The new infant playground at Foreland Fields School in Ramsgate has been officially opened.
Guests, which included the many charitable donors and the Mayor of Ramsgate, were able to see the serious benefits play offers the children during the event last week.
Pupils had an extra special role on the day by cutting the ribbon to officially open their playground which has been designed to maximise communication and interaction skills.
Assistant head teacher Jeremy Edwards said: “All of the partners involved in the project worked hard to incorporate a large variety of features in the design to maximise opportunities to develop communication and interaction skills as well as supporting physical development.
“Watching the pupils play it is obvious to see the benefits they are gaining; pupils learning how to walk over different surfaces and inclines, climbing a ladder for the first time or talking and sharing ideas of how to play or explore, sensory needs being met on the swing and wobble chair and developing balance on the beams and stepping stones.
“All of our charitable partners have been extremely generous and I can’t really find the words to thank them enough, but I am so happy that they got the chance to see the pupils playing on the equipment, because they could then understand just what a difference this project makes to our pupils.”
One of the charitable partners for the project Simon Sheehan, Director of DM Thomas Foundation for Young People, said: “Our mission is to transform young lives and help children and young people be the best that they can be. We are proud to support Foreland Fields School with this new playground and know it will help children learn through play and discovery”.
The project was supported by: DM Thomas Foundation for Young People, The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund, St James’s Place Charitable Foundation, The Lawson Trust, The ACT Foundation, Kent County Council, United Grand Lodge of England, Stg Mess Panto, Rotary Club, Friends of Foreland School, Kier, Ramsgate Music Hall, Variety and Howdens.