The Coventry school has transformed break time through outdoor play and learning

COVENTRIANS were thanked for helping out at a Coventry school where break time was transformed.

St Patrick’s Primary School, part of Romero Catholic Academy, has unveiled its Outdoor Play and Learning Area (OPAL) to help young people explore, create and make the most of their time outdoors.

The new-look play and learning area includes a wooden car made with donated parts, a reading hut, vegetables and music space.

They are now in use at the school in Deedmore Road after parents and staff helped transform the space and the parents of a former pupil donated a mud kitchen.

The school held a sandpit fundraising event and family members volunteered to help dig and fill, while neighboring Castle Wood School donated a drum kit.

The welly bank, which is still growing, allows children without suitable footwear to get involved.

Elise Liggins, deputy headteacher at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, said: “We’ve been blown away by the response from the community and we have so many people to thank for helping us pull this off.

“OPAL will help children find new ways to play together and express themselves.

“It was designed to be completely flexible and open to their interpretation, so it was amazing to see them use it.

“This would not have been possible without the generosity of the people in our school community and we are extremely grateful to everyone who got involved.”