PO opens in primary school toilets

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Post office opens in primary school toilets - and pupils are trained to help

A building which was once an outdoor toilet for a primary school has been transformed into a fully-functioning post office staffed by pupils.

Residents in the village of Foston, North Yorks., were saddened to see their local branch go down the pan 12 years ago.
But the former bogs at the tiny Foston primary school are now serving local residents with all 18 pupils at the school trained to help.

And they are flushed with success learning key skills in maths and English while providing a crucial service to locals.
Teaching assistant Laura Glass, 29, said: 'The parish council were aware we desperately needed a Post Office service in the village.

'The last one closed in 1998 and the nearest one is five miles away, meaning it was very problematic for elderly residents, and we suggested that the old toilet block be used.

'We got a grant and set to work on converting it. We then realised that by getting pupils to run it we could help teach them crucial skills at the same time.

'We have had donations from locals of cards and bookmarks to sell in the shop and the Post Office have given us items such as stamps to sell. We even managed to get a till from Freecycle.

'The children will run it, properly supervised by a member of staff. They love it and it gives them key skills, and the residents love it because it is such a personalised service.'

The old post office closed in 1998 leaving many elderly residents five miles away from their nearest post office in Sheriff Hutton.
The small brick building was refurbished by the school several years ago and used as a library and for assemblies.

But following a £250 grant from local Conservative Councillor Clare Wood they began to transform it into a post office.

It opens daily during the pupils’ lunch break between 1pm and 1.15pm, and for another 15 minutes after lessons at 3pm.

During school holidays Lucy Pilgrim, landlady at the local pub The White Swan, has offered to step in and run it until the children return.

It had a grand opening last week attended by all pupils, staff and dozens of residents from Foston, which has around 200 inhabitants.

Money earned by the scheme will be put into the school’s accounts, with the children then deciding what they would like the cash spent on - with sporting equipment and books expected to be top of their shopping list.

Villager Laura Deighton’s five-year-old daughter Grace attends the school and has been serving customers at the unusual branch.
Dog groomer Laura, 31, said: 'Grace thinks it’s wonderful and great fun, and she and all the kids will be learning really useful social skills.

'Before this you had to make a ten-mile trip to even buy a stamp or buy a greetings card, which was very problematic as the village has a lot of elderly people.

'But this will be a great asset to the community. They’ve got everything you could possibly need such as wrapping paper and stationery, and the kids are brilliant, they are so friendly and helpful.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z15YZREa28" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Stormproof]

Blimey they will be putting kids up chimneys next.
Hope the books balance otherwise the PO will be down the pan oh ok I'll get my coat

[youwot!!!!!]

always been a crap job

ok pass my coat too.

[guvenor]

I BET THE KIDS DO A BETTER JOB THAN OUR CRAP MGMT

[arnold cheshire]

rubbish story

[plainpat]

If it takes off it could become a chain..........

[POSTMAN]

Just another bog standard news item,how do you get them teebs?

[stokes11eg]

The kids will be flushed with success

[POSTMAN]

Wont the kids be too short for the counter,wont they have to stand on stools.
It's getting worse.