Helping hands, students from Barnard Castle School transform the play garden at Ducklings Day Nursery, L-R: Katie Taplin, Sarah Robertson, Lauren Wilson, Abbi Harris, Rebecca Nichols, Maddy Forsyth, Daisy Oliver, and Anna Everall

Happy little ducklings

Barnard Castle School students help renovate the Ducklings Day Nursery's outdoor play area

Posted by Charley Rogers | May 17, 2017 | School life

• #ducklings-day-nursery
• #barnard-castle-school
• #community

Helping the community proved to be child’s play as students volunteered to spruce up a town’s nursery.

A dozen students from Barnard Castle School descended on Ducklings Day Nursery to help tidy and brighten the outdoor play area.

Barnard Castle School teacher Caroline Connor has two sons at the nursery and asked for volunteers after talking to its manager Gail Kirkby.

Students rolled up their sleeves for several days of cleaning, clearing, tidying and painting to leave the area spick and span and fun for the nursery’s 45 children, aged 0-4. Helping out were Katie Taplin, 15, of Leyburn, Sarah Robertson, 16, of Cotherstone, Lauren Wilson, 15, of Wolsingham, Abbi Harris, 15, of Barnard Castle, Rebecca Nichols, 15, of Crook, Maddy Forsyth, 16, of Cotherstone, Daisy Oliver, 16, of Barnard Castle, Anna Everall, 15, of Barnard Castle, Alex Thompson, 17, of Richmond, Louella Gill, 17, of Northallerton and Emily Warren, 17, of Hamsterley.

Our students were only too pleased to help and found the experience very rewarding. We encourage them to be active in the local community and it is heart warming to see so many become so actively involved.

The nursery spring clean also improved the entrance, sandpit, outdoor classroom and dinosaur area.

Gail said: “I was astonished how many students volunteered to help and it was great to see them involve young children in the tidying up process. Our children really enjoyed their company and we are all delighted with the transformation. We will be ready for our open day in July and be very proud now to show off all of our facilities. Many of our parents have already commented on what a great job the students have done, for which I can’t thank them enough.”

Headmaster Alan Stevens said: “Our students were only too pleased to help and found the experience very rewarding. We encourage them to be active in the local community and it is heart warming to see so many become so actively involved.”

Daisy Oliver, 16, Barnard Castle, said: “We were all really keen to do something to help our local community and it proved to be great fun.”