CHILDREN, parents and teachers in Hounslow are being given the chance to win awards of up to £2,500, for taking part in projects to improve their playgrounds.

The London Electricity School Grounds Awards have been running for the last five years, and are welcoming schools to demonstrate their commitment to playground projects that focus on; delivering the curriculum outdoors, environmental improvement, art, health promotion, play or social development.

Schools participating in the scheme are encouraged to survey the school's current site and how it is used, share ideas, produce an action plan, implement changes and monitor the success of their project.

All nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Hounslow have been encouraged to apply.

A spokesman for Learning through Landscapes (LTL) said: Research has demonstrated that the quality of the outdoor environment can profoundly affect children's behaviour and attitude to school.

Many London schools state that their playground projects have had a beneficial impact on academic achievement, health and fitness, pupil attendance and levels of bullying and vandalism.''

Since the scheme started, over 400 different schools have entered the award scheme, representing all 343 London boroughs, and a total of 203 awards amounting to over £100,000 have been distributed to 176 schools.

Catherine Kinman, Community Affairs Manager at London Electricity, said: London Electricity is committed to help its local areas in practical ways that provide long-term benefits, and we encourage schools to enhance their outdoor areas, making them an integral part of a child's education.

We hope all schools will take this opportunity to make their plans a reality, by entering this year's Award scheme.''

The deadline for entries is March 22nd. Schools will be notified of results during May and winners will receive their awards in early June.