Nursery children at a Swansea school are enjoying a brand new garden and water play area — after their school beat thousands of others to a share of national funding.
Parkland Primary and Nursery School was among the schools chosen from more than 3,000 applications to share £40,000 donated by education publisher Twinkl through its Community Collection campaign.
The school used the money, alongside other resources, to create a multi-purpose outdoor space for its youngest pupils.
The transformed nursery garden now includes water play areas, designed to support physical development, curiosity and creativity in line with the Curriculum for Wales.
Staff say the difference is already showing — with children more engaged, more confident, and communicating and working together more.
Deputy headteacher Rachel Leahy said the new space had transformed the nursery’s outdoor provision.
“This support has had a truly positive impact on our Nursery provision by enhancing our outdoor learning environment. The garden and water play areas have created exciting and engaging opportunities for hands-on, exploratory learning, and we have seen a noticeable increase in enthusiasm, curiosity, and confidence in our children. It is a fantastic addition that will continue to enrich our early years setting for years to come,” she said.
Ayse Gunduz, of the school’s nursery management and senior leadership team, said the impact on the children was clear.
“The impact on pupil engagement, communication, and collaboration has been very clear. Staff have been able to offer more meaningful, hands-on experiences that reflect the interests and needs of our children. This project has strengthened our approach to learning through play and discovery in the early years,” she said.
Learning through play sits at the heart of early years education under the Curriculum for Wales — and outdoor learning is a growing focus for schools across the country.
Community Collection is Twinkl’s monthly support scheme for schools, which any school or educational organisation can apply to. Over the past 12 months it has provided £96,160 in funds and supplies to 533 schools.
Twinkl chief executive Jon Seaton said: “Twinkl prides itself on the positive impact that it has on educators, parents, and children and I’m delighted that we are able to showcase that through direct donations to schools covering the expenses for the educational projects that are much needed in each setting.”
The Sheffield-based company was founded in 2010 by husband and wife Jonathan and Susie Seaton, and its teaching resources are used by schools across the UK and beyond.
The school says the new space will keep enriching its early years provision for years to come.
