Time for a 'Teletubbies Hill' makeover at Twyford primary

Recycled Christmas trees helped to raise £1300 for a makeover of 'Teletubbies Hill' at The Colleton Primary School in Twyford.

Nick Wheeler, and his team from NW Property Maintenance, collected people’s pine trees on Twelfth Night, January 6, for a donation to the school PTA's latest project. 

This year saw the highest ever number of trees collected by the professionals whose aim was to ‘save people’s cars from the pine needle nightmare’ and raise money at the same time.

Headteacher Michelle Law remarked that it was ‘week of celebration’ as the donation news also coincided with a report from Ofsted stating that the primary school has retained its ‘Good’ status.

“We’re all delighted with the Ofsted news and already this year we’ve got lots to celebrate,” she said.

“Nick’s fundraiser brought in an amazing amount. He has been a parent at the school for a really long time and he’s done a brilliant effort for us, it’s so charitable.”

The £1300 will be added to a special playground refurbishment project which is timed to coincide with the school’s 50th anniversary.

“We’ve got what we call ‘Teletubbies Hill’ on our site. It’s a lovely playground that we want to regenerate as part of our 50th celebrations,” Michelle said.

“We’re sourcing new playground equipment, talking to the school council about what they’d like to have and the money that Nick’s raised will go towards that regeneration project. It’s really exciting”

Plans for the playground are still in draft stage but the emphasis will be on fun and exercise with a sensory element as well.

“At the moment we’re in the initial phases of the project,” said Michelle.

“We’ve got playground companies to come up with a design based on the school children’s ideas.

“There’s a kind of a big push to raise as much as we can so that we can get can everything that the children would like and wish for. One of the things that will definitely make the cut is a trampette, an in-the-ground trampoline.”

The new playground is hoped to fit in with The Colleton's emphasis on outdoor learning and forest school and will benefit lunch and play times as well.

“Obviously having an inviting, attractive playground area will enhance what we have already got in place and we hope to encourage more children to eat outside at lunchtime, with an outdoor seated area that is all-weather.”

The children have been consulted heavily on this project through school council representatives and items to be included are picnic tables with built-in games like Snakes and Ladders

“There will be lots of lovely, creative things that will go into to it to hopefully meet everybody’s needs so that they have a lovely lunchtime.

“Getting them out into the fresh air is a wonderful thing,” said Michelle.

The Colleton PTA will be setting up a fundraising page for donations towards the new playground.

 www.colleton.wokingham.sch.uk