PUPILS at a school in York are making a big splash with their new Early Years play area.

Bootham Junior School has created a new sensory river to help children understand their environment, with a river made from cobbles and slate, allowing children to create a dam to direct the flow of water, or to have a paddle.

It is the latest addition to the outdoor learning area, which already has an amphitheatre, an allotment, a Yurt and play equipment, and has been designed using natural colours and materials, to allow the children to explore.

Louise Leaf, head of Early Years, said: "The importance of outdoor learning for all children is something that we place a great deal of importance on throughout Bootham School. The new area will allow our teachers to play alongside the children and extend their learning."

The area will also be used by parents and babies attending Bootham Babies, a free baby and toddler group open to the community, which runs on Friday mornings during term time between 9am and 10.30am.