Facilities

Riversdale is always adapting to the needs of our children and we strive to give them the best that we can. Each classroom is fully equipped with the necessities for learning, such as interactive whiteboards, a computer, a class library as well as tables and chairs carefully selected to fit the need and age of the children in that room.

However, we are very proud to have a range of other fantastic facilities available on site that support us in our endeavour to provide our children with a broad and balanced curriculum.

To give you a flavour of the school, including the playgrounds, some of the classrooms and our sensory room, please take a look at our latest video tour below.

EYFS Playgrounds:

Following our 2015 Ofsted report, our Reception playground has undergone a wonderful refurbishment. With beautifully crafted wooden equipment, bright soft flooring, a hobbit house and an all-weather sheltered space, the playground is fit for a wide range of potential learning opportunities, bringing learning to the outdoors as well as the classroom. Nursery also have their own outdoor play area, which is currently in the process of being redeveloped. 

Swimming Pool:

Hidden away on lower floor of the main school building, Riversdale houses a heated children’s swimming pool. This is used regularly by our Early Year and Key Stage 1 children to develop their swimming skills. Once the children are old enough, their swimming lesson progress to a larger local swimming pool. This facility is also utilised, on the weekends, by a national swimming class company for the instruction of local babies and toddlers.

Stage:

In 2018, the PTC (Parent Teacher Co-Operative) raised a great deal of money in order to have the school stage refurbished. As a result of their hard work and the support of the local community, our stage now boasts: theatre quality curtains, performance standard sound equipment and high-tech stage lighting, allowing the children to take their already fabulous class assemblies, Christmas productions and the Year 6 Leavers’ Show to the next level.

Sensory Room & Soft Play:

As a school, we appreciate the varying needs of our pupils and as such, we have installed two soft play areas and a sensory room in different areas of the main school building.

Our soft play areas include:

• a ball pit
• a trampoline (located in the top floor soft play)
• a small cushioned slide 

Our sensory room includes:

• a “Magic Carpet” interactive floor
• a series of multicoloured lighting fixtures
• 2 bubble tubes with accompanying lighting

ICT:

The school have recently invested in a range of laptops, chromebooks and iPads, in order to support the children in the development of their ICT skills. These are not only used in computing lessons but are used to compliment a range of subject areas as well as extracurricular clubs with great impact.

Playground:

Our main school playground has been divided into distinct areas, each of which has their own mode of play. Children can:

• play football on the designated AstroTurf; 
• use equipment such as skipping ropes and hula hoops in Dingly Dell; 
• play ball games such as basketball in Sphere Space; 
• create their own games and play make-believe in Fantasy Land; 
• use climbing frames in Adrian's Apparatus and Lava Land. 

As well as these, the children have access to the school Biodome and Secret Garden with raised flower beds and fruiting trees (which the PTC use to make jams) as quiet spaces.