Rhodes Avenue Primary School is committed to providing the best education and environment for our children, but needs our support. With school budgets tighter than ever, additional funding allows the school to enhance learning resources, update equipment, and offer enriching extracurricular activities that go beyond the basics.

Many of the things at Rhodes Avenue are there because of fundraising from Rhodes Avenue PSA (RAPSA) and not from the school budget and it is these extras that have enhanced the provision offer at the school.

In 2023/24, thanks to the funds raised by parents via the PSA, key areas the school has been able to spend on include:

- Safe Space Pod (£14K), one of a number of spaces that will benefit all of the school’s children and enhances school priorities to extend and develop the number of spaces in school for emotional wellbeing;

- Outdoor (spinney/forest school) learning area improvements (£3K), including outdoor learning pod installation of electricity, artificial grass, and waterproofs for children;

- Hardship fund (£19K) spent primarily on residential trips for children who wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise so that nobody misses out/is excluded from cultural capital opportunities.

With your continued generosity and support, the school would like to further improve outdoor learning areas and play areas for the children over the next two years. This will include:

1. Outdoor learning area improvements

- Pergola extension to the Outdoor Pod in the spinney to allow sheltered class teaching space as the pod is too small for a whole class.

2. Upgrade to play areas

- Junior Playground Improvements: Artificial grass for the caged area, new benches for improved seating areas and safe spaces;

- EYFS bicycle trail (wet pour) - resurfacing of the ground for younger children.

With the spiralling costs of transport for school trips, your donations will also enable us to set up an Annual Travel Subsidy Fund to cover the cost of coaches for residential trips and make these trips more affordable for all parents from 2025-26.

The PSA have set a fundraising target of £80K, over a two year period (£40K in each year), to enable the school to bring agreed priorities for spending of PSA funds to life.

Every pound raised by our wonderful parents directly benefits the children, helping the school create a more inspiring, engaging, and fun learning experience. The school and the PSA truly appreciate your generosity and continued involvement - it makes a world of difference! Thank you for being such an important part of our school community.