Help Create an accessible inclusive play area

Hi, my name is Aimee and i am fundraising on behalf of my son‘s school Mill Lodge primary. I am trying to fund raise as much as possible to help the School create a safe accessible area where children with complex medical needs, mobility issues or sensory issues can play safely. my son is one of many that attend Mill Lodge primary School that have a disability. The school has an amazing playground with a large field accessible at a higher level. Meaning children with mobility walkers or wheelchairs cannot access this to play with their friends. I have been working alongside the headteacher to create an area for children to continue to play with their friends. In a safer area on a miniature scale to what’s already available.

At Mill Lodge Primary School play has a very high priority. We are a Platinum Awarded school for our play offer. We have a play policy that clearly states that all children will be offered the opportunity to engage in 15 types of play during break times and lunchtimes.

This play has been established at Mill Lodge for 3 years.

Since introducing this type of play our pupil cohort has changed. We now have more children that have physical disabilities which means accessing the play is more of a challenge. For some of our children, because of their needs, the current play offer has greater risks. It is our vision that all pupils will have the same play opportunities in a safe

One pupil in particular will be unable to access the play offer when their reception class join the rest of the school on the field and playground. This usually happens after half term but we are holding off until all the children in the class can join in. The child has a diagnosis of quadriplegic cerebral palsy and focal awareness epilepsy. This has resulted in 45% brain damage and has impacted on their global development. The pupil walks with a walker and is unable to navigate stairs. They have a 1:1 support at all times of the day, including break and lunch but even with this support the current school grounds are not accessible. The majority of our play offer is located on a field which is accessed by a flight of many concrete stairs. This means the pupil is unable to access the field. The playground is currently used for scooters and bikes and this is potentially dangerous for the pupil as they could be knocked off balance.

We are asking for a grant of £5000 to enable us to set up a replica of the play offer for all children to be created for this pupil and others with physical limitations. We have an unused small playground that, if kitted out with suitable equipment, could offer these children a safe play alternative. These children could invite friends to play alongside them in a safer environment.