Springfield library hopes to inspire young readers

Pupils at Springfield Primary School in Sunbury on Thames have no excuse for saying that they find books boring after the opening of the school’s spectacular new library.

The decoration theme was suggested by Year Five pupil Rachel Hunt, who came up with the idea of an Enchanted Kingdom, which has been divided into an Enchanted Garden for Key Stage One children, and a knights/medieval theme for older pupils.

Gill Walter and Kathy Grant, two of the teaching assistants who helped put the library together, said they had had huge fun decorating it, and incorporated many symbols of significance to the children into the décor. “Our school bursar Sam Keith created an oak tree on the wall, which divides the two parts of the library, and in the design we’ve included symbols such as the shields of our school houses and a banner with the school logo,” she explained.

“In the Enchanted Garden we’ve added a medieval tent with a round table, bean bags and a king’s throne. In the knights part, the table is decorated with goblets.An I.T. area and listening station have also been incorporated. All these details make the whole place more stimulating and interesting for the children, and hopefully they’ll stir up their imaginations in a way a traditionally decorated library might not do."

Springfield Primary School is a member of the GLF Schools Group, a Surrey-based multi-academy trust which now runs over a dozen schools across the south east, and is based on a model of strong collaborative working.

Just in case there are any children whose imaginations are not fired by the historical imagery, the Enchanted Garden décor also incorporates plenty of detail from the world of nature.

“There are butterflies, mushrooms and flowers all over the walls, and watching over all the young readers are two wise old owls,” said Ms Walter. “It’s a brilliant facility and one of which the whole school should be very proud. We had great fun putting together, and I think the children are going to get just as much enjoyment out of it for years to come.”