#skettypark — Public Fediverse posts

SWANSEA: Nursery children get new garden and water play area — as school beats thousands to national funding https://www.allforgardening.com/1852832/swansea-nursery-children-get-new-garden-and-water-play-area-as-school-beats-thousands-to-national-funding/ #CurriculumForWales #garden #nursery #OutdoorLearning #ParklandPrimaryAndNurserySchool #Sketty #SkettyPark #Swansea #Twinkl

SWANSEA: Nursery children get new garden and water play area — as school beats thousands to national funding

Nursery children at a Swansea school are enjoying a brand new garden and water play area — after their school beat thousands of others to a share of national funding.

Parkland Primary and Nursery School was among the schools chosen from more than 3,000 applications to share £40,000 donated by education publisher Twinkl through its Community Collection campaign.

The school used the money, alongside other resources, to create a multi-purpose outdoor space for its youngest pupils.

The transformed nursery garden now includes water play areas, designed to support physical development, curiosity and creativity in line with the Curriculum for Wales.

Staff say the difference is already showing — with children more engaged, more confident, and communicating and working together more.

Deputy headteacher Rachel Leahy said the new space had transformed the nursery’s outdoor provision.

“This support has had a truly positive impact on our Nursery provision by enhancing our outdoor learning environment. The garden and water play areas have created exciting and engaging opportunities for hands-on, exploratory learning, and we have seen a noticeable increase in enthusiasm, curiosity, and confidence in our children. It is a fantastic addition that will continue to enrich our early years setting for years to come,” she said.

Ayse Gunduz, of the school’s nursery management and senior leadership team, said the impact on the children was clear.

“The impact on pupil engagement, communication, and collaboration has been very clear. Staff have been able to offer more meaningful, hands-on experiences that reflect the interests and needs of our children. This project has strengthened our approach to learning through play and discovery in the early years,” she said.

Learning through play sits at the heart of early years education under the Curriculum for Wales — and outdoor learning is a growing focus for schools across the country.

Community Collection is Twinkl’s monthly support scheme for schools, which any school or educational organisation can apply to. Over the past 12 months it has provided £96,160 in funds and supplies to 533 schools.

Twinkl chief executive Jon Seaton said: “Twinkl prides itself on the positive impact that it has on educators, parents, and children and I’m delighted that we are able to showcase that through direct donations to schools covering the expenses for the educational projects that are much needed in each setting.”

The Sheffield-based company was founded in 2010 by husband and wife Jonathan and Susie Seaton, and its teaching resources are used by schools across the UK and beyond.

The school says the new space will keep enriching its early years provision for years to come.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Transatlantic collaboration aims to help improve sun safety in Swansea primary schools
Swansea research shaping skin-cancer prevention in local classrooms.

A green jewel turns 100 — how Singleton’s Botanical Gardens grew from kitchen plot to city treasure
The century-old story of Swansea’s best-loved growing space.

Swansea University to host Google DeepMind AI research programme
The fully funded scheme opening AI research careers to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Waunarlwydd dealer who bragged he sold ‘the best Valium in Swansea’ jailed for three years

Sean Brendan Doyle, 36, was arrested after Gorseinon neighbourhood officers executed a warrant at his home and seized drugs, cash and multiple mobile phones linked to street dealing. When police tracked down his Vauxhall Astra in Sketty Park, they opened the boot to find bags and boxes stuffed with tablets.

Inside were 1,535 tablets across six different Class C drugs — most of them diazepam — along with 2.1g of cocaine and four phones packed with messages about deals, discounts and bulk orders.

Dealer bragged about his ‘best in Swansea’ supply

Swansea Crown Court heard Doyle had been supplying diazepam for at least a year, selling £15 and £20 street deals and offering cut‑price rates for bigger orders. In one message he bragged he’d been selling “the best diazepam in Swansea for 15 years”. In another, sent just days before his arrest, he talked about shifting 10 boxes a week and wanting to move into bulk sales.

Doyle refused to answer questions in interview and wouldn’t give police the PINs to his phones. But officers were still able to download messages showing a steady trade in Class C drugs — and occasional Class A supply.

Long history of drug offending

The court heard Doyle has seven previous convictions for 13 offences, including supplying Class C drugs in 2009, possession with intent to supply in 2017, and further drug offences in 2021.

His barrister said Doyle had used Class C drugs from a young age following “tragic events” in his life, and claimed his drug use spiralled after the suicide of a friend in 2023. The court was told he is now drug‑free and credits his new partner for helping him turn his life around.

Judge Huw Rees said he would not “lecture” Doyle but told him he already knew that turning to drugs “only makes things worse”.

Doyle admitted possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and two counts of possession with intent to supply Class C drugs. He was jailed for three years, serving up to half in custody before release on licence.

Police: ‘He was peddling misery’

Sergeant Molly Llewellyn, South Wales Police, said Doyle had been “peddling drugs and misery onto the streets of Waunarlwydd and wider Swansea”.

“But, like so many drug dealers before him, he was found out by police,” she said. “Our neighbourhood teams are committed to listening to residents, acting on their concerns, and disrupting those involved in this unlawful activity.”

Police urged anyone worried about drug dealing in their area to report it.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea man jailed after police find massive cannabis haul in garden shed
Officers uncovered a large cannabis grow hidden in an outbuilding during a routine search.

Dealer jailed for eight years after routine stop uncovers £150k drug haul
A simple traffic stop led police to a huge stash of cocaine, cash and drug‑dealing kit.

Police warn landlords after cannabis factory found in Swansea rental home
Officers urge vigilance after a rented property was turned into a sophisticated grow site.

Swansea drug line boss jailed after police find SIM cards hidden in waistband
A county lines organiser was caught with multiple SIM cards used to run a drug network.