A SUFFOLK school has opened a new outdoor classroom as part of an ambitious project to transform its grounds into a learning centre.The first area to be completed at Melton Primary is the outdoor classroom, which includes seats and tables, as well as plenty of opportunities to learn through play with a sandpit, blackboards, digging area and Wendy House.

A SUFFOLK school has opened a new outdoor classroom as part of an ambitious project to transform its grounds into a learning centre.

The first area to be completed at Melton Primary is the outdoor classroom, which includes seats and tables, as well as plenty of opportunities to learn through play with a sandpit, blackboards, digging area and Wendy House.

The area is partially covered, so it can be used in all weathers, and has already proved popular with the children.

Kathryn Mitchell, who has masterminded this first phase of the project, said: “We have had lots of fun already and the children are really benefiting from this opportunity to extend their learning.

“They are enjoying being outside and it is certainly helping them to become more independent.

“So far we have held a mini-beast hunt and recorded information on bar charts using giant outdoor blocks.

“We have celebrated Chinese New Year and practised writing Chinese numbers in water. We have also done lots of creative work, story-telling and role play.”

The school is now looking for financial help to complete the other two areas, which are still at the planning stage.

One will be around the school's existing play equipment and will include a herb garden, vegetable plot - it is hoped the vegetables grown will be used in the school kitchen - and an area for flowers.

The final area will include a nature trail running through the school's woodland. It is likely to include bird boxes, balancing logs, a weather station and tables for a variety of activities, as well as a mini outdoor theatre.

Children have been involved in planning the new areas - using literacy lessons to write wish-lists of what they would like to see in the extensive school grounds.

It is hoped the new areas will be used by the wider community as well as children at the school.