We are fortunate to have a lovely school with good facilities, but we continue to strive to offer the very best we can for our learners. The Cann Bridge School Fund (charity number 288503) seeks to provide specialist equipment and support for learners who have severe learning difficulties and require additional opportunities to support their learning, which cannot all be met from within the school budget.

Smaller projects include access to specialist music workshops, theatre visits, and assistance with the cost of residential trips that fall outside of school-based provision but enable our learners to face new challenges and promote independence.

We have a very supportive community at Cann Bridge. However, with large-scale projects, it is too much for us to handle alone. We are committed to making these dreams a reality.

Currently, we have one large fundraising appeal that is very important to us, and which we feel would benefit all our learners and their ongoing development.

Help Us Transform Our Outdoor Spaces at Cann Bridge School!

At Cann Bridge School, we know that outdoor spaces are more than just play areas—they are essential learning environments that support our learners’ education, well-being, and development. As a special school, we place a strong emphasis on providing spaces that cater to a wide range of needs, from sensory regulation and therapeutic support to developing independence, communication, and social skills.

Many of our classrooms have dedicated outdoor areas that enhance teaching and learning, providing essential regulation spaces, sensory circuits, and opportunities for play and exploration. For our older learners, these areas support practical skills like gardening and horticulture, helping to build confidence and life skills. However, these spaces and our lower and upper school playgrounds have become tired and no longer fully meet the needs of our learners. We are committed to upgrading these areas to create safe, stimulating, and adaptable spaces that meet a diverse range of sensory, academic, and play needs.

Our Plan for Improvement

We are currently engaging with specialist organisations to develop plans and provide quotes for improving our outdoor spaces. To ensure the project is both achievable and sustainable, we will break it into several phases, focusing on the most critical upgrades first and building upon them over time. This phased approach will allow us to make meaningful progress while ensuring that each stage is carefully planned and delivered successfully. Once we have this information it will be published on our website.

Why Are Outdoor Spaces So Important?

High-quality outdoor environments provide numerous benefits for our students, including:
✅ Adaptability for Different Needs – Spaces that can be adjusted to support a variety of learning styles, physical abilities, and sensory preferences.
✅ Sensory Regulation – Quiet areas, sensory circuits, and varied textures to help students manage their emotions and stay engaged in learning.
✅ Communication & Social Interaction – Play spaces that encourage teamwork, turn-taking, and the development of vital social skills.
✅ Physical & Motor Skills Development – Safe and engaging equipment that promotes movement, coordination, and confidence-building.
✅ Academic & Life Skills Learning – Outdoor areas that support structured lessons, exploration, and hands-on learning experiences.
✅ Well-being & Mental Health – Thoughtfully designed spaces that promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and enhance overall happiness.

How You Can Help

We believe that every child deserves access to an outdoor space that meets their individual needs, whether that’s a quiet corner for sensory regulation, an interactive play area for social development, or a hands-on gardening space to build independence. Your support will help us bring these plans to life and ensure our outdoor spaces provide the best possible opportunities for our students.

Join us in making a difference! If you would like to support our Outdoor Spaces Project, please see below or contact us.

Thank you for helping us create a learning environment where every learner can thrive!

Supporting Us

Your contribution makes a significant difference in helping us achieve our goals. You can support our fundraising orthe development of our school in several ways:

• Make a Donation – Whether through our Go Fund Me page or directly to the school. Please contact us for details on how to give.
• Sponsor a Feature – Businesses or individuals can sponsor specific elements of the project, such as sensory play equipment, garden areas, or quiet spaces.
• Fundraising Events – Participate in or organise fundraising events such as sponsored walks, bake sales, or community challenges to help raise funds.
• Corporate Support & Grants – If you work for or know of a business that offers corporate sponsorship or grants for educational projects, please connect us with them.
• Volunteer Your Time & Skills – If you have expertise in landscaping, carpentry, gardening, or fundraising, we’d love to hear from you!
• Join the Friends of Cann Bridge: Become a member of Friends of Cann Bridge and actively participate in raising vital funds and helping shape the future of our school.
• Spread the Word – Share our fundraiser with your friends, family, and community to help raise awareness and support.

For more details or to get involved, please contact us directly. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our learners!

Donations can also be made through our GoFundMe page:
www.gofundme.com/f/cann-bridges-fundraising

For further information or to explore additional ways to contribute, feel free to contact our Family & Support Advisor at falsa@cannbridge.co.uk, who will be happy to chat with you.

Successes

Through generous support from trusts and private donations, some of the opportunities we have previously been able to provide include:

• Keep-fit equipment for our play area to support a healthy lifestyle.
• Access to music opportunities and equipment to support musical development and sensory experiences.
• Installation of a specialist immersive room.
• Development of our specialist sensory rooms.
• Activity wall panels for learning outdoors.
• An outdoor classroom where learners can develop gardening skills and an understanding of the natural world.
• Installation and subsequent repairs to our Warm Water Pool.
• Development of the Communication, Language and Literacy Library