CHILDREN will be able to play in a "mini Middle Earth" as a school transforms its playground into a "21st-century learning environment".
The bare playground at Claremont Primary School, in Carrington, is getting at £200,000 overhaul, with tree houses, sandpits and a stream among the additions.
It is hoped the Nottingham City Council-funded project will improve attendance, behaviour and results by creating an enjoyable atmosphere for pupils.
"I can't wait to make sand angels," said Raine Francis, six. "And I'll be able to swing about like a monkey."
Year 2 pupil Hafsa Jawad is looking forward to all the different things she can build.
"We can build stuff in the sandpit and turn it into a shop or a den," she said.
Seven-year-old Ryan Walters is excited about the water feature. "The stream looks like the most fun," he said. "I want to play in the water zone."
Markings have already been etched into the school's concrete playground ahead of the work, which will take place in the October half-term.
Designer Infinite Playgrounds has tailor-made the project to head teacher Andrew Gallagher's vision.
Since becoming head 20 months ago, he has overseen the installation of a £30,000 multi-sports pitch for older pupils.
"Engaging children with exciting activities like sport and play has a knock-on effect in the classroom," said Mr Gallagher. "When there's nothing for them to do, they're more likely to argue and fall out with each other and then the teachers have to focus on behaviour rather than teaching."
He hopes the 60 per cent of pupils at the school whose first language is not English will use new seating areas to socialise and improve their vocabulary.
"We sometimes have to make our own games up because we don't have anything in the playground," said Beatrice Russo, six.
"We don't even have anywhere to hide for hide-and-seek.
"With all the new areas we can have a great game."
Claremont Primary was told it "requires improvement" in its latest Ofsted report earlier this year and Mr Gallagher believes the new play areas will help the school achieve its targets.
"We want to create a 21st-century learning environment which makes the children want to come to school because they enjoy it so much," he said.
"I want it to be like a mini Middle Earth like you see in The Hobbit. At the moment, it isn't such a welcoming environment. They have an outdated playground which is 130 years old so deserve something better."
The plans also include a parent and toddler zone for families at the start and end of the school day.
"It will be an informal zone that parents can relax in and if they have questions, it's less daunting than the school office," Mr Gallagher explained. "If they ask a question in the morning, they can get the answer by the time they pick-up their children after school."
