Norwich primary school brings recycled materials to life

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Pupils from Clover Hill VA Infant and Nursery School, Bowthorpe, have received a donation of recycled building materials to use for ‘loose parts play’ – a method of using with everyday objects to improve creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills.

After donning hard hats and high-vis jackets, youngsters from the school helped representatives from construction company R G Carter unload the materials into their playground which included stones, sticks, wood, tyres, crates, tubes and more. 

The theory of ‘loose parts’ was coined by architect Simon Nicholson in 1971, who argued that loose parts in the environment helps empower creativity, inventiveness and collaborative play whilst enabling children to shape their play without adult direction. 

Ollie Bennison, Deputy Head of Clover Hill VA Infant School and Nursery, said: “We have been so grateful for items that R G Carter have donated for our loose parts play. When the children interact with loose parts, they enter a world of “what if” that promotes the type of thinking that leads to problem solving and reasoning.”

“Loose parts play has already enhanced the children’s ability to think imaginatively and see solutions and bring a sense of adventure and excitement to their play. We have seen the children create simple dens to have adventures in, space rockets and cars to travel wherever their imagination takes them.”

The donation is just one of the initiatives the Firm is undertaking to continue to help minimise its impact on the environment, looking to recycle by-products from sites in a way that benefits society and communities, wherever possible. 

Mario Rackham, Director & General Manager at R G Carter, said: “Consideration for the environment and engaging with local communities has always been a key part of the way we work. It has been great to see the young pupils explore the different types of materials and get creative – letting their imagination run wild. We may even have managed to inspire a few builders of the future!”

R G Carter aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions in their operations by 2035.