North Lakes School has received a major boost to the outdoor sports facilities after it was successful in gaining almost £30,000 to develop a new safe play surface.

The funding is part of Sport England’s £18m National Lottery funded Primary School Facilities Fund which is helping more schools to provide outdoor multi-activity play areas across the country. The investment is designed to support those schools which are in need of facility improvements and will benefit both pupils at the school and local community groups who may be granted access by North Lakes outside normal hours.

At North Lakes School the new investment has gone towards a safe artificial play surface with fencing at each end, football goals and basketball nets. There is also a solar powered digital stopwatch. Mike Pincombe, North Lakes Headteacher, said: “This is fantastic resource, that has made a huge improvement to our play and sports provision which is a vital part of our work in school. As a safe, true and high quality surface it improves safety, and will also enhance the quality of the skills the children will develop”.

Nick Bitel, Sport England Chair, said: “Having the right space to play sport and be physically active as a child is vitally important. We are delighted to be investing this funding in North Lakes School to improve the spaces that will give children the space to start enjoying PE and sport.

Sebastian Coe, CH KBE, the Prime Minister’s Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Ambassador, added: “A positive first experience of PE and sport at primary school is crucial to encouraging young people to be active throughout their lives, but for those schools with little or no outside space this can be extremely challenging to deliver.

“This funding will provide better outdoor multi-activity play areas at North Lakes School that can be used both within the curriculum and outside school hours by local communities. I am convinced this will boost the opportunities for young people to be physically active.”

While there is access for children and families after school hours, we ask that all users respect this new space and resource and take good care of it. With more visitors now using the site we ask that children use the litter bins provided. If any visitors see others using the space in a dangerous manner, or causing damage, they are requested to contact the police and report the issue. Thank you for your help!

Any community groups seeking to access the safe play surface should contact North Lakes School on 01768 899876