School CLOSES part of muddy play area that left kids filthy

The headteacher of a primary school who apologised to parents about their muddy play area after children were left filthy says part of it has now been closed. 

Amy Frost told MailOnline that the torrential downpours last week had turned one area at Holsworthy Primary School, in Devon, into a bog. 

The mud play areas at the school are still available for the children to play in but one area, referred to as 'the bog', has been shut off to 'protect the school site'. 

The school this week apologised to mothers and fathers saying 'this journey is new' after children were leaving school muddy.

It is not thought any parents complained but Miss Frost said the school will always say sorry 'if we may have inconvenienced them'.  

The school had last month been showing off its revamped playground with two new muddy play areas ahead of pupils returning from the summer holiday.

It has been redesigned in conjunction with OPAL Outdoor Play and Learning CIC - a company which works with schools to 'transform the quality' of playtime.

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Miss Frost told MailOnline it had been 'hugely successful and we have seen a rise in the number of children engaging in fun activities at playtime'. 

'We have already seen happier children in school and over time we hope this will support improved mental health and enhanced social and emotional development,' she said. 

'Our parents are really supportive of the changes, but we always want to mindful of our parent body and will always apologise if we may have inconvenienced them. This does not mean we have received complaints.'

Miss Frost added that heavy rain had caused one area of the site to become boggy and 'whilst the children had great fun in the mud - we also need to consider managing this as sustainable play across the whole year'. 

'Our mud play areas are still open and children can access these, but we have closed "the bog" to protect the school site and allow the grass to grow back,' she said. 

The school clarified they have adjusted the rules and spaces to make sure that the children don't bring the mud home with them.

It says 'plans are in place to limit the amount of exposure to the muddy areas'.

A spokesperson for Holsworthy Primary School said: 'We would like to apologise to any parents/carers who have had children come home muddy recently.

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'This journey is new and evolving and therefore we are adjusting the rules and spaces to manage the children's love of the various areas.

'Please be reassured that plans are in place to limit the amount of exposure to the muddy areas until the (hopefully) drier seasons are upon us.

'We thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.'

The school had previously warned parents to make sure their kids pack waterproofs, wellies and spare clothes.

A picture of its new mud play area was posted onto the school's Facebook page at the start of September and showed spades and toy diggers in mounds of dirt and tyres full of soil. 

Former teacher and school improvement adviser Michael Follett, OPAL's Founder and Director, told MailOnline: 'We live in a country with four weather conditions: it looks like it's going to rain, it is raining, it's just finished raining, or it's too hot to go out.

'We work with schools to have more realistic expectations of what children need to grow up healthy and happy in the British climate.

'Every child should have a waterproof coat and a pair of wellies and expect to get a bit dirty when they play.

'There is a crisis in childhood with a chronic lack of outdoor play and exercise, and it's getting worse every year.

'We support schools in addressing this problem. Each school will take its own approach and learn to manage the problems that go with it in their own way.'