AFTER four years of fundraising children, staff and parents at St Mark's Pre-School in Salisbury celebrated the opening of a new outdoor classroom.

The pre-school, which is managed by a voluntary committee and run by qualified early years practitioners, embarked on the project after moving to its new home on the site of Wyndham Park Infants and St Marks Junior School in the summer of 2013.

Since then, an army of volunteers and practitioners have been working to transform the grounds of the pre-school, dividing the playground into different zones for exploring and learning and the front area to grow fresh produce kitted out with a polytunnel as well as a story circle.

It was the pre-school's vision to create an outside classroom adjacent to the main building to increase play opportunities for the children.

Emma Harper, the chairman of St Mark's Pre-school committee, said: "The outside classroom project is testament to how a community can come together with a common aim and work tirelessly to achieve it. Over the four years the committee managing St Marks Pre-school has changed yet, the vision has continued.

"I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to bring it to life. A huge thank you goes to Stephen Larkham, who produced the drawings for the pre-school, our two local contractors who built such a beautiful structure; Samuels Property Development and Knightwood Oak."

A grant of £1,500 toward the cost of the project from Salisbury Area Board gave the pre-school the final push to make the project possible. The project cost £27500. 

The pre-school's manager, Rachel Schendel, took over from Sue Purkis in September 2016 who retired after 29 years. Both managers have been instrumental in seeing the project through alongside the committee.

Mrs Schendel said: "The outside classroom really supports out ability to promote the outdoor learning experiences that are vital in the early years.

"It really helps us to further develop a well planned and resourced environment to inspire and extend learning."