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I am raising funds for an open air classroom at ARK Franklin Primary Academy. Studies have shown that the physical and mental health of British children has deteriorated significantly in recent years. Not only has childhood obesity been rising for decades (the latest WHO figures, for 2013/14, show that 19% of children in Year 6 were obese and a further 14% were overweight; of children in Reception, 10% were obese and another 13% were overweight) but 1 in 10 children (aged 5 – 16) suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder and the number of young people aged 15-16 with depression nearly doubled between the 1980s and the 2000s. The likelihood of a child visiting any green space has halved in a generation according to DEFRA. There is a growing body of evidence to show the positive impact that open air experiences provide in offsetting many of these problems. A lack of freedom and contact with nature is impeding our children’s mental and physical development and impeding their emotional resilience.

Our mission is to create an inaugural open air classroom at Ark Franklin primary, which will also open to the public, where children can learn their curriculum in more creative ways and be able to engage with nature. We are aiming to transform our gardens and playground into an inspirational environment for our pupils and for the local community. In our new space, we will have raised beds and a biodome for our children to grow their own food to cook in the outdoor kitchen. We plan to have a pond, a conservation area and wildflowers to attract butterflies and support our own beehive, a wormery to recycle food waste from the kitchens, a DNA walk and a sensory area.

All aspects of the curriculum will be taught through the garden with a focus on healthy eating, sustainability and teaching valuable life skills, such as risk taking and resilience. 

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