{"id":68676,"date":"2022-11-29T17:33:08","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T17:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=68676"},"modified":"2022-11-29T17:33:11","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T17:33:11","slug":"scaffolding-has-kept-pupils-out-of-their-playground-for-four-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2022\/11\/29\/scaffolding-has-kept-pupils-out-of-their-playground-for-four-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Scaffolding has kept pupils out of their playground for four years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u00a3495,000 has been spent to protect children in listed building, with no end date in sight<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

SCAFFOLDING costing \u00a3495,000 at a Cathays primary school has kept pupils out of their playground for four years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe scaffolding and building work have significantly impacted on the learning experience of the children,\u201d said Abigail Beacon, headteacher of St Monica\u2019s C.I.W. primary school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe recognise the scaffolding has to be there, it keeps everybody safe. There were problems with the Bath stone on the building, and it has to be stabilised then reconstructed,\u201d said Mrs Beacon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, the children wrote letters to Cathays councillor Sarah Merry and Cardiff council invoking their “right to play” from the United Nations Rights of the Child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scaffolding covers a large part of their play area, making it difficult for them to play outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mrs Beacon said that since the letters, communication from the council has massively improved but it was once very slow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think the children’s letters, the members of the Senedd that got involved and other people that been supporting the school, are the reason for improvement.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The children were given alternative play areas and, in recent weeks, new outdoor clothing so they can be taken off site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe local authority has paid for outdoor clothing for the children as well so that we can take them off site without getting drenched to the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe council have been supporting the children more. I have a play specialist once a week and the children go to regular visits up to the park so that they can have free play. Cathays cemetery has been brilliant, they have given us access to their chapels,\u201d said Mrs Beacon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scaffolding was put up outside St Monica\u2019s, Cathays Library and Gladstone Primary School four years ago \u2013 and has been the cause of several complaints among Cathays residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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