A GRANT application for £25,000 to build an adventure play area at Springfields Academy is relying on votes from the public to be successful.

The school is hoping to use the play area, which will include monkey bars, striding stilts, a log walk and scramble nets, to develop communication and social interaction skills between peers.

Head of Key Stage Two and Three, Michelle Perrett, has already written to parents to outline the project but feels the One Foundation grant application will only be successful with wider public support.

She said: “A vote for us is a vote to transform the life of a vulnerable young person. On a day-to-day basis over a hundred young people will benefit from this project, but it is the ‘butterfly effect’ that has greatest impact.

“Children who can play in a safe, yet stimulating environment go on to make better progress both socially and academically.

“This then touches the lives of all Springfields’ staff and then more: the taxi driver who takes them home; their parents; the neighbours they meet in the street and the residents of their local community will benefit from socially confident and adept young people.”

Springfields Academy, a school for children with complex learning, emotional, social and behavioural difficulties, recently had their social care provision rated Inadequate by school inspection body Ofsted.

But staff hope that pupils will be able to work collaboratively to overcome obstacles using the play area which will offer a safe and imaginative area where children can take managed risks and role play.

The winner of the £25,000 grant from One Foundation, the charitable arm of Engage Mutual, is the project with the most public votes.

Nearby Heddington Pre-school successfully applied, thanks to public votes, for a £5,000 grant from the same foundation earlier in the summer to improve their own outdoor facilities.

Registration and voting is free and closes at midday on November 3, for more information and to vote click here.