Roll on break-time! (From Gazette & Herald)

Roll on break-time!

PUPILS at Malton Community Primary School have an extra reason to look forward to break-time after their new adventure playground was completed last week.

The 15-metre-long low-level wooden obstacle course includes balance beams, log stepping-stones and log uprights.

Children sampled the new playground, which was paid for by school funds, for the first time on Monday.

The facility is the latest in a series of moves by the school to provide a more varied outdoor play area.

Last summer term, parents helped to clear a wooded area in the school grounds to make it safe for pupils to play in. A conservation area and pond have also been created, while bushes have been planted to provide dens and shaded areas for children.

Head teacher Colin Culley said: "The focus is on creating an environment that we adults would've been used to when we were young."

Meanwhile, year six pupils from Malton Community Primary School are set for an action-packed week at the Low Mill Outdoor Adventure Centre in Askrigg next week and parents can go online and witness it unfold.

The school is setting up a link on its website showing pictures of the children involved in various activities in the Yorkshire Dales and it will be updated daily.

A guest book will also be available on the site for relatives and friends to send messages to the children on the trip.

Teacher Tim Hiley said: "Not only does it help the children if they are feeling homesick but it also fantastic for people to feel confident that their children are safe. We have had comments in the guestbook from Australia and Canada in the past."

Abseiling, orienteering and team-building games are just some of the activities that will take place during the trip, which is from October 20-24.

The website, which will be up and running by this Sunday evening, can be visited at http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/maltoncp/lowmill5

Updated: 12:05 Wednesday, October 15, 2003