SCHOOLS are planning to make outdoor learning a year-round affair after scooping funding for new play areas.

Several schools in North Yorkshire made bids for cash from a Sure Start scheme for outdoor facilities, made available through The Four Seasons Outdoor Learning Project.

Thirteen were successful, including Sessay Primary School, near Thirsk, which will use £6,000 of funding, plus £4,000 of its own money, to create an all-weather area.

It will feature sand and water trays plus raised beds for gardening, a willow den, pond and seating area.

Headteacher Jo Mackle said: "It's going to be fantastic and it will provide us with an activity learning area. The outdoors can provide rich learning opportunities and challenges in all areas of the curriculum.

"The children have helped with the choice of planting, with flowers and shrubs to appeal to all their senses. We are adapting an existing door to create a porch with storage for wellies and splash suits, so we can make most of our new area all year round."

Work on the scheme will take place in the summer holidays and it is due to be ready in September. The play area will be for the use of pupils in reception and first year.

The news comes during National Schools Week, which is urging teachers to make use of the outdoors.

As part of the funding applications, the schools became centres of good practice and agreed to open their doors to help other schools.

North Yorkshire County councillor John Watson, executive member for schools, said: "It's fantastic news for children in North Yorkshire.

"Effective outdoor learning uses the outdoor environment as an extra classroom and is a vital part of the curriculum for any youngster. But due to the great British weather, it just isn't an option for a large part of the year.

"For these 13 lucky schools though, outdoor lessons need never be rained out again."

* Other schools to benefit from funding are: Pannal primary, Harrogate; Bolton on Swale School; Fountains primary, Ripon; Kirkby and Great Broughton School, Stokesley; Tockwith primary and the Forest Of Galtres primary, both York; Cayton primary, Scarborough; Ruswarp School, Whitby; St Mary's primary, Knaresborough; Monk Fryston School and Whitley and Eggborough School, near Selby; and Lothersdale School, near Skipton.