Fundraising Appeal Launched After Vandalism at Stansfield Hall School
Photo: Stansfield Hall Primary School
A Littleborough primary school has launched a fundraising appeal after its Early Years outdoor learning area was targeted by vandals overnight, leaving damage that staff say will divert money away from children's education.
Stansfield Hall School shared the news with parents and the wider community on social media after discovering extensive damage to its EYFS outdoor provision at the start of the school day.
According to the school, intruders entered the grounds without permission and vandalised the outdoor area used by its youngest pupils. Equipment was damaged, cupboards were smashed and thrown around, educational resources were emptied, and sand was scattered across the playground.
As a result, children in the Willow class were unable to use part of their outdoor learning environment while staff worked to clean up the area and ensure it was safe.
The school is now appealing to local residents for assistance. Anyone living near the school with CCTV or Ring doorbell footage is being asked to check recordings from overnight and report anything unusual directly to the school. Staff have stressed that any information should be shared privately rather than posted publicly online and have urged people not to speculate about who may be responsible.
In its statement, the school said the incident was particularly upsetting because every pound spent repairing damage and improving security is money that cannot be spent directly on pupils and their education.
As a result of the vandalism, the school says it will now have to consider additional CCTV and security measures to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident has prompted an outpouring of support from parents, former pupils and local residents, with the school launching a fundraising campaign to help cover the costs of repairs and enhanced security.
A spokesperson said: "We are incredibly fortunate to be part of a community that normally looks after our little school, so we would really appreciate your help in identifying what happened."
The school is currently liaising with Greater Manchester Police as enquiries continue.
Residents who believe they may have relevant footage or information are encouraged to contact Stansfield Hall School directly.
