Hasmonean Primary School wins £25,000 for new playground

Hasmonean Primary School has won £25,000 to build a new playground area after it beat off competition from other community award applicants from around the country.

The Jewish primary had sought the money from the One Family Foundation to build a “playground fitness trail” after teachers and therapists said “childhood obesity is of great concern”.

Hasmo bosses are hoping that the new play area will particularly help children with special needs such as dyspraxia, autism and hypermobility, allowing them to build their strength and co-ordination. The school said these children were currently “disadvantaged by a lack of equipment”.

In its November application, it said: “At the moment the only activity available during playtime is football. Dyspraxic children and frequently children with ADHD and ASD lack the co-ordination to play football. The [new] play equipment will enable them to be more included during playtime as they will be more readily able to access it.”

Headteacher, Dr Alan Shaw, added: “The transformation of our playground will help to improve pupils’ fitness, provide stimulation and aid inclusion, as well as being fantastic fun!

“We’re so grateful to OneFamily for the award, it will really will make a huge difference to all our pupils’ lives.”

There will be a fence between the area used for football and the new playing frame, with up to 250 children able to use the new facilities every day.

Lord Sacks Sacks wiill speak at the school’s 70th anniversary dinner.