Downham Feoffees School awarded £10k Lottery Grant for outdoor equipment

There were triple celebrations at Little Downham’s Feoffees Primary School.

Pupils tucked into a picnic to mark the end of the school year, and also to celebrate the opening of £10,000 worth of new playground equipment. They also bid a fond farewell to three members of staff.

Head teacher Michelle Siequien said goodbye after three and a half years in charge of the school, which she took from being in need of improvement to being good in her time at the helm.

Two longer serving teachers: Jenny Maynard (12 years) and Cathy Hales (10 years) also said farewell to the school. Mrs Maynard, a former deputy head has retired, while Mrs Hales has moved on to become a deputy head at a local infants school.

Presentations were made to all three women before the grand opening of the new equipment which included an extension to the existing trim trail, an outdoor stage and seating area for children to perform on, a wooden shop front for creative play, a buddy bus and outdoor musical chimes along with other exciting interactive outdoor equipment.

The Friends of Downham Feoffees committee have worked hard over the last six months to secure the £10,000 lottery grant in conjunction with School Scapes, who have provided and installed the equipment.

The committee have been able to boost the grant amount by adding funds raised at various events over the last couple of years in order to provide all the equipment wanted.

Anita Willcox, vice chairman of the Friends of Downham Feoffees, said special thanks went to committee member, Katie Brown, who worked incredibly hard and given up much of her spare time to make the arrangements for the equipment.

And she added: “As a committee we would like thank all the parents, staff, children and the local community for supporting our events over the last few years. Without this support we would not have been able to help fund all this fantastic new equipment for the children to enjoy.”