A COMMUNITY effort has transformed a Charfield school’s play area over the summer after parents raised over £3,000 towards the project.

A group of parents at the school, in Wotton Road, worked hard over the summer to give the school’s reception class play area a makeover.

Pupils can now play on an all-weather AstroTurf, water play areas and a new sandpit.

Chairman of the group Dave Ashby said the group's work will benefit many reception classes in years to come.

“All of this was completed over the summer holiday and although it was hard work and we got wet on numerous occasions we had a lot of fun and the results are absolutely amazing,” he said.

“The makeover cost approximately £3,150 in total and the money was raised through a combination of fundraising events including our Christmas Fair and Christmas tree sale in 2014, a school disco in the spring term and our May fair staff.

“We worked on the design with the school in conjunction with Terry Thirtles, a retired project manager, who is local to the village. 

"The whole area was starting to look a little tatty and so the group set about creating a much better environment for the children to play and interact with.

“We had to lift the existing earth around the sandpit and replace with paving slabs, the sandpit itself has also been refilled with sand donated by the kind council in Yate who were disposing of the sand pit area in town centre.

“The final piece was the addition of a road design around the area where the children go around the roads on the trikes and scooters provided by the school.

"This was very kindly completed by Gary Pugh of Advanced Markings Ltd and really finished off the revamped area.

“There were a number of smaller jobs including painting two sheds, shaping various bushes around the area, removing various unwanted plants and weeds and generally tidying the whole area.

“Special thanks have to go Marie Pugh and Claire Beland who organised a lot of the materials that were used and helped with the hard work.

“All of this work wouldn't have been possible without the support from the parents and local community who come along and support our fundraising events come rain or shine."

Lucy Miller, reception class teacher, said: “Playing outside all year round and in all weathers meant that our garden area was looking very well used, worn and quite tired. The transformation over the holidays has been amazing.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to all of the volunteers who gave up their time over the summer to help improve our outside area.”

Headteacher Dafydd Lawday said the new play area will encourage the learning of the reception class.

“Charfield Friends play a crucial role within our school, we are privileged to have the support of such dedicated and helpful volunteers,” he added.