Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke visited some eager young students today to present a grant to help create an outdoor learning area.
Narrandera East Infants School is receiving $8000 to pay for the conversion of an unused dirt area into a paved safe space where students can enjoy outdoor activities.
“This is a wonderful example of how creative thinking coupled with NSW Government support can result in a real win for our little learners,” Ms Cooke said.
“When I found out that the school had plans to create a paved space edged by plants and which included a cubby house, I was determined to make sure this fantastic idea came to fruition.
“It’s so important that children can play and learn, as well as exercise their imaginations, and I can’t wait to see how this outdoor area looks when it is finished,” Ms Cooke added.
Karen Babbs, principal of Narrandera East Infants School, explained what the area will be used for.
“In the last two years we have changed our focus to outdoor and environmental learning, and we built a big outdoor learning area,” she said. “Our next phase is to do something with an area in front of our barbecue where the grass doesn’t grow, and we wanted to turn it into an outdoor sensory learning environment that includes a vegetable garden.
“Kids will be able to go on a nature walk or treasure hunt, and we will also use that area for science activities, incorporating a little environmentally built car track using timber.
“We want to enable kids to do things outside that are educationally worthwhile
“This is another step in trying to help the children be more appreciative of the environment.”
