A FINCHAMPSTEAD primary school celebrated the opening of its new outdoor learning classroom.
Nine Mile Ride school was proud to launch a purpose-built all-weather classroom, which will be used not only by pupils, but by the local community too.
The launch was accompanied by a choir of Nine Mile Ride children singing a medley of uplifting songs.
Head teacher, Holden Whitaker, cutting the ribbon, said: “We’re delighted to open this new space, and grateful to the many supportive people who have helped make it possible.
“This new space is going to be a really powerful facility for us, in an age when children are so technologically based.
“It will offer valuable time away from screens and academic work, which is really good for young people’s mental health.
“So many children these days are making friendships online.
“Here they will have opportunities to connect with each other and with nature.
“It’s going to be a really important part of our curriculum.”
The new learning space will be used not only by the school, but by the wider community.
“We very much want this to be available not only for us, but as a meeting space for clubs and groups,” said Mr Whitaker.
Nine Mile Ride Primary is one of a group of Wokingham Borough primary and secondary schools which together form The Circle Trust.
Railton Blyth, Circle Trust director of safeguarding, and senior deputy headteacher of St Crispin’s School, said: “We’re putting outdoor learning spaces in a number of our schools.
“We already have one at Westende primary, another at St Crispin’s secondary, and now a third at Nine Mile Ride primary.
“At The Circle Trust we’ve been looking at ways we can respond proactively to support young people’s mental health.
“We want to enable them to grow in resilience, self esteem, and confidence.
“It’s so important to give children time away from screens, which is why none of our Circle Trust schools allow the use of children’s own devices.
“We want screens to be something entirely outside of school – it’s just as important for 15 year olds as for primary age children.
“So many parents are frightened to let their children outside, and can tend to keep them indoors.
“Children learn that if they climb a tree and fall out of it, they won’t be allowed to do it again.
“But having another go can help them learn resilience.
“And statistics show that spending time indoors making friendships online comes with its own serious risks of harm.
“There’s little love for the outdoors these days, so this new facility will help our children enjoy learning about sustainability and the natural world.
“Let’s embed in our young people a love for the outdoors.”
For information, visit: ninemileride.co.uk and thecircletrust.co.uk.
