Environment

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Stewardship

Children are encouraged to consider themselves as custodians of God’s creation  and use the resources of our world with care. They are involved in caring for the environment by reducing consumption and waste (reduce, reuse, recycle,) picking up litter and promoting energy efficiencies such as turning off lights, computers and taps.

As global citizens the children support CAFOD through fundraising and raising awareness of global and humanitarian issues.

School Grounds

The development of our school grounds is a major project in our School Strategy Plan. The plans for the grounds were some 18 months in the making, with consultation with stakeholders being a major factor. We used an experienced landscape architect to help us plan an overall vision for the grounds. These plans are coming to fruition.

They started with the installation of an adventure playground. The equipment has been installed on a playsafe surface of fake grass in place of the old rough pitch area. The adventure playground represents an excellent investment in the health and recreation for the children at St Patrick’s.

A Prayer Garden was designed. Some of our children’s entries in the Prayer Garden Model design competition are shown in the gallery above.The Prayer Garden construction has now been completed.

With the building of our new Early Years Woodlands Centre we also gained two paddocks for safe free flow outdoor play as well as a combined paddock for the Reception and Nursery children with soft play surface for bikes and scooter play.

In 2019 the school are working hard to create a new MUGA (Multi Use games Area) which will consist of an all weather pitch and dedicated running track to assist with the PE curriculum.

The PTA continue to support the school grounds project with regular donations to support the upkeep of the prayer garden and materials for the planters.

Healthy Schools

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In June 2010 St. Patrick’s gained the nationally recognised award as a healthy school. We encourage healthy eating through the junior tuck shop which sells fruit, fruit juice and freshly baked bread. Members of our healthy schools’ committee monitor lunch boxes and school dinner waste. Each class has an allotment in which they plant and grow vegetables and salad goods.

As well as teaching a variety of sports during PE sessions we also encourage attendance at before and after school clubs such as judo, dance, football, multi-skills and fitness club. Each class follows an “Activate” programme during the morning and afternoon sessions to develop coordination and motor skills, which are important for effective brain function and learning.

Children’s emotional wellbeing is supported through the work of our emotional literacy support assistant who helps children to resolve issues surrounding self esteem and friendships.

Sustainability

The school council meets regularly to identify and implement projects which will enrich and improve our environment. Children have been instrumental in designing areas of the school such as the prayer garden, the adventure playground and the “bandstand.”

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Throughout the year we maintain an extensive programme of scooter and cycling training across the school to encourage children to play and travel safely to school on their bikes and scooters. Two children have taken on the role of Junior Road Safety Officer and monitor the number of children scooting and cycling to school, as well as helping to deliver road safety messages to the whole community.

Please have a look at our Energy Policy.