A NEW Year’s wish has come true for early years children who are set to benefit from a new outdoor learning area.

Seascale Primary and Nursery school has received £48,000 from the Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership to develop a new space outside the classroom for early years children in the village and beyond.

The new outside classroom will be built by Cool Canvas, who build natural play areas in the county, and will be shared with other local preschools, who organise play days in west Cumbria.

Once installed, the children from the early years' unit will have regular access to learning in a new environment inspired by nature.

Mrs Merry, who leads the foundation stage teaching team in reception, was over the moon with the new investment. She said: “We are absolutely delighted that we have been awarded the grant. With this we will be able to realise our vision of creating an amazing play and learning environment for the young children of Seascale, both within the school community and the wider local community.

“We are excited to be working with Cool Canvas and know that our learning space will inspire play and encourage risk taking, promote wellbeing and provide opportunities for problem solving.”

Andy Pratt, chair of the Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership, said: “Our Community Partnership are delighted to have been able to grant £48,000 to this exciting project.

“The new learning environment will be an area of excellence within Seascale School, and will benefit both school children and the wider local community who will have access to use the facilities.

 “The space will highlight the significance of the natural world and promote well-being, providing opportunities to learn to garden and grow fruit and vegetables, and develop key skills such as problem solving, creativity, negotiation, and communication. 

 “We’re really looking forward to seeing this project develop and benefit the local community for many years to come.”