NOT ONLY will a new outdoor gym at Petersfield Infant School help the youngsters’ physical development, it will also improve their learning skills.

Headteacher at the school in St Peter’s Road Alison Crew said: “The new outdoor gym will be good for their physical and mental health.

“If children are physically healthy, they are often mentally healthy as well. And using the gym equipment will improve their hand eye co-ordination for example, which will help with their hand writing, among other things.

“But the gym is also fun, and will help make playtime much more enjoyable.”

The gym machines came courtesy of the Government Sport Premium funding stream.

Mrs Crew said: “We didn’t think we would have room for it all, but we did and it’s a really great addition to the school.”