Pennant Walters supports Oaklands Primary with £7,000 to transform outdoor learning space

Pennant Walters has provided £7,000 to Aberdare’s Oaklands Primary School to support a community-led project aimed at transforming and revitalising the nursery outdoor learning environment.

The funding has enabled the school to overhaul key outdoor features that are central to daily nursery life, including a full repaint of the bike track, which children regularly use to develop physical skills, coordination, and confidence through play, alongside the restoration of a large outdoor mural, originally created with community involvement but now faded and weathered over time.

The project builds on an established partnership between Oaklands Primary and Pennant Walters, and follows previous support for the creation of the school’s “Den Darllen” (Reading Den), an outdoor reading space that has already had a positive impact on pupils’ engagement and wellbeing.

Headteacher Caroline Briley said:

“Outdoor learning is a vital part of our early years education, supporting children’s physical development, creativity, wellbeing and social interaction. However, over time parts of our outdoor space have become faded and less engaging, reducing both their educational value and visual impact.

“This funding will make a real difference to our nursery children, and the wider school community. Our outdoor space is central to how our youngest learners explore, play, and develop and we’re proud that in working together with both Pennant Walters and our local community, we have restored and reimagined an area that so many of our children use every day.”

Dale Hart, managing director of Pennant Walters, said:

“We are proud to continue our support for Oaklands Primary. This project is a great example of how schools and local partners can work together to create spaces that truly reflect and serve their communities. We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on children, families, and staff.”

The project is expected to benefit more than 50 early years children each year and will leave a lasting legacy of creativity, inclusion, and community collaboration within the school grounds.

The funding from Pennant Walters is linked to Pennant Walters’ 9 turbine 22 MW Mynydd Bwllfa windfarm near Aberdare in Rhondda Cynon Taf, which became operational in summer 2015. It builds on previous donations which have seen the company provide money to support various local community groups.