Case Study

Nursery at St Fagans Cardiff – Video

Building type: Early Years
Project price: £75,000
Completion date: 2013

St Fagans Primary School needed to create more learning space in the main school for individual and group work.

The green outdoor space at St Fagans CW Primary School in Cardiff was the perfect spot for a new classroom. Headteacher Alison Price tells us how their new Learning Escape has given them room to grow, benefiting both pupils and their natural surroundings.

Why did you want to develop an eco nursery space?

We needed to create more learning space in the main school for individual and group work. An extension to the school was too expensive and demountable classrooms too ugly, so we looked at alternative solutions. We decided to build a new classroom for our nursery class so that we could then use the existing nursery space for our individual and group needs. That way our younger pupils would have a new light and airy space that would inspire creativity.

What made The Learning Escape stand out from other providers?

We have a very small school site but it is very green. We wanted something that would fit with the school and our natural surroundings. The Learning Escape classroom fit the bill. The quote was the best value for money, particularly as it was a ‘turn key’ project – everything was included, this was particularly useful for the planning and project management.

What are the biggest benefits you’ve noticed for the pupils and your school?

The nursery children now have better access to their outdoor classroom area. We have seen a big improvement in their behaviour and they are much calmer, something that we think may be due to the natural light they have which was not available in the previous room. We use the veranda for sand and water play, making a lot less mess, and the whole school has access to the cooking facilities inside. The new classroom has created a natural stage for outdoor school events and the aesthetics of the area is much improved. Eventually, when the old nursery room is refurbished, we will have created another new learning space for children with SEN, group work and parent education.

How did you find working with The Learning Escape overall?

Very good. From the beginning the team was quick to respond to all of our telephone calls and emails. They were very responsive to the needs of the school and keen to make things just right. The whole team was very friendly and hard working, the builders on site were helpful and efficient.

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"We have seen a big improvement in their behaviour and they are much calmer, something that we think may be due to the natural light they have which was not available in the previous room."
Alison Price
Headteacher