Publication Date: 11-03-2025 09:00
Bellway donation funds new sensory and learning equipment for primary school in Chelmsford
A primary school in Chelmsford has bought a whole range of sensory and learning equipment thanks to a £500 donation from local housebuilder Bellway Essex.
The money was given to Friends of Larkrise Primary School (FOLS) which used it to buy equipment for the school’s sensory room, nurture room, Early Years Foundation Stage class (EYFS), outdoor area and Forest School.
Bellway Essex is building new homes in Chelmsford at Beaulieu Grange, and also has its divisional headquarters in the city, just two miles from the school.
Thanks to the company’s donation, the school’s sensory room – which is used by children with special educational needs and disabilities – has a new tent with lights, an LED tunnel mirror, a light projector, a bubble fish light, a canopy, a sand tray and liquid sand timers.
The nurture room, where pupils can work and learn in a smaller, quieter classroom, has been equipped with a toy tool set, mini road signs for road safety learning, a jumbo sensory ball and boxes of chalk.
The donation also funded the purchase of items for the school’s Forest School – a hands-on learning experience that takes place in a woodland setting – including magnifying glasses, bug kits and a hammock. FOLS also bought sand, play putty and aprons for the EYFS class and five bags used to store footballs and netballs.
Elaine Carline, co-chairperson of FOLS and a learning support assistant, said: “We are extremely grateful to Bellway Essex for its very generous donation. It is reassuring to know that such a large and respected company is going out of its way to support us and help improve the education provision in the local area.
“Thanks to this contribution we were able to buy a lot of equipment which we have tried to spread out over a number of areas. These new items and new equipment will benefit everyone at the school and will improve the facilities we have in our sensory room and our nurture room which are important elements within the school.”
Laura Trigg, Sales Manager at Bellway Essex, said: “Part of our company philosophy at Bellway is not only to build top-quality new homes and sustainable neighbourhoods but also to get directly involved to improve the lives of people in the community.
“We seek to do this by supporting key local organisations and our relationship with Larkrise Primary School is testament to that. When Elaine approached us for a donation to help the school purchase a sizeable shopping list of items, we were delighted to be able to oblige.
“It is great to know that they made the very best of our contribution to buy a whole host of new equipment which will benefit pupils in different ways in a number of different areas.”
Bellway Essex is building 194 new homes at Beaulieu Grange, as part of the wider Beaulieu scheme, which is planned to deliver more than 3,000 new homes alongside schools, shops, and green open spaces across a 604-acre site.
For more information, call the sales team at Beaulieu Grange on 01245 960217 or visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/essex/beaulieu-grange.
