A POPULAR series of school family days has put plenty of smiles on faces.

Unsworth Primary hosts the gatherings around twice a term. The days are a way for parents and children to explore the forest area near the school, gaining new outdoor skills.

Each term, the days come with a seasonal theme, meaning this year the children got to carve pumpkins, roast marshmallows and tell spooky stories around a campfire.

Headteacher Andrew Rhodes said: “We’re very family friendly, so these days are a way for children to break away from all the technology and bond with parents and the outdoors.

“There are so many important skills you learn from the outdoors that you simply cannot pick up in the classroom that are crucial in life.

“I think the idea of children going outdoors gives them useful skills they don’t use much these days because they use technology more than ever. They are building resilience and are now very well versed in the outdoors, creating dens and exploring the natural world.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about community and relationships, and I feel that after the pandemic, it’s really important to create these kind of experiences for our children.”

The days are funded by Unsworth's parent and teacher association.