'Marvellous MACAWS' from St Andrews open their new wellbeing garden

After three years of tireless fundraising, St Andrew’s CofE Junior School has proudly opened its brand-new mental health and wellbeing ‘MACAWS Garden’ - a peaceful sanctuary designed to help support pupils emotionally.

The school has long been committed to supporting mental health through its successful programme, MACAWS – which stands for “Motivating All Children to Achieve With Support.” 

Research shows that children learn best when they feel emotionally secure, confident and included. MACAWS was developed with this in mind, offering two calm, jungle-themed spaces equipped with sensory toys where children can decompress, talk, and reset before returning to class. 

Marie Stafford, the school’s Specialist Teaching and Learning Assistant and MACAWS Leader for the past eight years, explains the need: 

“When children get emotionally dysregulated they just they want to hide, and if they are in the middle of the classroom they can get frustrated because everybody's looking at them. We created spaces where if children had a bad morning before school, they can come and spend five minutes to calm down and have a chat and then they are in the right place to go into the classroom to learn. In the afternoon I can bring them in here if they need to talk a little bit more before going home.” 

As part of the programme, pupils in Years 5 and 6 are also trained as Mental Health Champions - peer supporters that other students can turn to if they don’t want to speak to an adult. 

We asked why the name MACAWS? “Parrots find their voice over time and learn to speak up,” Marie said, “that’s exactly what we want our children to do.” 

With the success of the MACAWS rooms evident, the school identified the need for an additional safe space—particularly outdoors. An unused part of the playground was slowly transformed into a sensory garden, designed to be a haven for all children when they need peace, calm, and reflection. 

The project was a true community effort and has taken years of dedication, commitment and perseverance to achieve. One of the MACAWS Mental Health Champions, Zachery, explained, “We’ve done lots of things to raise money, like cake sales, fun days and a ‘Walk a Mile in Someone Else’s Shoes’ obstacle course. The PTA really helped us.” 

To celebrate the garden’s completion, the school hosted a grand opening with live music and stalls. Families, staff, pupils, and supporters gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

(Photo above: Teacher Becky Platt who helped paint the colourful sign).

Headteacher Amanda Cornwall spoke, paying tribute to those who had worked so hard, “What you see behind you is the culmination of nearly three years of fundraising - it is a dream come true and has totally transformed an area of our playground that was not used at all. 

This area will be used by our children to help them when they need a bit of peace and calm, and I’m sure that the staff will be in here at the end of the day as well, as it is a haven! 

This has not happened without a lot of hard work, and the Macaws Team in particular have worked tirelessly to get this to the standard it is. It’s lovely to see some of our ex-pupils here today who were Mental Health Champions when they were at the school, as they started all of this off.  

Thank you also to those who have given cash and have supported this, and to all of our children - this is all for you."

Halina Bloggins, the Founder of ‘Save Roughfields’, was invited to cut the ribbon, saying “I’m really chuffed to be asked to open this garden - this is absolutely wonderful. I’ve had two granddaughters come to this school and St Andrew has a very big place in my heart. All the children are so nurtured, encouraged and loved by the wonderful staff and whole team. 

I am very honoured to be asked to do this, but the person who should be opening this garden is Marie.”  

The crowd showed their approval by letting out a big cheer as Marie stepped forward to do the honours. 

(Photo above: Marie Stafford and Halina Bloggins).

Adding to the celebration was live music by Ben Stafford, Marie’s son. He told us, “The whole family is really proud of Mum and what she’s achieved. This garden will be a lasting legacy of her hard work at the school and how she has made a real difference to the children.” 

Ben is a university student but also sings at weddings and other events. He can be contacted via his Facebook page: Ben Stafford Music. 

(Photo below: Marie Stafford with son, singer Ben).