It was fantastic to be at Ranvilles Infant School to be at the opening of ‘The Burrow’ alongside Cllr Tina Ellis, servicemen from HMS Collingwood and helpers and volunteers. Partially funded by businesses and the Ministry of Defence.
The Burrow’ is being utilised as a safe space to support service families and children. The teachers and Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) recognised that being a heavily militarised school on the outskirts of Collingwood, deployment can hugely impact a family and in particular the children that attend the school. So far, this space has been a tremendous addition to Ranvilles Infant School, having a direct impact on all pupils at the school and the adults who work there as well. Indirectly, also benefitting the families of the pupils.
The space provides a welcome sanctuary for pupils who prefer the calm environment it provides instead of the hustle and bustle of the playground. For some pupils who are easily overwhelmed this space will be a hugely beneficial tool in enabling them to self-regulate. Through the project, the school will also allow parents in a similar position to engage with other military families, inviting them to events at the burrow alongside their children will work much more efficiently.