Axis and City Plumbing Fund Revitalization of a Year 1 Outdoor Learning Space

Outdoor Learning Space Revitalized for Children in Stratford Thanks to Axis and City Plumbing.

School 21 in Stratford has successfully revitalized its Year 1 outdoor play and learning space, thanks to a donation from our supplier, City Plumbing. This investment, made possible through our community fund, exemplifies our commitment to supporting local causes that make a significant impact.

Situated just around the corner from Axis’ Head Office, School 21 caters to children from diverse backgrounds, offering education from ages 4 to 18. Having supported the school previously, we were approached by one of their Primary Teachers to see if we’d like to get involved in the transformation.

The design brief was to turn the outdoor space into a play space, zoning it into four zones which were curated by a focus group of students: social and outdoor classroom, small world and sensory, water exploration and den building/construction. Our donation of £1,100 has enabled a complete overhaul of the outdoor space, turning it into a purposeful, stimulating, and well-curated environment for daily use.

The project directly benefits the 60 children in Year 1, as well as serving the Special Educational Needs (SEN) department, which has a classroom with direct access to the space. This inclusive approach ensures that all children, especially those who did not meet Early Learning Goals (ELG) in reception, receive the support they need.

A Year 1 Teacher commented, “The outside space is a great addition to challenge student’s communication skills, especially those with EAL or who are on the SEN register. It has been designed in a way that all the activities involve a deep level of collaboration.”

A Year 1 student added, “Outside can be more quiet and I can relax and do some learning and it’s not noisy or distracting. I do good learning here.”

The recent transformation of the Year 1 outdoor area is a testament to the school’s dedication to fostering oracy, collaboration, teamwork, and emotional regulation skills—essential elements that have been shown to enhance the life chances of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

By investing in this project, we at Axis reaffirm our commitment to community investment values, supporting local initiatives that drive positive change.

To view more photos of the transformation click: https://www.flickr.com/gp/150894466@N06/drG85G9559