Barndale by the Sea Playground Appeal

Hi, my name's Martin and I'm a deputy head at an amazing school called Barndale in Northumberland! We are seeking to secure funding towards the cost of an outdoor play area for children attending an annexe to the school, which is currently under construction in Amble, Northumberland. The new site, 'Barndale by the Sea', will be a 50-place, all-through provision for neurodiverse young people aged 2 to 19 and we plan to build a playground facility to ensure the children can access active, imaginative play in their free time and in structured sessions, while also allowing students to explore their bodies and challenge themselves physically.

It is widely acknowledged that neurodiverse children and young people benefit greatly from engaging in play - particularly outdoors. Research shows that autistic individuals are at a higher risk of obesity and higher body mass index (BMI) due to inactivity and sensory-avoiding behaviours, and are more likely to present with poor fitness levels and underdeveloped motor skills as well as Vitamin D deficiency from not spending enough time outdoors Playing outdoors creates opportunities for physically active play which can improve motor skills, agility, balance, handgrip strength and flexibility, as well as contributing to overall fitness, offering a variety of sensory input which supports regulation, focus and ability to learn as well as decreasing the stress hormone cortisol

In our experience, opportunities to engage in active play are crucial to the experience of our learners, not only in relation to their physical development, but also their skills acquisition and wellbeing. Having access to larger wooden installations, such as a play castle or a pirate ship, will provide our children with a means of exercising both their minds and bodies, in that these facilities can promote the development of strength, coordination and balance, as well as the capacity for imaginative play in the form of roleplay and storytelling, which is excellent for speech and language acquisition. Similarly, being able to utilise smaller scale equipment, such as a swing or an inclusive roundabout, will offer students valuable opportunities to engage socially outside the classroom setting, as well as promoting life skills such as safe, calculated risk-taking. In addition to the educational and social benefits such an area offers, the activities also have a variety of therapeutic benefits for the young people in our care: for example, the experience of being on a swing can provide vestibular input which soothes and calms some learners, while an activity like spinning on a roundabout can also enhance the vestibular system in addition to developing postural control, balance and decision making abilities.

The playground will be integral to the school's dedication to the holistic development of our learners. It is envisaged that the space and equipment within it will be utilised both in lessons and in social time, providing multi-faceted benefits: it will offer opportunities for therapeutic intervention, physical challenge and a creative environment for imaginative play.

Most importantly, we want to create an outdoor environment which welcomes and celebrates all abilities, promotes independence and encourages pupils to get outside with their whole school community and have fun! Our plan is to create a fantastic social space where conversations are plenty, pupil wellbeing is enhanced and children return to lessons with a positive frame of mind, ready to learn.