A Gloucester primary school has a new outdoor classroom after a donation from a local housebuilder helped it reach its funding target for the project.
Bellway, which is planning to build 185 new homes at Hawthorn Park, off Hempsted Lane, made the contribution to help Hempsted C of E Primary School in nearby St Swithuns Road, reach its £10,000 total.
The Friends of Hempsted School had been fundraising to finance the build but were short of the overall target until Bellway stepped in with the final £500 required.
The outdoor shelter will be used mainly as a classroom and as a quiet area for children who have trouble coping with the hustle and bustle of a busy playground break. The large timber-framed structure, which was completed in late March, has benches inside and can comfortably seat at least 30 children.
School headteacher Richard Waller said: “We are grateful to Bellway for their donation of £500 which allowed us to reach the target funding needed to finance the building of the shelter.
“The shelter is fantastic and will have a multitude of uses including an outdoor classroom, and importantly as a quiet space for children who find the noise of the playground just too much. Our PTA, The Friends of Hempsted School, can now focus their future fundraising on furnishing the space, perhaps with cushions and storage for books.“We are very much looking forward to making full use of this excellent new facility which will enrich the lives of children in the school.”