to complete this playground which we have been talking about for nearly four years.
“This funding will make a real difference to our reception children by helping us improve an outdoor space that for many months of the year has been out of bounds for our children as it has just been too wet and muddy.
“The planned improvements will ensure children can access high-quality outdoor play opportunities whatever the weather, while creating a more inclusive environment that can be enjoyed by all.
“We would like to thank Northstone for recognising the importance of investing in local schools and community facilities. The benefits of this project will be felt by children and families for many years to come.”
Northstone’s Breacla development will feature 70 new homes ranging from two-bedroom bungalows to five-bed detached homes spanning 2,300 sq ft and has been designed to create a new community on the gateway to Lancaster, combining contemporary, Scandinavian inspired homes with excellent access to schools, green spaces and local amenities.
Prices start from £295,000 for a two-bedroom bungalow to £699,000 for a five-bedroom detached house.
For more information about Breacla, visit www.northstone.co.uk or pop by the development on Scotforth Road to view the show homes.
