NPT Homes to Create All-weather Play Facilities at Waunceirch Primary School

NPT Homes have teamed up with RT Contractors in an effort to transform the play and outdoor facilities at Waunceirch Primary School, Neath.

The work will concentrate on the school’s Learning Support Centres and will see the installation of an all-weather surface to replace a boggy grassed area. Fencing will also be erected in order to give the children a safe and secure area in which to play.

The main beneficiaries will be the school’s autistic pupils who find it difficult to interact and play with the other children. The new play area will give them a dedicated space where they can feel safe.

The work is being carried out as part of NPT Homes’ Community Challenge, a programme that will see eight community projects given a makeover over the coming weeks.

The programme began in 2012 as a direct result of the community benefits that became part of all contracts drawn up by NPT Homes. As a result any business that works directly with the social housing provider must give something back to the community.

The partnership programme involves 12 of NPT Homes’ main contractors and suppliers, and will see projects from across the Neath Port Talbot Borough benefit from free building or maintenance work.

Debra Bartoszewicz of Waunceirch Primary School said “Our autistic pupils can often find the unstructured nature of play time quite unsettling and stressful and this can then lead on to issues with their behaviour and emotional well-being.

Providing them their own specific play area will see their behaviour and self-esteem improve and give a focus to their playtime.”

RT Contractors will be heavily involved in the project. Their Contracts Director, Gethin Thomas said, “We are thrilled to be involved with NPT Homes’ Community Challenge this year. The project gives companies like ourselves the chance to get involved in our local communities.

I’m sure the work that we will carry out at Waunceich will benefit the entire school, especially those children who would otherwise find play and social interaction a stressful time.”

The work will take place over the Whitsun holidays with the transformation complete by the time the children return to school after the half term break.