Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of the School, 

Why are we Crowdfunding?

The PTFA at Newton Poppleford Primary School is raising £15,000 to purchase new outdoor play equipment for Key Stages 1 and 2. Our aim is to encourage children to spend more time outdoors enjoying active, fun breaks from their schoolwork.

Why is play equipment important?

Outdoor play is more than just fun – it’s a crucial part of every child’s development. It allows them to explore, discover and appreciate the natural world while being active and strengthening their fine and gross motor skills. Engaging with play equipment helps children use their imagination, build core strength and improve their coordination and balance through movements like spinning, swinging and rocking.

Research from Liverpool John Moores University has shown that adding outdoor learning areas increases children's moderate to vigorous activity by five minutes daily, with 70% of pupils becoming more active. And it’s not just physical health – outdoor play also benefits mental health. A study by Wells and Evans (2003) found that learning environments with greener views, more plants and access to natural areas resulted in children demonstrating lower stress levels. 

Beyond physical and mental health, play equipment helps children develop and hone key skills that transfer positively back into the classroom. As they play, children learn to collaborate, tackle challenges and build confidence –  both independently and with their peers – enhancing their resilience, concentration and ability to focus.

Feedback from our parents also speaks volumes about how valuable time outside is to our children, and how significant the addition of proper play equipment would be:

Year 1 parent:   

“I like that it incorporates their natural wild child side. I think the best learning is done through play and play equipment ticks off mental and physical learning👌🏻”

 Year 5 parent:

“It is dedicated time outside and amongst nature, giving them space to explore, create, escape and learn away from the formality of a classroom.”

What we are doing to raise funds? 

Various events are already scheduled as part of the PTFA fundraising calendar, including school discos, a cocktail night and a colour run alongside our well-established Christmas and Summer Fairs. We will continue to add to this list with fundraising events throughout the year.

We also have ongoing fundraising initiatives in the community, such as the clothing bank, the pre-loved uniform shop and the PTFA book shop.

We are now also appealing to businesses and individuals in the community, the Parish Council, and regional and national grant funds to help us achieve our goal.

How will we spend the money raised:

We will seek input from our school community to design the play equipment, ensuring it meets the needs and desires of our children. As a guide, this is how we envision the Key Stage 1 equipment to look:

This is how we envision the play equipment for Key Stage 2: 

How has the sum been calculated?

Our target is based on thorough research into the costs of this type of play equipment. The PTFA will obtain three separate quotes to ensure the best value before moving forward.

How you can play your part:

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Every donation counts and early momentum is critical to our success. If you’re able to support us, please come forward sooner rather than later!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. If you’re a local business, consider donating raffle prizes or other items we can offer to our supporters. We’ll give you a shout-out on social media!

4. Fundraise for us. Want to organise your own fundraiser? Whether it’s a sponsored activity or another idea, we’d love to hear from you!