Grant will help take learning outdoors

Children at Exning’s Stepping Stones nursery school will be using the natural environment to enhance their early learning thanks to a donation from their local district councillor.

Cllr Simon Cole has given £1,500 from his Forest Heath locality budget to pay for two members of staff to undergo training so the school can be affiliated to the Forest School Association (FSA) which believes all children should have the opportunity to achieve their potential and develop confidence through regular hands-on experiences in a woodland environment, such as that on the doorstep of Stepping Stones.

“I believe this is exactly the sort of project the locality budget money should go towards”, said Cllr Cole. “The money should be starting something new or enhancing what is already there, which is just what this will do.”

Stepping Stones headteacher and manager Sarah Thompson and her colleague Kerr McAdam will start training this month and the FSA initiative will be in place when the school moves to its new premises in September.

“It is a wonderful concept as so many children learn better outside. We are absolutely over the moon and so grateful to Cllr Cole for giving us this opportunity,” said Sarah.