Appeal to help keep Lace Hill pupils safe in the sun
April 8, 2022
Staff and pupils at Lace Hill Academy in Buckingham are appealing for help to buy essential playground equipment to keep students safe in the sun.
Teachers at the school say the outside area suffers from a lack of shade in summer and that on hot days, the children are often forced back indoors when the sun is too strong.
But this summer, the school is determined to fix the problem by installing sun shade sails in the playground.
The sun sails, used widely in schools across the UK and as standard in much hotter countries, cost around £9,000 and teachers and pupils have been coming up with fundraising ideas.
The school is appealing to parents and the local community to help them raise the cash needed by signing up to initiatives such as Easy Fundraising and Your School Lottery, where users simply sign up and can choose the school as their cause.
As part of the fundraising efforts, the school has held an Easter Bonnet competition for the children with prizes being awarded by local MP Chris Smith at a special awards event on April 1.
No shade
Year 4 class teacher Rachel Moroney said: “I joined the school at the height of summer last year and was struck by the fact that there is absolutely no shade whatsoever in our playground. If it’s too hot the children simply have to come indoors to shade and that’s no fun.
“Summer is the time to be outside and we’d really love to install the sun shades.”
Staff say children across the school often feel frustrated when summer playtimes have to happen indoors and that all years are excited to be fundraising for the shades.
Pihu Painuly, six, said: "It's really annoying to have to play inside when the sun is shining and it's nice and hot. It makes me feel sad."
Dexter Cordy, nine, added: "We really need these sun shades and it would be so good to raise enough money to buy them. My classmates and I are thinking up lots of cool ideas, but any help from anyone would be amazing!"
Community support
Acting headteacher Sarah Jones said: “We do need help to raise money to buy and install these and would appeal to everyone in the community to sign up to the easy fundraising website which lets you shop at all the usual places you buy from, at no extra cost, but then donates to your chosen cause.
“We would welcome any ideas for ways to raise money for the school and will support any local fundraising ideas.
“The sun sails would be a wonderful addition to the school and the pupils would benefit hugely from extra time outdoors, whether it’s at playtime with their friends or doing more outdoor learning in the summer months.”
The school is urging anyone who can help, to sign up to the below websites and choose Lace Hill Academy as their cause.
www.easyfundraising.org.uk
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