Playground Equipment Learning and earning through Fun at Hackleton C of E Primary School

Pupils at a Northampton school are fast becoming the next generation of business
moguls thanks to new playground equipment.

Year six pupils at Hackleton C of E School, Hackleton, have turned their newly installed outdoor classroom Playforce gazebo into a tuck shop.

But far from selling the usual crisps and penny sweets at break times, this gazebo is transformed into the 'Healthy Snack Shack'.

"We are currently working towards Healthy School Status and part of our objective includes healthy eating. The gazebo is the ideal place to operate the 'Healthy Snack Shack' from and it was all the idea of our School Council," explained the school's assistant head, Sonja Pragnell.

Mrs Pragnell said that so far the snack shack project has been a complete success as it was working on a number of levels to teach the children invaluable lessons whilst they have fun. On top of promoting and encouraging healthy eating for all pupils, the children running the shop learn a whole new set of extra curricular skills like stock taking and ordering, sales techniques, accounting, advertising, teamwork and responsibility.

But beyond break time the gazebo takes on another role acting as an area for children who want to enjoy quieter entertainments. The School Council is currently organising a competition to create and invent activities for people to enjoy in it at lunchtime. Entrants so far have come up with some exciting colouring challenges and intricate word searches.

"The children love the outdoor classroom gazebo ," explained Mrs Pragnell, "All children are very excited by the 'snack shack' that operates from it at playtimes and are looking forward to having activities to work on in it at lunchtimes. In the summer months we hope the gazebo will provide a shady area as well."

The gazebo was fitted by Wiltshire-based Playforce, a company with a reputation for producing quality outdoor play equipment products that stretch children's minds as well as bodies. They also installed a pirate ship, geared towards entertaining the younger members of the school, which has also proved a huge success.

"It's inspired lots of imaginative role play," said Mrs Pragnell. "Everyone is delighted."