Kids' Book Buzz Takes Off at Whitley & Eggborough's Outdoor Library

Pupils at a primary school in Goole will get extra opportunities to read outdoors during the summer months due to a four-figure grant from the Banks Community Fund.

Whitley & Eggborough Community Primary School has repurposed a neglected section of its courtyard into an outdoor library to enhance the reading and discussion areas for students.

The external library, situated next to the current internal library at the school, boasts vibrant new floors, a storytelling bench, an outside picnic table, brightly coloured bean bags for sitting, an exterior storage shed for the library items, and a retractable sunshade.

A £2,000 grant from the Banks Community Fund covered the expenses of the initiative – and the new space is now prepared for children to enjoy.

It’s the second time that the school has received support from the Banks Community Fund, with a £1,000 grant provided last year paying for a new table and chairs to go into its renovated reception area.

Whitley & Eggborough Community Primary School has 224 pupils on its roll, from Reception to Year Six, and works to an ethos of ‘developing happy, confident and enthusiastic children who thrive in a stimulating and exciting environment’.

Its school mascot CHaS The Dragon embodies its core ‘Caring, Helping and Sharing’ beliefs, which are designed to help its pupils become model citizens, and it received a Good rating across all categories in its most recent Ofsted report.

Diane Steward, who serves as the school business manager at Whitley & Eggborough Community Primary School, comments: "The students here adore reading, and our library is exceptionally well-stocked and consistently bustling. However, we aim to provide them with an even greater opportunity to indulge in literature."

“We’ve had our eye on making better use of this outside area for some time and always felt it would be the ideal place for a bright, attractive outdoor reading area, but we’ve not had the money we’ve needed to make it happen until now.

“The children have been very excited to see what’s been created and we know that it’s going to be really well used, while it will also match with the other renovations we’ve been making around the school over the last year.

“We’re all really appreciative of the support that we’ve had from Banks and can’t wait to see everyone spending time outside in the sunshine with their favourite books.”

The Banks Group is the entity behind these proposals. for the creation of a significant milestone integrated extension to the west of Eggborough, which would offer new low carbon homes, enhanced local transport links, a new primary school and nursery, assisted living units, new areas of accessible public open space, other local services and a range of environmental benefits.

Jamilah Hassan, who works as the community relations manager for the Banks Group, comments: "We think this is an excellent initiative that will motivate kids to increase their book readings and enjoy more outdoor time. We're looking forward to seeing the new reading space being used during the summertime."

The Banks Community Fund offers grants to community groups and volunteer organizations located near Banks Group initiatives.

Any individual from a locality near a Banks Group initiative who wishes to apply for funding should proceed as outlined below. Fund should reach out to the firm through their website contact page ( www.banksgroup.co.uk/contact-us/ ) to determine whether their group or initiative qualifies.