Pupils at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School in Coppull were given a fun and educational experience this month as local housebuilder Story Homes hosted a special classroom workshop to promote construction site safety.

Just five minutes from the school, Story Homes' Elmbrook Park development provided the perfect backdrop for the initiative, which combined essential safety messaging with a creative competition to engage both younger and older students.

The Year 1/2 class took part in an interactive session led by Darren Lister, Assistant Site Manager at Elmbrook Park. The workshop introduced pupils to the potential dangers of active construction sites, the variety of roles involved in housebuilding, and why it’s crucial to stay away from building areas.

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Each child received a safety-themed goody bag containing an activity book and crayons to help reinforce the lessons from the session. The visit was made even more memorable by a surprise appearance from Story Homes' friendly mascot, Builder Bear, who delighted pupils with high-fives and smiles.

In addition to the safety workshop, Story Homes launched a unique design competition for the school’s Year 5/6 class. Pupils have been invited to design a children’s bedroom for the upcoming Harrison show home at Elmbrook Park. With a brief centred on themes of bees, nature, and the outdoors, the contest encourages creativity while emphasising a connection to the natural world. The winning design will be transformed into a real bedroom this summer, offering pupils the chance to see their vision brought to life.

Darren Lister said: "It was fantastic to visit St Oswald's and spend time with such an enthusiastic group of children. They asked brilliant questions and really engaged with the safety message. Since Elmbrook Park is so close to the school, we felt it was important to come in and make sure they understand why building sites are not places to play - no matter how exciting they might look."