Noah's Ark Pre-School in Ipswich celebrates obstacle course

Noah's Ark Pre-School in Cauldwell Hall Road received funding from both Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council to help it reach the £17,000 needed to fund the project.

The project was completed in late October but was officially opened on Wednesday morning with a ceremony attended by Ipswich mayor Elango Elavalakan and former MP Sandy Martin, along with other councillors.

Laura Rust, from Noah's Ark, said that the school had been fundraising for years to add a trim trail to its outside area and that the funding from the two local authorities had been crucial.

Children and staff at Noah's Ark Playgroup in Ipswich. (Image: Lucy Taylor) She said: "Despite fundraising for a number of years, we had fallen short of the total needed for the new flooring and trim trail, after meeting with Sandy Martin, we were allocated some money from Suffolk County Council's Locality budget to help bolster our project.

"We were then also able to raise some additional funds from Ipswich Borough Council with a grant from the Local Area Committee, so we could reach our target of just over £17,000. 

"The project was completed in late October and has already had a positive impact on our children and enhanced their enjoyment of the space."

Located in St John the Baptist's church hall, Noah's Ark is a term-time pre-school for children aged two to four years old which looks after children from the local community and some from further afield.

The children with their new play equipment. (Image: Lucy Taylor) It is a committee run registered charity which has to fundraise for extra resources for the children.

Noah's Ark is well attended with about 60 families sending children to the pre-school.

It also has a larger outdoor area compared to other preschools which has helped it to increase its popularity and enhanced Noah's Ark's ability to work with children with emotional and behavioural problems.