At Mace and Gebler Tooth, we are dedicated to making a positive impact through our Social Value framework, and one of our most rewarding projects this year has been collaborating with Uplands Primary School near Bracknell. Since July, we’ve embraced the challenge of transforming the school’s outdoor space to improve the lives of its pupils—many of whom have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Post-pandemic, schools across the UK have seen a significant increase in pupils with SEND, as well as children facing mental health challenges and trauma. Uplands Primary School is no exception. Additionally, the school has observed a growing number of parents seeking support for their own well-being and mental health.
Research highlights the crucial role outdoor spaces play in enhancing mental health, especially for children with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and those who have experienced trauma. Outdoor learning not only promotes well-being but also helps build confidence, communication skills, motivation, and a positive attitude towards learning. These benefits are essential in helping children reach their full potential and thrive academically and personally.
In March 2024, We met with the Deputy Headteacher of Uplands Primary to discuss how Mace, in partnership with Gebler Tooth, could help create an outdoor learning area that would provide a calm, inclusive space tailored to the sensory needs of their pupils. The vision was to develop an area that could be used for focused small-group work, whole-class teaching, and community events like parent engagement sessions and activities for the wider community, such as afternoon tea for the elderly.
The school had an outdoor classroom, approximately 5.5m x 6m, but it had seen better days. The fixed canopy, installed over a decade ago, was rotting and no longer weatherproof, while the timber frame was deteriorating in several areas, making the space unusable during bad weather.
In April, we brought this project to life by collaborating with Mace's Heathrow Cargo Tunnel Project Team, our supply chain partners, and Gebler Tooth. Together, we developed a comprehensive refurbishment plan for the outdoor classroom, detailing the materials and labour needed. Thanks to the generous support of our partners—Chisholm & Winch, Wingate, DBI, and Wilson James—we were able to secure donations of materials and skilled labour to begin the transformation. The scope of the work included a brand-new roof, updated fencing around the outdoor area, a stage and gazebo, floor repointing, new brick installations, and additional improvements like planters, painting, and decorating. Gebler Tooth played a key role in redesigning the space to ensure it met the school’s needs.
The project was completed in early September, with a team of 15 volunteers from the Cargo Tunnel Project dedicating three days to adding the final touches. On Friday, September 6th, the school celebrated the grand opening of their new outdoor classroom. The Headteacher invited key stakeholders, including representatives from Mace, Heathrow Airport, and our subcontractors, to express their gratitude for the incredible support. The excitement from the children, who were thrilled with their newly transformed outdoor space, was truly heartwarming.
This project exemplifies Mace and Gebler Tooth's collaborative commitment to creating lasting social value by improving community spaces. We are proud to have helped Uplands Primary School develop an environment where pupils can thrive, and we look forward to seeing the long-term benefits it will bring to both the students and the wider community.
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