ENTHUSIASTIC children at Weaverham Primary Academy have done their bit to support a national effort to keep Britain tidy.

The Reception and Year 1 pupils set the perfect example when they marched out of the classroom and into the impressive grounds at the Northwich Road school to carry out a clean up using bin bags and litter pickers.

They improved wildlife habitats in the grassy woodland areas around the perimeter, working together to make a contribution to the Great British September Clean, organised by Keep Britain Tidy.

Teacher Becky Duncan said: "They did a great job.

"Before we came out we talked about the welfare of animals and how they can get poorly if they eat litter, so the children were really excited to help us look after the animals.

"We spend a lot of time outside anyway, and the children are always encouraged to help us tidy up when they have been using different resources, so this is just an extension of that. It's been really worthwhile."

By the end of this month, hundreds of thousands of people across the country will have given up their time to support the Great British September Clean, which was moved from the original date in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The key drive of the campaign is to collect and safely dispose of single-use plastic from streets, parks and beaches, and to recycle as much as possible.

Weaverham has been run by the North West Academies Trust (NWAT) - one of the country’s highest-performing trusts with a superb record of improving schools and getting results - since November 2018.

Steve Docking, CEO of NWAT, said: "We take pride in inspiring every child to develop a love of learning, which we believe enables them to flourish and achieve their very best.

"We are passionate about getting our children learning outside the classroom, and the litter pick by Reception and Year 1 pupils at Weaverham is a fine example of how we combine valuable and important lessons with fun and worthwhile activities in the fresh air."

Other NWAT schools include Delamere Academy, near Northwich, and Acresfield Primary School, Chester, which are ranked first and second in West Cheshire in the latest performance tables, St Martin’s Academy, Chester, which is the most over-subscribed school in the borough and Oak View Academy, Winsford, which is consistently amongst the highest ranking for improvement.

The school will be open for parents to look around the facilities every Friday – by appointment only.

For more information visit: https://weaverhamacademy.org.uk/ email: admin@weaverhamacademy.org.uk or tel: 01606 852148.