Coventry school children love their new mud kitchen

Patrick McKeown, left, with representatives from Wooden Spoon alongside pupils at St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, Coventry

Children at a Coventry school have been given a breaktime boost ready for summer thanks to support from a national children's charity. St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, part of the Romero Catholic Academy, has unveiled its new Outdoor Learning Environment created thanks to grant funding from UK charity Wooden Spoon - featuring a custom-built mud kitchen and welly rack for pupils to use at break and lunchtime.

Members from the charity's Warwickshire branch, including former St John Fisher pupil Patrick McKeown who attended the school on Kineton Road from 1962 to 1968, joined excited youngsters as they got to grips with the new facilities - which are designed to encourage creative outdoor play while the welly rack ensures all children can access it while keeping classrooms and corridors tidy.

Wooden Spoon supports children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland, and has funded more than 1,500 projects impacting the lives of over 1.5 million children and young people.

The charity's Warwickshire branch has raised over £400,000 for children across the county and wider region, including Coventry, to support projects such as sensory rooms, counselling areas and outdoor classrooms.

It started fundraising in 1983 to leave a positive legacy after England's poor showing in that year's Five Nations competition.

Patrick said it was a privilege to return to his former school and see children enjoying the new facility.

"Projects like this are what Wooden Spoon is all about. We help schools and organisations across the region and the country with funding for projects to support learning and provide children and young people with new experiences," he said.

"To see the outcome of that in action - especially at a place which played a huge role in my childhood - is absolutely brilliant."

Year 4 pupil Paisley said: "The mud kitchen is like being at the beach during play time - like going on an adventure - and it's been so much fun playing together with my friends."

Pauline Finn, Vice Principal at St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, said: "It was a privilege to welcome Patrick back to the school alongside members of Wooden Spoon's Warwickshire branch for the official unveiling, with our pupils incredibly excited to use the new facility.

"It is a fantastic asset for the school as it gives our children the chance to use their imaginations, collaborate and create together during playtime, and we are incredibly grateful to Wooden Spoon for their support in bringing it to life."