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PROJECT

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOL

Christopher Robin Pre-Primary School is located in La Lucia, KZN. Garden Projects
and Solutions (GPS) have been involved with maintenance of the playgrounds and

general garden areas for some time, having previously installed small landscapes
and rain harvested, tank-fed irrigation system upgrades. The project received a
Platinum Award in this year’s SALI Awards of Excellence and was entered in the
category of Landscape Design and Construction.

A general view of the school’s play area

chool principal Jean Gibson and consideration was the children’s safety and to experience and appreciate a bigger
Munro Papanicolaou of GPS became learning experiences. picture of life.
Sinvolved in discussions around a more The design was woven around the Papanicolaou explains: “Jean’s unstinting
meaningful and purposeful upgrade of concept of early childhood development support, driving the process through the
the existing junior playground. Her vision (ECD) and grew into a children’s educational school’s governing body and teachers,
included a landscaped outcome that would world linked to the environment and the facilitated the changes required in the
support children’s development beyond, elements associated with understanding process of educating children in play
but not excluding, traditional playground the linkages of plants, water, soil, weather during their formative years. She focussed
equipment and activities using the existing and activity. Teaching methods would be on the concept of “thinking out of the
equipment. In all the planning, installation extended beyond the classroom, expanding box” and whilst both children and adults
and project outcomes, the most important the children’s thinking and enabling them are always encouraged to do this, much of

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