A PRE-SCHOOL near Andover has benefitted from a £1,000 donation from a regional housebuilder to help it improve its learning environment.

Longparish Little School received the cash boost from Persimmon Homes South Coast through the housebuilder’s Community Champions scheme.

Each month, the regional business chooses two groups to benefit from a match-funded donation of up to £1,000 each.

The charity-run pre-school is fundraising to support activities such as storytelling sessions, its allotment and weekly sports sessions as well as its new Forest School, which take place in local woodland twice a week.

Pre-school spoksperson Claire Nash said: “We believe that children learn and develop best when they are able to choose where and what they play. Being engaged in an activity that interests them in a well-resourced activity area creates the right mindset for learning to take place. We are grateful to Persimmon Homes South Coast for its support.”

Matt Paine, managing director for Persimmon Homes South Coast, said: “It is important to us to support the local community where we build, and we are delighted that we can help improve the learning opportunities for children at Longparish Little School.

“If people were unsuccessful in their Community Champions application, we urge them to visit the Persimmon Homes website and to try again and hopefully they will become our next recipient.”