Utilising school grounds are vital to communities having safe spaces to be active. However, using school facilities after hours can often require school staff to be present or added costs for staff to stay after school and supervise. Thanks to a successful Opening Schools Facilities funding (OSF) application, Upshire Primary School in Epping Forrest are now able to open their gates for outside users.
The school previously had hopes to provide more sport and physical activity opportunities for their students and their families, especially considering the increasing obesity rates amongst children aged under 11 and the increasing economic challenges faced by many parents and carers. The school also hosted regular yoga wellbeing sessions, becoming difficult due to the lack of outside infrastructure to safely welcome the community to their premises. Using the OSF funding, Upshire Primary School have installed automated their main gates, allowing external users access to the school grounds. This sustainable will help the school keep their hire fees low, benefiting the community.As well as the new automated gates, Upshire have introduced two new sports offers thanks to the funding. The school now offers archery, open to all students in the school and football, only open to the KS1 classes.
The school have also collaborated with the Epping Forest District Council Community Development and Wellbeing Department, who have supported their broader project related to the train carriage and the overall facilities. Their aim is to serve not only the pupils of our school, but also the community by improving safety, reducing crime, and enhancing health and mental wellbeing.
Upshire Primary School’s long-term vision is to work with Epping Forest District Council to relocate the Ninefields Youth Club to the school, as it would be a more secure and safe place for the young people, thanks to the security system installed on the main gate. The move would also allow the young people to participate in physical activities, which they cannot do at the Hazlewood Children’s Centre, as they are not allowed to use the Hillhouse Primary School grounds. The school have also been collaborating with their main sports club provider, Super Star Sports, who are keen to offer holiday activities, but the facility has not been suitable for a safe and accessible service. Thanks to the funding, the school can now explore how they can help with the health and wellbeing challenges that our pupils face in their ward.
The funding has helped the school create important relationships with Active Essex, Epping Forest District Council and Super Star Sports which can be used in the future to benefit the students at their school and the local community.A parent at the school, who’s child attends the new Archery club said;
“The after-school sessions have been fantastic. It has enabled me to work for longer. For my daughter Maddie it has been great for her to get some extra fitness in.”
A parent of a female student that now attends the KS1 football offer said;
“I couldn’t recommend it enough the school need to keep doing it. My daughter comes out from the football club worn out. It’s been brilliant for her to try something without me having to fork out for all the gear before I know if she really likes it or not. That said she has loved football and now I can’t keep her away from it so now I am looking to get her into FAE Waltham Abbey FC.”
Danielle Warnes, Active Essex Relationship Manager for the West, who helped Upshire with their application said.
“The Opening Schools Facilities fund has been a game-changer for Upshire Primary School, sparking not just a surge in extracurricular activities for students but also igniting a significant partnership with the Epping Forest District Council (EFDC). Thanks to the efforts of Julie from Upshire Primary and Wendy from EFDC, this partnership has been crucial in securing additional funds. Consequently, EFDC is set to move the youth centre from Hillhouse to Upshire and plans to initiate community events at the school starting in 2024/25, enhancing prospects for both students and the local community.”
